Best cost no object tube phono

What it might sound as an unfair comparison, I own a Manly Steelhead and when I compare it my CH P1 (one for each channel) with two X1 power supplies, I can’t stop getting amazed on how well the Steelhead sounds.

Yes the CH P1 is better at everything and would not replace it with a Steelhead, BUT I cant stop to be amazed at how well the Steelhead sounds.

Following some advice from some users here some guts were replaced with better quality, but not much, which transformed the Steelhead for the better.

The Steelhead is $10k ($10800 with the modification), the CH about $90k and I have no problem listening to the Steelhead all day long. I just wish Manley did use a few better components and not be cheap in a $10K phono stage, but my hat to them specially since this design is pretty old.

I wander why the Steelhead is not mentioned more often since it is a USA product.

I wander why the Steelhead is not mentioned more often since it is a USA product.

Some guesses:
It’s been around a long time without any superficially visible new versions. The ultra high-end segment seems to love either "brand NEW version Alpha Centauri Mk MCXIII SE+ Prime Sigma RED, only {$$$MEGA BUX$$$}!", or really really vintage. Also $10K is no longer attention grabbing in the ultra segment, and yet it’s too pricey for most ordinary folk. Are there even many Manley dealers anymore? They seemed to be a lot more available and talked about in hifi circles in the 2000s.

It also tops out at 65dB, which is a bit low compared to some other ultra phono stages’ 70dB+. I wouldn’t want to run a 0.2mV on 65dB. Personally I like to have 70dB on tap.

I’d still love to try one someday. It was a tantalizing fruit, well beyond my reach when I first got into vinyl.

$10K is not cheap. The build quality is very decent but some capacitors in the signal path could be upgraded. I’ve done so in mine. No preamp on earth is worth $90K. I don’t care how many chassis’ are needed for stereo. Steelhead is frequently mentioned here, so I don’t know why you think it’s under the radar.

Mulveling, if 65db is not enough gain via the MC inputs, you can use a SUT into the MM inputs. And since you can have anywhere from 50 to 65db gain thru the MM inputs , plus the voltage gain added by a SUT, there is absolutely no cartridge on earth that has too low a voltage output for the Steelhead. I have run my AT ART7 with an output of 0.12mV via the Steelhead with no SUT. I am currently running my Ortofon MC2000 into the MM inputs using a pre preamp to boost cartridge output.

''The best'' assume comparison in the sense of ''quantification'':

''All x are Fx & Gx''. If there is one x which does not satisfy

conditions F&G than the statement is not true.

Who has inspected  ''all cartridges'' (Raul?).