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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).


Ag insider logo xs@2xarize84
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arize84 OP
56 posts
 
The adagio is very good and I can live with it but I just want some more body to the sound; for example my schiit yggdrasil definitely sounds fuller than my analog front end. Also honestly while the adagio looks OK, it still has that DIY look that you get from a lot of smaller manufacturers. The PS Audio should be here tomorrow, will see if that outclasses the adagio.

The new cartridge is way too expensive for me to even think of replacing it, and it also performs very well (it's just a tad leaner than my old cartridge). I went with the soundsmith because of their rebuild guarantee (I have had bad luck with not damaging my cartridges so this is important to me). 

I know I'm being picky but I'm very close to getting my system to a state where I'm completely satisfied with the sound and finally getting off the upgrade train for a while. 
tablejockey
3,788 posts
 
Looks like that Tavish Adagio isn’t delivering enough tube magic? The rest of your system appears solid.

This was flavor of the month years ago, here on Agon
https://positive-feedback.com/Issue57/nvo.htm

The other model "only" has 13 tubes instead of 22.
There are a couple of listings on the "other" site. All these years, and I haven’t found a bad review from a user. If I were looking, I'd have one of these on my radar.

A little generic/DIY looking(build looks cheap) but the sound coming out of it makes up for it? After all the years it been out, I’m surprised it hasn’t been reviewed by Fremer.
dover
2,182 posts
 
The Paua is not a lean cartridge, I know from experience.
I listened to the Paua many times mounted on an SME 20 TT with both the Soundsmith phono and Linn Uphorik - both solid state, but have the ability to load up to 1000ohms.

As I stated in my earlier posts it requires loading between 500-1000 ohms.

The Tavish has Jensen transformers for the MC gain which I suspect limits your loading to a max of 470ohms, and I believe the source of your problem is the use of SUT's ( in the Tavish ).

I think you will find out if you try the PS Audio or Soundsmith phono or a suitable phono that provides loading options 500-1000 ohms withut the use of SUT's, you will be better off.

The other issue that may be causing brightness, might be VTA. Since the Rega tonearm has to be shimmed to get the VTA correct - has this been attended to ? If you can measure the height of the Paua and compare it to the height of a Rega cartridge ( from top of cartridge to stylus ) this will give you an indicator of whether you need to adjust VTA.


johnss
564 posts
 
@arize84, roll in some shuguang 12A_7 TG types...very musical sounding tube and none of the analytical qualities.
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arize84 OP
56 posts
 
@dover The PS Audio came and I have been listening to it for a few hours. From out of the box it was better than the Adagio.
  • It has a more muscular presentation and I'm getting more punch out of the cartridge
  • Using higher loading options(750 ohms); I got real benefits in the higher frequencies and upper mid range
  • What surprised me the most was in the increase in sound stage depth (both front and back).
  • It is also much quieter than the adagio
  • Finally build quality is really nice and very aesthetically pleasing

I also forgot to mention that I have only had the Paua for 2 weeks and I guess it is still breaking in; it now sounds a touch more lush than a couple of days ago.
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