Is Coincident Statement Phono pre-amp an overkill

Dear Essrand: It's clear that for any one of us is easy and in some ways a " fun " to " play " with other person money.

++++ " I might wait and gain some more experience with Vinyl before getting the Coincident. " ++++

this makes a lot of sense to me.

Analog is far away to be a plug&play hobby. If there is one audio suibject where we need adeep knowledge level and skills to achieve a quality performance level that can satisfy us is ANALOG.

The analog proccess is a everyday learning proccess. You are " new " to that learning proccess and you can't run before you learn to walk. We have to invest time and money on that learning proccess. I think you can't justify a high investment on the starting learning proccess step, you have to understand what really is happening " down there " ( quality performance level during playbak. ), why sounds that way or that other way, why I can't get " nirvana ? and several other questions that only you can resolve through that knowledge level and obviously trough your audio system.

First step in that learning proccess could be to have a reference a standard to compare. Normally the " best " reference is live music and here too you have to understand what you are listening.

Yes, the phonolinepreamp is a critical analog item but the cartridge and tonearm too and you have to learn by your self about if you really cares about MUSIC and MUSIC home reproduction.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

I'd say that it's obvious you'll want a good quality TT, tonearm and
cartridge, all are important. You have to start somewhere and beginning
with a recognized and praised phono stage that's available for a discounted
price is a fine opportunity(and has an excellent line section built in).
Starting with a lesser quality phono only to upgrade later usually costs
more in the long run. All components have a learning curve, this isn't
unique to analog. You have an excellentCoincident Dragon amp and thus a
very solid foundation. No need to make things more complicated than need
be.
Listen to live music (particularly acoustic instruments) and you'll develop
an ear for natural sound. You'll discover (or may already have) that some
types of components are more realistic and natural than others. Trust your
hearing and your spontaneous and emotional response.
Charles,

Essrand go for it - one component at a time. My philosophy is buy the piece you really want and upgrade when you can or you might even find you don't need to upgrade. A statement piece in your system might make upgrading other components unnecessary because you might be completely satisfied with your sound.

OTOH compromise and you may be on the upgrade train forever...a well worn path of disappointment for many.

The Statement Phono adds an analog flavor to my digital source. It sounds very good. However, my Wadia 781i has its own volume control, and I prefer digital music to sound digital as-is. If you plan on hooking up a CD player, it will do the job as a line stage very well, and you can roll tubes to suit your tastes.

The Statement Phono is very quiet, its almost unbelievable you are listening to records. It is very true to the sound your turntable makes.

I would ask Israel Blume, does his phono stage have a true "linestage" built in, or do the aux inputs simply interpose the volume control between the CDP or other high level source and the amplifier. There is an important difference, if the linestage function is crucial to you.