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Tube Phono Stage Help

I have a Whest TWO that I am auditioning with a 30 trial period. My ultimate goal was a Fosgate but I decided to order a Spectron amp and that cut my funds short.

I like the Whest and compared to my entry level Vincent it is a vast improvement. Deeper tighter base, open soundstage and tonally accurate. Sounds a little lean on some recordings-maybe I am too critical?

Is there a tube phono stage for around $1200 new or used that can be recommended to "warm" up the sound on some of these lean rock albums? The rest of my setup: Rega Planar 2, Ortofon Blue 2M, Cary SLP03 Preampo, B&W 802D powered by a Cary Cinema amp.
stl114_nj
doak
199 posts
 
The Jolida can be a good and less expensive alternative.

Doak
4musica44107
520 posts
 
A 2nd vote for the Jolida!
armstrod
618 posts
 
Third for the Jolida JD9. After upgrading the opamps to 637s, it's pretty stunning. You can roll the tubes to regulate the warmth level.

David
stl114_nj OP
94 posts
 
Lewm,
To clarify, I now am using the Cary Cinema SS amp until the recently ordered Spectron arrives. I suspect it is more the nature of the recordings that give a lean sound rather than the phonostage. And of course I am very curious how a tube unit would sound. I suspect the Whest is rather forward as well.
lewm
13,467 posts
 
To sort this out, if you think the sound is "lean" with the Cary/Whest combo, the "problem" probably won't be cured by introduction of the Spectron, but I could be very wrong. I used to think based on listening experiences that Class D amps were by definition "lean", but recent reports suggest that maybe the latest circuits (which I have not heard) have been designed to sound more like tubes than do conventional solid state devices. Ergo you might be pleasantly surprised by the change when you introduce the Spectron. I would not make a move until you get the Spectron and have had a chance to live with it and the Whest in the same system.
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