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What phono stage candidates should I consider?

I will be taking delivery of a new linestage, the Emotive Audio Epifania (tube-based), which will be replacing a Mark Levinson Ref. No. 32 that has a built-in phono stage. I am therefore in the market for a new phono stage. My cartridge is a Lyra Titan, which is mounted on a Basis Vector arm/Basis Debut (vacuum) table combination.

I can, realistically, only review a small number of candidate linestages in my own system, so I need to determine which stages to consider. If I find one that I like, I will go with it and I do not plan on driving myself crazy chasing after the "best."

Some of the relevant details about the Titan are as follows: It is rated at .5mV output and has an internal impedance of 5.5 ohms. Lyra specifies loading of 10 ohms to 47k ohm (they recommend the higher end of the range, i.e, unloaded). If mated to a step up transformer, they recommend 4-6 ohms, not exceeding 10 ohms.

One of the candidates I am looking at is the Artemis PL-1 phono stage. It is a tube-base unit that utilizes a transformer to step up the voltage. I don't know which model of transformer they use, but the brand is a Sowter (my guess is the 1:20 model specified for cartridges with a 3-15 internal impedance).

I can also get in for audition a Ray Samuels Emmeline. I will also be borrowing a friend's phono stage that is made locally, in the Washington D.C. area, by Deja Vu Audio (tube based/Jensen transformer or a more expensive model with Audionote trannies).

I am looking for any comments as to which candidates to consider and any helpful detail of experience mating the Titan with a good phono stage. I do hope to keep cost under $8,000 or so, if that is possible.

Thanks.
larryi
rjwood
14 posts
 
Adog,
I've just visited Graham Tricker's website (gtaudio.com) and, yes, you're right, the "PhoNote" phono preamp that I auditioned is indeed different (but similar), so apologies for suggesting otherwise. However, it does retail for 1500 pounds and you'd expect the Seven to sell for not much more than 2000 pounds if it were available in the UK.
So do us Brits get a significantly inferior sounding product for just a few hundred pounds less? Judging by Mr Tricker's remarks on his website (not to mention the application of common sense), this is certainly not the case.
Anyway, as I've said, the Lector phono preamp (850 pounds) was far more musical to my jaded ears.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Another vote for the K&K phonostage, under $2000 built and the last phonostage i will buy. A hybrid tube/jFet design, its quiet, musical with a great soundstage. It is a very similar design to the Art Audio vinyl reference, designed by the same person. Try and get an audition of one, you won't be disappointed.
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
The TRON Seven will be available in the UK as well as the USA; the Phonote, which is a cheaper version will be UK only. I have Graham Tricker's personal demo Tron Meteor preamp (predecessor of the Syren, but with v similar circuits etc), as I have been one of Graham's customers in the UK for the last 15 years. The Seven is based on the phono stage of the current Syren preamp, which retails at upwards of 6k GBP depending on spec. It is designed to be a no holds barred unit for MC only. If you want a bespoke unit, Graham will make it for you. Graham said that he could decouple the MC transformers from my phono circuit (v. similar to Syren and Seven), but this is a factory mod, not just the removal of a couple of jumpers.
I'm very pleased that many of you from the US are finding his products thought provoking. Some of us in the UK have been great fans for years. His Syren preamp is stunning. I gather from Graham that his current US distributor, Jeff at Highwater, is providing excellent service.
By the way, my TRON Meteor pre is fed by an Allaerts MC1B/Schroeder Model 2/Platine Verdier front end and drives rebuilt Quad IIs (rebuilt by Graham 15 years ago and serviced by him) an Avantgarde Duos.
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