Superb PHONO Preamp ?

Two that has not been mentioned are the Zanden and the FM Acoustics. Certainly the one which has recently gotten the most mention is the Groove. I am very pleased with my Vendetta 2T, but would like to hear some of the other contenders, particularly the Groove and the new Connoisseur which is finally being sold as a separate unit.

On a separate topic, I just had a friend install a Helikon in my systen replacing a very old Clearaudio Accurate; even cold with no breakin better than the Accurate.

Hi Fred, i too have heard that the Connoisseur is very special and all the rage now in Japan. I would love to hear some details on it.

Btw, i agree with your letter in Absolute Sound; it is frustrating when they say they will be publishing further information and then no more word.....if the distributor pulls the item, they should have an obligation to fulfill their promises somehow. I'm sure the new distributor would love to help the process if Absolute Sound asked.

My friend bought the Klyne 7. Listened to the unit: (1) On MC, it was strange for me that 100 Ohm did not sound better than 47K, the sound did change, but not conclusively one better than another settings. Theoretically, and on other phono stages, 100 ohm definitely should've been better. (2) Very detail and silvery sound, but cold and not emotional. Violin tone lacks the 'friction' of horse hair rubbing the string. Not projecting air surrounding, vocal or cello.

The Aesthetix has a bigger, lusher, and slower sound, and the noise is quite obvious. I personally find it too slow, and the 2-box to me is not acceptable.

I ended up personally with the Groove. Extremely quiet, the best in the detail retrieval, so far heard none better. And it does not sound 'solid-state', but very suave, musical and a slight warm tone (but not overly goldend). Very fast transient and explosive dynamics.

Just to share that I picked Groove after hearing the following stages.

Owned-then-sold: AIM3, AIM3a+GB, ARC PH3, Linn Linto, Pentagon, Krell KPA x 1, Krell KPA x 2 (dual mono), Vendetta SCP2B, Spectral DMC20.2

Heard-w/o-home-trial: Aesthetix Io, Herron, Klyne 7, YBL, Hovland.

Thomasheisig, I can't offer a comparison of the units you mention, but I have recently added the new Aesthetix Io Signature, with optional second power supply, to my system. This simply is an incredible phonostage. As you might expect, detail, quickness, timbre, imaging, etc, etc, are all you would expect of a high performing phonostage. What continues to amaze me are: harmonic truthfulness, soundstaging (as opposed to pure lateral imaging), bass reproduction, and dynamics. The dynamic swings this thing makes are almost scary. You can just be cruising along and then suddenly, out of nowhere, can come this huge transient that will cause you to jump. In addition, it just seems not to have any limitations on how far it can continue to track along with a big dynamic change in music volume. The power reserve just seems endless.

I've actively engaged in this crazy shared passion or ours for 30 years now, and the Io Signature is one of the most incredibly satisfying pieces of gear I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. It suits perfectly my biases in favor of acoustic music, accurate reproduction of complex harmonic overtones (a magic that I still find only with the best tube electronics), timbral accuracy and soundstaging.

For further point of reference, the balance of the system includes Atma-Sphere MA-2 Mk2.2 amplifiers and Avalon Eidolon speakers. While I don't use a low output cartridge, I've spoken with a number of Io owners who do (e.g., 0.2mv Koetsu Rosewood Signatures) and who report that the Io has no trouble at all with the low output as long as you pay proper attention to keeping low noise tubes in the first stage of amplification. As delivered from the factory, this is not a problem.

Best wishes and good luck in your search for a phonostage that will have the right balance of characteristics and synergy with your system. The Io Signature has the right balance of characteristics for me and my system.

Thomasheisig, Albert Porter here. You will most likely recall our email discussions 6 months ago where I advised you that the Io was to eventually be available as a "Signature" version. You were interested in one at that time, and still appear to be on the search for the ultimate phono.

I am pleased that Rushton has spoken his mind, and said almost word for word my opinion of the Io.

Should you choose another route, you will have to eventually return to the decision to buy an Io to obtain the ultimate performance.

Much less strain and expense to do it correctly the first time.

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