Solid State Phono Stages

@jeff1225 Did you mean the Aurorasound Vida MkII or a Viva Fono? The Viva Aurora is a massive set of 845 monoblocks. I’ve owned a Viva Linea preamp, and it was beautiful but somewhat obscuring. I did have curiosity about the Aurorasound Vida before.

That said @palasr and others -  I’m now quite happy with the two stages I have and am still evaluating which I will keep for the main rig. The BMC MCCI has really come to fruition the last two weeks, but it does have a very different presentation from the Audionet. I relate the BMC to an OTL amp. It is incredibly clear, like nothing is held back in terms of presence and resolution. But the forwardness of the presentation inhibits soul from being at the core of the music. Not much, and I likely would not be picky if I didn’t have the Audionet as well… but I do. The BMC continues to be more forward, and over time feels slightly more fatiguing. The Audionet on the other hand is a bit more refined and confident sounding, like it’s not trying to prove anything. It just delivers music and has an incredible flow with incredible resolution.

I would say that the BMC does let me hear things that I wish the Audionet could do. The imaging at most times is incredibly holographic. The sense of space and separation between instruments is stunning. But sometimes, it makes it feel like a number of musicians playing separately and the gel factor doesn’t hit me like it does with the Audionet. The moment I put on the Audionet, I miss some of the presence from the BMC and it takes a while to get used to, but I feel the music more, and it most times gives me a stronger and more fulfilling emotional response.

I am still playing with the settings of both units. The capacitance and resistance settings of the Audionet do effectively fine tune tonal balance and presentation. The  BMC has different types of settings for providing a warmer sound and standard RIAA vs Neumann RIAA curves. That combinations of the two do make notable differences in the presentation, and I need to sit with both units more. 

but to be clear, while I love them both equally, it is not to say that they are anywhere close in their overall presentation to each other. They are completely different beasts, both whom deserve to be loved. 

More to come in a week or two. 

@thiefoflight I got the name wrong and the system wouldn't let me edit. I have the VIDA MKII and I'm very pleased. It's dead quiet but still extremely engaging.  

@jeff1225 Thanks for the clarification. While I likely won’t purchase it anytime soon, I am still curious about it. What phono stage did you own prior, and what were the notable differences that the Vida brought?

@thiefoflight the VIDA replaced a Lamm LP2.1 Deluxe. The VIDA matches the Lamm in terms of resolution but is much more quiet. 

I have on regular occasions been in in a position to experience two phonostages.

I have had the option to use different Tonearms and Cartridges, but experiencing these does not in my experiences, impact on the presentation in the same manner as changing the signal path via the Phonostage.

To work with the impressions that can be made, I have a few resident SUT's but have had the loans of other SUT's and Head Amp's.

There is something about the differences a Phonostage can have on a replay, and the want to learn much about this has led me to be party to numerous demonstrations of devices.

I have come to learn there is a small selection of Phonostages I would be happy to be with, would I like to have them all at home and select one that supersedes all.  No I would not, I like the memory, the recollection and the want to get out and encounter such wonderment once more.

It is very satisfying to be in the company of a device that makes such a positive impression and creates a real feel good factor, but for all these strengths, is not enough to tempt one of their much enjoyed owned devices. The experience of being able to gauge where a system is and know that any alterations will be a change only, but mot a change for the better is a comfortable place to be.

The differences recognised between the devices, and the alternate usage of each device, is almost a selection to suit a mood, and ones mood is usually dictating the Genre selected to be replayed, the alternate usage is certainly not an attempt to improve the system. I am suspecting this is where the OP is finding they have arrived at with their options for the two devices available at present.