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Phono stage for tube system - recommendations?

I recently swapped my Blue Circle driving Merlins for the well regarded Ars Sonum Filharmonia integrated. I have gained a fair amount of air and presence but lost a smidgen of attack especially on higher spectrum of frequency. Front end is a Shelter 901/SME-V/Orbe SE.

I was previously considering moving from my modified GCPH to a tubed photo such as the K&K Maxxed out, Herron,JLTI Artemis, or Aesthetix Rhea, but am now having second thoughts going all tube, and contemplating upgrading along the lines of a Solid State Phono stage instead.

On the solid state side, the candidates are the usual suspects: Pass Xono, ASR, Whest, Tom Evans.

I'm sure at least a handful of members have come to this fork and have some experiences to share. Thoughts welcome!

Thanks,
Ben
128x128pureretro
nolitan
865 posts
 
Shelters works well with the Graham Slee Era Gold and the Elevator step up.
Tom Evans Groove x is another candidate.
Ear 324 solid state is another good one.
clio09
3,346 posts
 
Get the K&K, you won't regret it.
bucketjr
17 posts
 
I think the K&K is very special.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
Never seen the K&K's and I just looked them up, they look really cool, and well designed, but I don't see a tubed phono stage?
sit
315 posts
 
I have the Art Audio Vinyl One and find it to help produce wonderful sound. Warm, rich, revealing.

I also have the Shelter 90x. It's affixed to an Origin Illustrious arm, on a SOTA Nova V table. I only heard about K&K after my purchase. I understand they build the Art Audio equipment.

I spent only a short time with an Ear and a GCPH (std. version). I didn't care for the GCPH at all. I find the Vinyl One superior to both of these others for my taste.
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