Voltage mode vs current mode phono stages

@lewm , what makes the BMC you favorite?

You been on a ride yet? My wife and I have new bikes this year. The drive trains are somewhere between New Hampshire and Italy.

This year's ride is leaving Banff on the 10th of June and hoping to arrive at Antelope Wells, NM in under 30 days (we'll see). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW_z-z3tfxw In 2019 I made it to the Brush Mountain Lodge; Steven of this video passed me on Union Pass in Wyoming...

@lewm , I looked at the BMC and read Fremer's review. The current price is $4800.00 which is not bad at all. They are built in China.

Comparing the BMC to the Seta + is relatively easy in regard to their physical attributes. The BMC is very nice looking although some would argue that the on-off switch(that huge knob in the center) is a little over-baked. The Seta + is industrial looking in comparison. Inside the units is a different story. The BMC uses through hole phenolic boards and the Seta + SMD construction on fiberglass boards. The BMC uses standard regulated power supplies (good ones) while the Seta + uses  lead acid batteries and a charging system that disconnects from the unit when in use, perfect isolation. The Seta + is made in America and costs over $9K with the optional RIAA board. Made in America covers the price differential. 

Fremer reviewed an older version of the BMC and liked it very much. He also reviewed the the Seta's little brother the Lino C which he also liked very much. I suspect both units are excellent phono stages and would have been SOTA if they were three times the price. I am in the same boat Lew is in. I really like the idea of a current mode phono stage but am not going to spend silly money on the CH Precision unit. I do not need the added complexity and it is a very complex unit and I do not feel like spending money on complexity. But I would bet dollars to donuts that blinded, few of us if any could reliably tell the difference between the three stages. Mr Fremer would argue with that, but he has better hearing than I have. 

Mr Fremer would argue with that, but he has better hearing than I have. 

Really? I spoke to him at Axpona and he could hardly hear me, had to repeat myself like 10 times. 😉

Fremer by and large has better equipment than most of us have, not necessarily better hearing.  He's old, like we are.  Like I said before, what is the big deal about SMD components?  Good for op amps in circuits with very very wide bandwidth but not necessarily an audible upgrade with a phono stage.  That said, the quality of construction of the Seta circuit does appear to be very high, judging only from photos.  I've not seen the innards of a BMC. I'm not buying any time soon, or maybe ever.