Phono stage for tube system - recommendations?

Dan,

Since our get together, I did both the Audio Note tantalum resistor upgrade, as well as a MOSFET upgrade on the CCS...if anyone out there with the K&K still uses the old Supertex part, switching to the IXYS part is a massive upgrade (all for 89 cents from Mouser).

I wouldn't mind another friendly sit-down with your Doshi ;-))

-Richard

Richard, I can see that happening with the other things going on pretty soon.

Kevin of K&K Audio has a new, fully balanced differential phono stage in beta form. I have one that replaces my original K&K phono pre (by original, it was the first full kit that Kevin sold). In just about every way that you can imagine (sound staging, attack, transparency, flow, pace, weight, color, etc.) it surpasses the current kit, in some ways by a large margin. In the context of a full K&K system (line stage, PP parallel 6550 mono-blocks) it is really pretty awesome. If you think tubes can't get the leading edge of notes right and do attack, you have to hear this set-up. One good thing about dealing with Kevin: he's always trying new things and improving his products, then passing it on. He recently mentioned to me in a phone conversation that dropping the value of the grid-stoppers from 100 ohms to 10 ohms in the phono pre and line stage made the music more dynamic, incisive. I went out and replaced them and his description of the changes was accurate to the T. FWIW, I have used the Shelter 90X. Currently I have a Shelter 9000 mounted and the difference is not trivial.

Looks like the K&K is a worthy consideration.

Anyone here by chance have used the K&K maxed out w/ another brand of step up tranny like the ones offered by Bob's Devices ? the altec or sowther type ?

I would second Rushton's recommendation.

And I own and have loved the performance of my Aesthetix Rhea and I'm having the Signature upgrade by Jim White.

Once you step into the light you will never go back.

Happy Listening!