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3k Phono preamp upgrade options (JC3+, XP-17, etc)

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to upgrade my phono preamp in my sytem and am fairly decided on going the solid state route. The two options I’m most interested in are the Parasound JC3+ and Pass XP-17. I’m curious if anyone has compared these two together, and can describe how these units differ. Here is my system:

Lyra Delos (0.6 mv) -> (new phono here) -> Hegel h120 -> Dynaudio Heritage Specials.

I’m sure both phono preamps are great units, but I’m looking for something that will pair nicely with my Dynaudios. The Hegel is here for now, but I see myself upgrading it eventually, so compatability in that regard isn’t as important.

 

If you think there is a tube option that will work well with my sytem (Sadly Herron isn't in production, so that's a no go) feel free to recommend, but I’m mostly interested in SS for now.

riskymilk
blisshifi's avatar
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blisshifi
1,133 posts
 

@riskymilk You may find this thread helpful, in which I searched for an endgame SS phono. I’m not sure I’ve found it yet, but there sure are a lot of good suggestions and learnings from others even though many of the options fall above the $3K price range. Some of them do not. 

 

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cleeds
5,714 posts
 
mijostyn

... The JC3+ is relatively inexpensive because it is manufactured in Taiwan. If it was made here in the US it would cost easily three times as much and would not be built as well ...

 

 

 

You might want to look under the hood of any of the better US-made components sometime, @mijostyn, from companies such as ARC, McIntosh or Ayre. They’re beautifully built, inside and out.

jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
3,797 posts
 

Solid state Sutherland 2020 phono pre issuperb already? If you add LPS it will even sound much better. Icon ps 1 phono pre is excellent.I own the 2020 And Icon ps 3, my friend has the ps1. 

lewm
12,565 posts
 

IMO, True that John Curl’s name is associated historically with 2-3 phono stages dating back to the 70s and 80s that are venerable. But his work or products that use his name to make it seem he designed them these days are not necessarily wonderful or on the same high level. All that counts is how it sounds. As I recall the JC3+ exists because its predecessor the JC3 was not loved.

audiosaurusrex's avatar
audiosaurusrex
316 posts
 

I owned an SPL Phonos and loved it. I traded it in for a Modwright PH9.0x and it is an endgame phonostage for me. A little more than you would like to spend but plenty of comments about it here in Agon.

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