Does EAR324 phono stage sound like tubes ?

I agree with Audiomax. Using external SUT for LOMC carts is not without disadvantages as we inevitably alter the minute capacitance and, especially, impedance loadings.

In brief, we have to use ultra low impedance cables/wires in order to minimize any negative effects on signal transmission. The ICs(I had to DIY one) to and from the SUTs also need to be as short as possible to maintain signal purity closer to the source.

Unfortunately, there are not much ultra low impedance cables/wires available for this purpose...limited choices bring limited fun for this hobby:)

When SUTs and phono are placed close to TT, interferences from motors and electronics may arise too...

Dan

I had an EAR 324 for a a few months. It was initially quite impressive - very quiet, great detail, dynamic. But after a while I found it unsatisfying - to my ears, it had a cold, metallic sound which I found rather un-musical, so I sold it. I also borrowed an 88PB which I found to have a similar tonal quality, although with a little more bloom. Again, though, I found it too cold sounding for my tastes. I have gone back to using my Exposure 13 phono stage (which has not been manufactured for about a decade), although it was much cheaper and perhaps less quiet, and certainly less flexible than the 324. It is, however, far more musical.

"...88PB is as a whole lower in hum level and very stable for prolonged use as a tubed phono with more than 70dB. "

It must be stressed that it was tested with maximum output level without pick-up signal. The noise and hum level of 324 and 88PB are, in practice, still regarded as "very low" and no problem at all in normal sound pressure and listening position.

BTW, a monitor grade phono amp, I believe, should be able to reveal any subtle details and information picked up by the carts. Such as any inherent pre-echoes, whether the master is an analog or a digital one, any TT/arm/cart resonances affecting the reproductions, the conditions of the TT/arm/carts, any misalignment of arm/cart, the cart rebuild causing any change of sonic signature, etc.

Sometimes when we upgrade to a better phono, we need to upgrade the TT/arm/cart simultaneously with no guarantee of success(to one's ear). "Hear more" doen't necessarily mean "sound better". Hear less may be more acceptable.

Spend more money for sonic setbacks...it's a cruel story but sometimes it's true.

Dan

Agree, the more we spend especially for higher models, the more revealing it becomes... sometimes too revealing to the point that it becomes somewhat analytical-revealing the flaws of your cart, arm, table , alignment,etc...

I don't believe in "too revealing".

YMMV