2. analog
  3. 1176034502

Looks like I need another stage...suggestions?

Well, I purchased a Lehmann Black cubefrom someone on here on March 19th. Was to be shipped that week and to receive it by the weekend. No stage arrived, wrote back and was told it would be sent out overnight 2 thursdays ago so I would have it by last weekend. Well, still no stage and now no communication back to me in over a week. So, it seems I've lost $360. Needless to say, pretty upset as I'm selling and buying houses and about start med school, so $360 is a good chunk of change for me right now. And unfortunate because I'm afraid to buy anything else here....

Sorry for the rant, just can't beleive it...Anyway, looking for a phono stage in about the same price range and wondering about some other options out there, or is the Black Cube the route to go at that price?
pablo16
pablo16 OP
45 posts
 
Additional info:
Running a MMF-5 with the Goldring 1012 (probably will upgrade soon) through an Onix/Melody SP3.

Here's a few I'm deciding between:
Monolithic PS1/HC combo
Musical Surroundings Phenomona
Black Cube
Pro-ject Tube Box (either I or II)
Bottlehead Seduction

What do y'all think?? I would like for this to last about 4 years, if the upgrade bug doesn't hit.
pablo16 OP
45 posts
 
Ncarv...

He does have decent feedback, 4 positive and 1 negative. I know he had alot going on with some family stuff, so that's why I was trying to give him time and writing him in a friendly manner multiple times. However, when I haven't heard anything back from him in 10 days, it's worrysome. And, I close on my house soon and will no longer have this address to deliver to.

As for the stage...I'm even wondering if one of the ones listed above is better than the Black cube, so even if it does arrive, I'm sure I could resell here no problem. One issue I have with the Black cube is the "look"...I'll have to hide it as it isn't the best looking component out there. But, if it performs better than the monolithic or phenom or tube box, I could live with it.
piedpiper
753 posts
 
What might you be upgrading from the Goldring to?
etbaby
138 posts
 
Get the Bellari phono. Then get a RAM super low noise 12AX7 tube to replace the electro-harmonic tube that comes with the unit. This will make a dramatic improvment in the sound of the phono unit.
pablo16 OP
45 posts
 
Piedpiper...Not really sure on the cart upgrade...Probably will only be able to spend about 300-350 though, so not a huge upgrade.

As for the Bellari, is it really as good as the Black Cube or the Monolithic? I've heard the bellari wasn't as good as the Tube Box, even with the roll.
More to discover