2. analog
  3. 161929-115405

Looking for a phono stage with pleasing coloration

I have recently completely overhauled my analog front end. I have gone from a Marantz TTS TT-15S1 with a Clearaudio Charisma to a Rega Planar 8 with a Soundsmith Paua II cartridge. There have been definite improvements; improvements in dynamics, resolution, and spatial separation.  Phono stage is currently a Tavish Adagio running into a Prima Luna Evo 300 preamp and Parasound JC 5 amp; speakers are Monitor Audio PL 100 II. I’m overall pleased with the system but I find it a little too modern sounding; instrument separation, and mid and low bass are a tad too tight and disciplined. While the Paua generally outclasses the Charisma; I preferred the tonality of the Charisma. Maybe it’s because the Charisma has a wooden body but it has more of a warmth and vintage coloration to its tonality that I like.


I would like to make change to Phono stage to address these issues, so looking for recommendations on a phono stage that has a bit more of a vintage coloration, body, warmth, slightly looser bass and low noise floor and retains good top end extension. I currently have the PS Audio Stellar phono on order for a home trial but every review I have read has praised it for its neutrality but what I really want is added coloration that I find pleasing.  I guess I can try tube rolling the Adagio but I don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of trying to find low microphonic NOS tubes. Finally I want to stay under $3K and I’m open to vintage phono preamps (but I don’t want to sacrifice dynamics and sound stage).


arize84
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
Reading the threats of being cut off and permanently ignored by MC are what keep me coming back to this site. I love how we all create our own intrinsic value we present to the world.  lol
arize84 OP
57 posts
 
Gotta agree the 834P isn't cheap even used. For now, I'm going to wait on the PS Audio, maybe it will get me what I'm looking for if it at least gives me a fuller body to the sound. Other options are JC3+ and Gold Note but both these are described as very neutral. 
fstein's avatar
fstein
199 posts
 
Bin the cartridge,Get a cheap Nagaoka 200 and put a smile on your face
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
For the record, what millercarbon actually said, word for word:
Another one you may like, the EAR 834P which if you really do want warm and woody can’t imagine how you do better than a vintage (mid-90’s) EAR.
I seem to be getting forgetful in my old age, maybe someone will remind me- exactly when in the mid-90's was 2015??

There's a reason by the way for specifying mid-90's. That was the year I heard. No idea what subsequent years sounded like. Just so as to not leave that one in doubt millercarbon also wrote, in the same post no less:
Don’t know about the newer ones, but the ones back around 1995 were warm as a goose down blanket.
I'm a little foggy. Seems to me 2015 was a good 20 years later?

Long time readers will know my disdain verging on disgust for the truly appalling lack of reading comprehension. Which sometimes is so bad- one time I said THREE TIMES "not saying these speakers are perfect" only to be told again and again each time by the same inept reader that I said they were perfect. So either its third grade (if that) reading level, severe mental (oh wait we're not supposed to use the R-word) underdevelopment, or plain old stubborn disregard for the facts.

Any way you slice it, what point can there possibly be in trying to converse with such a one? All we have are words, which they have a proven inability to comprehend. Also if you do try and buck the odds and converse what is going to happen other than one misunderstanding after another? Like Forrest Gump, minus the charm. Simple Jack. Good for a gag in Tropic Thunder, but come on, man!

But if on the other hand you explain what is going on and why- you are being ignored because you are insulting and have nothing to contribute (the "and" is deliberate) well then isn't that the most merciful thing possible all around? This way if Simple Jack keeps going, well, there's that lack of reading comprehension again. Not like he wasn't told. Just didn't understand. Again.


jrw1971
62 posts
 
OP, I can’t help but think of an earlier phonostage I loved before moving on to the ARC REF3 phono: the Manley Chinook.  
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