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Phonostage recommendations under $3K

Folks,

I am looking to step up from my current Parasound ZPhono XRM (still under 60 days audition trial). To be honest, I am quite pleased with its performance, feature set and flexibility. I mean what else you can expect from a $600 phono. While I enjoyed listening to vinyl through XRM, I feel there is room for improvement and XRM may be the weakest link in my vinyl setup. And since XRM is the only phono I’ve experienced in my setup, I don’t have quite have a reference point. So what else should I be considering under $3K?

I prefer a relaxed and slightly warm sound since I mostly listen to jazz genre.

I started to put together a list list based on sound quality and flexibility with gain and impedance settings.

Parasound JC 3+ Phono Pre
Allnic H-1202
Leben RS30 EQ (requires a SUT for MC Cart)

I hear high praises on Herron VTPH-2A but it’s bit more than I would like to spend at this time.

My current vinyl setup, Thorens TD1601, ZPhono XRM, Hana ML (low output - 0.4mv), Accuphase E-650 and Tannoy Canterbury’s.

I would really appreciate some recommendations based on your personal experiences. Thank you!
lalitk
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
First, that's not what I said. What I said was, " Nobody wants to believe you can get a $10k phono stage for $3500! " Which you just proved. It was in the context of saying the Herron offers such high value its hard to believe. Which again you confirm. (You sure don't believe it!) So its all true, and beyond criticism. You just need to learn to read. And comprehend. 

Case in point, the previous sentence was,  " Michael Fremer reviewed it as being comparable to anything in Class A- and that was the previous version!" So, two things: One, you have just picked a fight with Michael Fremer. Good luck! And two: Learn to read. And comprehend.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,165 posts
 
Keith is a super guy and certainly provides high value. I enjoy my 2A with Lyra feeding it. I didn’t run a super wide range of NOS thru it but generally it does not reward NOS. It does reward isolation and damping, power cord investment, IC’s and a separate power conditioner , but most tube stuff does. They do come up used.

i do have the ML you run but with a Croft RIAA-RS phono preamp, which is an insane value also. I use the genius Roger Modjeski RM-4 in front of it ( RIP RM )

somebody mentioned Jim White and Aesthetix, his gear is hyper well designed and upgrades available for a long life cycle.

have fun, enjoy the music and the journey!!!
tuzarupa's avatar
tuzarupa
65 posts
 
I would add Hagerman Audio Labs.
https://www.haglabs.com/
https://www.haglabs.com/collections/phono-preamps
10 year warranty, 30-day trial. Small US company (Hawaii).
You may be pleasantly surprised. I was.
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,154 posts
 
OK whatever millerdude, you can continue your wordy battle of semantics with someone else now. The VAC literally blows the Herron away. Better? And I’ll repeat the endorsement for Hagerman.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@mulveling 

The "$10K performance for $3K" theme is go-to rhetoric MC uses when referring to the Herron in numerous threads.  I can both read and comprehend.  Anyone can.

https://i.postimg.cc/5yhVmT8r/10KBS.jpg
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