Recommendations for MM Phono ~ Tube or Solid State

@psf4972

Thank you for your recommendation. I have heard of Abbas DAC’s, nothing but high praises all around, I will definitely keep in mind when I am ready to pull the trigger.

@moonwatcher - Thank you!

@j-wall I agree, Buying Allnic on used market is a good value. What took me by surprise is their very linear sound despite of all the tubes, H-6500 sound nothing like a tube component. I think it’s intentional by design as designer doesn’t want end users to hear any coloration which kinda makes sense. I am honestly spoiled by Shindo Labs, nothing else has come close to sounding that heavenly as my Monbrison preamp.

@scar972

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am hoping to hear next level performance by inserting a properly matched SUT. It’s a work in progress:-) 

Thank you for your recommendation for Andros. It’s reasonably priced and uses my favorite tubes, NOS Telefunken or Mullard’s comes to mind to further tweak the sound. 

@lewm I know it sounds that way but I’ve had several high gain phono stages in here over the last 15 years, they do sound different from each other and some are better than other for sure. But it took just one SUT to make me realize that it provided something I’ve never experienced before with any of my previous phono stages, the top end has never been as open and airy, and the noise floor is so low it’s almost nonexistent. I know it’s still not enough to make a universal statement but that’s how I’m carrying on going forward. Maybe I just got lucky that this SUT has a few loading options that plays well with my cartridges and also multiple inputs  for multiple tonearms.

Dear @scar972 : : Angelo and Levinson designed in those old times Cello electronics and both never were to good phono designers . Cello/Levinson amplifiers is other matter and very good ones.

The FR vintage SUT was and is only an average/mediocre unit from those times when in those times Denon, Audio Technica, Entré, Sony or Tachnics and others were at the top and I owned almost but the top Technics as afact I still own what for me is the best SUT ever Denon 1000, I own too an Entré and other Denon 340.

You own a just first rate room/system but that could not means that you are rigth about the phono/Sut because IMHO you are not and I agree with @lewm in this specific regards. Yes, that’s what you like and I think that you have to listen to a top today active high gain SS phonolinepreamp  and compare too vs live MUSIC seated at near field .position.

R.

“this SUT”
@scar972 

What is the brand name / model of your SUT ? 

Scar, now that you’ve provided more detail in your past history, I would say you have about as much data as many of us have to support our convictions. At some point one wants to stop experimenting and move on to other audio dilemmas. But after I found that some of my most closely guarded biases did not hold up to new experiences, my motto has become never say never.