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Solid State Phono Stages

I used to be an all-tube guy, but I’ve now ventured into the realm of high-end solid state with T+A and no longer have any itch to go back heavily into tubes. Now, the only tubes I have left in my system are in my Modwright PH9.0X phono, and from what I’ve demoed against it, it seems to be a giant killer. I do love it, but I’m curious to try a higher end solid state phono stage to see what more noise and more music might sound like. Unfortunately T+A does not have a standalone phono stage, so I’m looking at other manufacturers and open to other opinions.

I currently have a Clearaudio Innovation Wood table and Air Tight PC-1s cartridge. i listen to a wide range of music, from Zeppelin to Vivaldi to Beck to Coltrane to Yello. The stage would ideally have between 65-74db of gain, maybe adjustable to 60db at minimum, and have variable impedance values. A balanced output stage would be ideal. I don’t ever really plan to have a second arm, but most stages that retail over $7K tend to have multiple inputs anyways.

My budget would be at tops ~$8K for a used unit. The unit that is sticking out to me from what I’m reading about is the Simaudio Moon 810LP. Another high on the list is the Esoteric E-02. I’ve also come across the Pass XP-27, the Gold Note PH-1000.

I’m looking for a stage with some personality in its character, not one that is overly refined. I’d love for it to be dynamic and bold when it should be, and also gentle and refined when it should be.

The only solid state stages I’ve ever owned and tried were the Pass Labs Xono, which was clean sounding but a little noisy and brittle sounding compared to a PS Audio Stellar Phono. I’ve liked all my tube phono stages better than both of those units.

I’ve also considered going further up the tube stage route, looking at Doshi 3.0, Aesthetix IO Eclipse, but I’m hesitant unless I can hear those in place. 

What solid stage phono stages have you loved, and what have you compared them to?

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blisshifi OP
1,183 posts
 

Hey @rauliruegas - thanks for your thoughts and making me look into it. Are talking about the BMC unit? The Audionet claims +-.2db. While the BMC doesn’t list the spec, they publish the chart, which is almost completely flat (0db deviation) from 60hz on. They also explain their theory on why RIAA equalization in general can be inaccurate, and that additional adjustments can be made to compensate for low bass. I will not get this unit until late May likely. 
 

OTOH the Audionet PAM G2 with EPC power supply is well above and beyond the performance of the Modwright PH9.0X. There is an absolutely beautiful weight and bloom and tone, more so than the Modwright. The soundstage is wider and imaging outlines are more precise. The Audionet is above and beyond quieter. Bass control and amount is significantly better.

I’ll be putting the Modwright up for sale in the coming week or so. It is by far an incredible stage for the price, but I seem to have found a successor in the Audionet, and we’ll see how the BMC performs in a month or two. 

photomax
169 posts
 

OK, kudos to the OP and contributors on this thread. Unlike some threads that get really “weird” this discussion has been conducted with politeness and constructive give and take.

Nice!!

palasr
526 posts
 

@photomax,

Well said.  This has indeed been a very instructive and informative thread free of the destructive degeneration of most threads on Audiogon these days - kind of what it used to be like around 10 years ago.  

OP, keep us updated.

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blisshifi OP
1,183 posts
 

@photomax I appreciate your call out very much, thanks. I was worried it might go that route myself and glad it did not. A somewhat fitting statement, someone I work with introduced me to “The Platinum Rule”. Where the golden rule says to treat others the way you would like to be treated, the platinum rule says to treat people the way THEY want to be treated. Very subtle difference that requires an extra ounce of awareness for others’ needs. If this is how every forum went, we’d all be much further along on our audio journey!

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pindac
2,864 posts
 

@thiefoflight to discover a device that surpasses and supersedes a trusted device is usually a knock one out the ballpark experience, and only being their can really describe the impact that is made and good impression left.

I have had this twice with Two Phon's across a few years, one that was built for me by the designer who was initially offering it as a kit to be assembled, this was very special and won my favour and others who experienced it, following a Tube Rolling experience, I thought I was finished with the search for  Phon'.

A friend attended a Phonostage Bake Off with myself and demonstrated a Phon' he had produced, and when it was given its demonstration, it was a show stopper.

I was supplying parts and a critical ear during this Phon' design rethink.

The end product took on a few guises throughout a period of a year and the latest design produced solely by this individual is owned by myself.

It is a amazing piece of kit to use, and my search is I believe for now over, whilst my ears are functioning as they are at the present.

The designer is now involved with producing Phon' designs for a well known Company that specialises in ancillaries for TT's.

Enjoy the new information to be revealed from the groove and the wonderment that can follow.  

More to discover