What is the Phono stage you have finished with?

Atma-sphere MP1 has a first-rate phono stage and a fabulous linestage all rolled into one, with true balanced differential circuits from input to output and no output coupling capacitor, since the amp is directly driven via the circlotron output stage of the MP1. This is a true bargain in all of audio, when you consider the gear it can be compared to, e.g., the Aesthetix Io, Manley Steelhead, Lamm, ASR, etc, etc. I haven't heard it, but Raul's Essential 3160 would seem to be a similar bargain. Plus, you don't have to buy interconnects between phono stage and linestage. My only beef with the MP1 - I sure wish it had two pairs of phono inputs, instead of one.

I have had my IO Sig (single power supply) for a couple of years now and it is naturally musical and explosively dynamic with a wide soundstage. It is very textured as well back to front and that can come across as a bit flat sometimes - but the detail is there in that dimension, just somewhat understated. It is noisy though at high gain (tube rush) even after Jim and the folks at Aesthetix went over it and changed out some tubes. I found the new Sovtek low noise tubes to be quieter and no downside replacing previous NOS tubes. The unit does benefit from spending money on a quiet NOS 6922 / 6dj8 pair though.

Eventually I put the jumpers in the lowest gain setting and added a ZYX pre-pre for loading my UNIverse cartridge and now there is zero noise - and a better bass response than going into the IO alone.

From time to time I consider a different unit, but I suspect it will be hard to get a better sound, so my conclusion is the next upgrade is moving to the IO Eclipse upgrade for my unit. I am confident I have one of the best phono stages available and I would not switch for sound quality reasons, only if I went for more flexibile inputs and loading options. At this moment in time, I can live with a single input as I try to listen to the music - and not trying to be an audiophile comparing equipment performance while listening to music!

I am very intrigued to hear how NKj gets on with the Klyne though and how he will characterize the sound against the IO.

Steve

I absolutely love my Artemis Labs Ph-1. It's an all tube design using 6n1p's, 12ax7's and 5687's giving about 52dB of gain without the use of any step up transformers. Loading is completely adjustable by simply plugging resistors in the back panel of the unit. Extremely well built. The key with this one is you must put a lot of hours on it to break in fully resulting in a wonderful harmonic bloom, excellent micro and macro dynamics. Without the full break in, it is only mediocre at best. Also, I leave mine on all the time unless thunderstorms are in the area. With only 52dB of gain on tap, you must keep the cartridge output at roughly .8mV or higher unless you want to put a step up transformer in front of it. If used within these constraints, it is a truly remarkable phono stage.

My K&K will do me indefinitely, quiet, detailed good soundstage, but above all, it flows like music should. Coped with a number of cartridges including Koetsu Rosewwod Signature, Zyx Airy 3. I am sure there are better, but at the price, under $2000? I do'nt think so.

The Rossner and Sohn Canofer-S is my favorite. By far the quietest and the most detailed phono stage I have ever used.