Phono Stage upgrade to complement Dohmann Helix One Mk 2

The Van Den Hul Grail SE (or SB) is a “CURRENT” phono stage that has garnered excellent reviews.  I own the SB.

@rauliruegas 

Thanks for sharing your musical preferences.  That allows me to better understand your  musical perspective.  I understand that you want a system that reproduces every nuance, as if you are in the orchestra with the musicians, along with the microphones, and the Lyra Atlas definitely makes me feel that way, and I understand why you have such an affinity for that cartridge.  On the other hand, the Koetsu does make you feel like you are further back in the audience seating, where details are lost, but some people think the sounds combine more musically the further back you are from the orchestra / musicians.  Your perception is that this effect of the Koetsu is s a deficiency, and technically, I suppose you are correct.  

As previously mentioned, it does seem that most experienced audiophiles do prefer a SS phono stage, and I am looking in that direction.  While I haven't researched all the recommendations yet, I would say that I'm preliminarily leaning towards the CH Precision P1 with X1 power supply.  

Thanks. 

Keep in mind that Raul has a fanatical hatred for any component that uses a vacuum tube. His judgement is not objective. In my opinion, your best course of action is to try to audition as many of these high end phonoline stages as you can, both tube type and solid state type, before making your purchasing decision. I don’t know where you live, but I do realize that it is difficult these days to find a place to just go and listen. You may have to travel to do so.

Contrary to Raul’s insinuation, I never said or even meant to imply that the Manley Steelhead is the be all and end all of phono reproducers. But I think that my tweaked one is pretty good.

Dear @lewm  : " Keep in mind that Raul has a fanatical hatred for any component that uses a vacuum tube. His judgement is not objective.."

WRONG again. As you I was a tube love for 10+ years and the Ongaku that pani named was my last experience with because at that timwe and contrary of you I LEARNED and I know in OBJECTIVE terms that the worst place to have a tube electronic unit is a  phono stage .

"" Contrary to Raul’s insinuation, I never said or even meant to imply that the Manley Steelhead is the be all and end all of phono reproducers. But I think that my tweaked one is pretty good. ""

WRONG again+, that's only yur imagination I never posted that " insinuation " and your " pretty good " unit is because you still like to live in the " error ", fine with me. It's your problem, got it?: your problem not mine.

R.

Dear @pani  : " But their new Gaku-Oh is totally a full frequency dynamic beast. The same is with GE10 phono. The only problem is people can't muster spending $60k on a MM only phonostage. ""

Just at the end of mt over 10 years audio tube stage my friend and Audio Note distributor gave me the opportunity to listen for 3 full weeks the Ongaku when I told him that I decided to go with all SS electronics and till today and even that I listened several other contemporary tube electronics just don't " come back to ".

I'm really way demanding as I know you are in the quality level performance of any room/system I been or be listen it. As I posted I'm not married with what " I like " but with how it : should be.

Thank's for your post.

R.