Pani, First of all, I do apologize if you felt insulted by my mention of your proclivities. I meant no slur but was trying to use you as an example of some who like to change their gear, up and down the line, from time to time, just for the fun and interest of it. And, as I did say, there's nothing wrong with that at all. Now, here you ask for a "good tube phono stage" that is not "voiced". By this I assume you mean that you start from the position that most ARE voiced for this or that type of sound. I disagree with that general assumption, although it may be applicable in some cases. I think most designers are searching for the elusive quality of "neutral". The problem is that they cannot predict what other products will be mated to their particular phono stage. Choices made on the upstream side (the cartridge) and on the downstream side (amplifier and speakers, not to mention the room itself) will inevitably affect the sum total of how a system sounds, if you stick one phono stage into it, and then another phono stage is substituted, while keeping everything else constant. You can easily end up chasing your tail. If you want a phono stage with no personality of its own, on average you might prefer solid state. On the other hand, some solid state phonos fail to deliver what some of the better tube phonos do best. You may have to spend large bucks for a solid state phono that can do it all and do it well. You'll have to judge for yourself. I am not saying here that SS is better than tubes or vice-versa, in case anyone takes offense.
Chak, I think I could agree that there may be an Audio Technica "house sound". I haven't really heard enough of their product line to be absolutely sure of that, but you do profess to love the ATML180 and 170 (forgive me for any error in the alphanumeric designation, but you know the ones I mean). And I guess you owned an AT2000 MC and sold it. But how can you know how the ART9 and ART7 sound just from those experiences? In particular, there is no reason to assume the 7 and 9 sound no better than the 2000, which you apparently did not love. I can't speak about the ART9, because I have never heard it, but my ART7 was at first a bit too "clinical" sounding for my tastes, in my Beveridge system. But it did exhibit an extended bass response and exceptional detail retrieval. It takes me a long time to break in new cartridges, because I am constantly flitting around with my different turntables and other cartridges, but finally in the last few hours of use my ART7 seems to have "broken in", in that it has begun to be able to convey the emotions of music while still revealing inner detail and a great bass response (qualities that it always did have). I think it's a real winner especially in its price class, and especially since that price class includes many of the great vintage MM and MI cartridges that we both appreciate. Some of the latter even cost more and are much harder to find, and when you find them you cannot be sure of condition. So, if you have enough gain, the ART7 is a worthy contender. Probably the ART9 is too.
Chak, I think I could agree that there may be an Audio Technica "house sound". I haven't really heard enough of their product line to be absolutely sure of that, but you do profess to love the ATML180 and 170 (forgive me for any error in the alphanumeric designation, but you know the ones I mean). And I guess you owned an AT2000 MC and sold it. But how can you know how the ART9 and ART7 sound just from those experiences? In particular, there is no reason to assume the 7 and 9 sound no better than the 2000, which you apparently did not love. I can't speak about the ART9, because I have never heard it, but my ART7 was at first a bit too "clinical" sounding for my tastes, in my Beveridge system. But it did exhibit an extended bass response and exceptional detail retrieval. It takes me a long time to break in new cartridges, because I am constantly flitting around with my different turntables and other cartridges, but finally in the last few hours of use my ART7 seems to have "broken in", in that it has begun to be able to convey the emotions of music while still revealing inner detail and a great bass response (qualities that it always did have). I think it's a real winner especially in its price class, and especially since that price class includes many of the great vintage MM and MI cartridges that we both appreciate. Some of the latter even cost more and are much harder to find, and when you find them you cannot be sure of condition. So, if you have enough gain, the ART7 is a worthy contender. Probably the ART9 is too.
