Stand out phono stages

Nice to know that the 70's into early 80's in the time of statement DD's from the big manufacturers still keeps beating so called new technology to the punch. Was the Yamaha any good?

Hi EBuzz - I used to have an EAR 834P. I found it happened to have its own very distinctive musical signature. There are people out there that due to this 'musicality' they simply will not change from the EAR 834p regardless of costs. It is definitively 'tubey'. I haven't got, or heard an ALLNIC - but think about what you want from your phono amp first before buying - I myself preferred higher resolution and tighter bass - is there no way you can get a dealer to lend the Allnic to you

Hi Lohanimal:

The HA-2 in particular was highly sought-after by Japanese audiophiles, and widely praised for its sonic immediacy, as well as for its innovative approach. I never owned the HA-2 (couldn't afford it as a student), therefore I can neither confirm nor deny those views. I did own the HA-3, and once I corrected the RIAA equalization network, it sounded quite good.

I later exchanged the HA-3 together with an Audio-Technica AT-37 MC cartridge and Kenwood turntable (probably the KP-880D) in return for a studio-grade Denon open-reel deck, but a small part of me wishes that I had kept that HA-3. The circuitry knowledge that I have now would let me modify it into a much higher level than I could back in the mid-early 1980s.

Clearaudio's Absolute Phono page states that theirs is "the world's first active headshell moving coil phostage". If you forget about Yamaha and ignore the entire Japanese audio scene, they may be right (grin).

http://clearaudio.de/en/products/electronics-absolute_phono.php

kind regards, jonathan carr

Hi Jonathon - that is just so funny I think. Another irony is that Harry Weisfield in an interview said that an SP10 would cost 30,000 USD in todays market. I genuinely believe that when big companies really 'went for it' some astonishing products that whilst not cheap, were still good value for money. I've written elsewhere that I have an EMT 950 that I am restoring, and I want to set aside some savings to do this at then end of next year - I hope it's brilliant - that said I like the fact that it has the phono boards fairly close to the arm output. BTW why oh why won't can't you get the Connoisseur made again? I may never be able to afford it, but it is one of the few high end products like the Sirius that were truly 'mount everest' products (a bit like the McLaren F1 car) and to know they exists is a good thing for me.

Thanks Lohanimal, I've come across that same sentiment with the EAR 834P and I do like the "tubey" sound. I'll look into a demo.