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$1,500 phono upgrade worth it?

I'm having the itch to upgrade my phono stage. I currently have a Rega P6,  Ania Pro cart, and Rega Fono MC stage. I find that the stage is generally pretty noisy with a noticeable hiss. The table can't be grounded in stock configuration from Rega, so I don't think it's that. I do have a dedicated line run from my panel to the plug. I don't think it's picking up any interference. The phono is run into a Primaluna Evo 300 integrated; which is dead silent when streaming.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out, is the $1,500 figure going to make a noticeable difference? Do I even need to go that high? Given my current configuration, I can't see stepping up much higher than that. At some point I'm only going to get so much out of the ancillary components to justify going way above them with the stage.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Cheers and happy holidays!!

ecrotty
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 

One of the reasons it is better to run just one dedicated line and not multiple like some recommend.

ghdprentice
6,840 posts
 

A well chosen phono stage at the price point you are thinking about will be significantly better… very noticeable. Big gains in sound quality are to be easily made by doubling your investment to well over $10K. -hono stages are really important in the ultimate sound of your system.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,710 posts
 

That would rightly piss me off. I've no hum.

If when playing music at whatever level and sitting wherever you usually sit the hum is audible only when the music isn't playing, ie gets drowned out by groove noise, then no worries. 

ghdprentice
6,840 posts
 

Groove noise… that is a problem. Well, this is the benefit of moving up in analog rigs. A good TT / phono stage will have no groove noise or hum.

 

I remember at being shocked with my first good turntable that all the groove noise and ticks disappeared… and if there were a few ticks using a cleaning machine and they disappeared. Now, my collection’s background noise is completely absent. 

boxer12
8,656 posts
 

OP,

Please advise on what phono cable you are currently using from the tonearm to the phono stage. If it isn't a "dedicated" phono cable, that could easily be part (if not all) of the excessive noise issue you're experiencing. 

 

Thanks

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