Solid State Phono Stages

My experience is all about being social and interactive with other enthusiasts.

HiFi is a diminishing concern when the younger generations are considered, and I am happy to support any event that might attract some of the younger individuals, as well as be a face to be met and supply support to any queries presented.

Also through this behaviour to get out and interact, I have been fortunate to have come to know accomplished EE's that are not only adept followers of circuits, but known for being accomplished as circuit designers and have designed works for known Brands as well as take on commission builds bespoke produced to the customer.

 A few of these EE's have progressed to having their own growing Brands of which some the sale items have even got a mention on this forum, not too bad for a modern UK Brand. 

It is a nice moment for an individual, when a Company Owner values your own assessment and is keen to receive an evaluation of a work in hand. This is even more of a moment when the designer is willing to loan a prototype for a prolonged assessment.

Most of my devices I own today are commission built or known Brand Models that are subsequently given as a donor to be overhauled by known individuals who specialise with such products.

As I have been instrumental in participating with the majority of my devices that are commission built, it is not a option to have a home demo', but as I have been assessing the work, produced at different stages, and a participant in the trialing of and the selecting of components, I have a very good idea of the SQ being developed for the devices.

This is a method that has suited me, as not only have I acquired items I am making old bones with, and do not intend on separating from, the friendships formed and maintained are as healthy as the admiration of the products produced. 

I would use the dealer rooms to see products, the real benefit is looking to see if it is possible to be meeting with the individuals responsible for a design.

There is the likelihood, when they are met, they can see a real enthusiast is in their presence, and this can be good as there will usually be a meeting where the individual will be quite willing to exchange dialogue.  A event can be a good place to encounter these types of individual.

At the last public event I attended prior to COVID, a similar dialogue developed between a room visitor and a EE who I was with, with the result being a follow up meeting was arranged and a Bespoke Built Phonostage was produced for the individual based on the standard design being demonstrated during the event.

Whatever method is adopted to encounter products of interest, a product tailer made to to deliver the majority of ones own preferences is not too bad a place to arrive at either.  

+1 @pindac! Wonderfully said. I would say that in both cases, either across industry events, working directly with manufacturers, and buying/selling on the used market has expanded my network in ways I value sometimes more than the gear I end up getting.

While I am curious about SS stages, one of the reasons I love my Modwright PH9.0X (aside from the fact that it kicks serious butt) is my multi-year engagement with Dan Wright. He has been an incredible designer and engineer that listens and provides impeccable guidance. He has designed some products around my needs.

I always tend to find myself keeping in contact with anyone I buy and sell from as well, and the perspective gained from that is priceless. It's unfortunate that forum dialogue and interaction doesn't result in the same level of real-world relationships.

@thiefoflight  …”But I am in the camp that believes that a component can be analytical and be incredibly musical and enjoyable.”

ok, we definitely are talking about definitions.. Maybe it is just because I am an old fart, but analytical to me means overly detailed… achieved by less midrange and bass bloom… causing a highlighting of detail… which always comes at a loss of warmth and generally musicality. It is like slam which is increased by reducing midrange and upper bass… the contrast highlights the fast transient bass (something ss is good at). But the downside is you loose bass resolution.
 

To me you are talking about wanting a detailed musical system… the thing ARC is known for. Analytical has bad connotations to me.

@ghdprentice We're understanding each other. Musical and detailed to me also has bad connotations. For me, analytical allows me to "see" into the music. Being detailed is not always good if the detail is not being presented well. If it's just in your face without grace, the listener has no focal point and it all falls apart. That's probably what you associate as analytical. But the true root of analytical is something that can be analyzed, so delivery and presentation matters a lot. This topic is something that has caused divide across the community for so many years, even generations, and hopefully one day it will be bridged. I, too, don't want to associate myself as a typical "analytical" listener, but I won't deny that I want to hear it all, and hear it all with grace and soul.

Enthusiast evolve in their understanding of how to listen to music analytically and for pleasure.

Enthusiast also evolve in their understanding of how the system in use works as an entire set up. The enthusiast will have a good grasp on where the system is in terms of the performance on offer and where they might have a want for it, as it is not quite able to deliver in a certain frequency or perception to the owners unique preferences.

Engineers evolve as well, their hands on experience and interactions hone the skill set, and the hooks that adopt to eek the best out of a circuit becomes their signature.

Keeping in contact with an individual who has skills that one can only dream off acquiring and also one that has a trust in you, at times inviting you along for ypur thoughts to be shared and showing a dependence on your own experiences, is a great place to be. I would not change a thing.

Andy Groves who is the Head Engineer in Audionote and possibly is executive in the Company was the designer of my first owned SS Phonostage.

Andy was also instrumental in the design of my first Valve Power Amp.

Both of these designs introduced me to an EE who I am still good friends with today and we are at present doing a project together once more.

Andy now uses Panzerholz as part of the structure for certain Audionote Circuits, the material might even be used for all the products created at present.

Is this a circuit improvement electronically or is a structure that improves the circuit when in operation ?? It is a hook and is born as an idea and then curiosity has yielded the result where the method is seen as worthwhile and to part of a design.

My own Engineer has developed hooks and he is quite protective of these, he has always requested that I do not make knowledge of his IP known, which I have faithfully honoured.

Another Electronics Engineer friend who has produced Pre Amps and Phonostages,  felt that his HiFi system was maxed, and there was no need to add a device of any type.

They were curious about the interfaces for the umbilical's.The individual has high quality Cables and RCA Plugs, and focused on the Chassis Sockets, as the next parts to be considered to be exchanged.

The swap of the Sockets to another brands Chassis Mount Sockets blew him away at the improvements on offer, I have heard this exchange of parts and the change is detectable and is a method I will be adopting.

Keeping the curiosity and interest is important and being broad minded will go a long way. A look at the simpler things in the system can yield the levels of change in a system, that some part with extortionate amounts of monies to try to correct.