The best phono stage out there?

Hello Ecka,
I've noted, and if others as well read carefully, you make mention of the "Cartridge you intend to use, is the Dyna XV-1S".

Does that mean that you not currently using that Cartridge with your Sutherland PhD? If not, what Cartridge are/were you using, that you make mention of requiring a Audionote SUT with the Sutherland?

Forgive me for asking, or for any confusion, but the Sutherland should be fine all by itself, with the Dyna XV-1, at .3mv without the need of another SUT in the path which might be possibly be further degrading the signal.

The Sutherland PhD has up to 60db Gain with the Stock Gain Boards, and the optional High Gain Boards (About $75 for the Pair) can be gotten I believe from Elusive Disc (That was where I bought mine from). The High Gain Boards are 62-64-66-68 db. Custom Blank Loading Boards can be gotten as well, and custom value Resistors can be soldered in by those handy with a soldering Iron.

The Sutherland PhD is perhaps not the best Phono Stage in the world, but it's forte, which almost no other Phono Stage can rival, is its dead silence, and immunity to EMI, and RFI.
Hope this helps, Mark

Markd51, Thanks for your comments. I currently use the audionote Io cartridge with the Japanese Audionote SUT. I have not yet used the Dynavector. I will look into the high gain boards . BTW what cartridge do you use?

Perhaps everyone should be required to read Atmosphere's post above,prior to joining this club

The best phono preamp I've heard:

Solid state: FM Acoustics FM 222
Tube: audio research ph3

Salectric has it right. The "best" phono stage can only be the one built to match the system and listening environment.