Is Coincident Statement Phono pre-amp an overkill

Ummm... I think you did the right thing, but let's wait until you actually hear what the unit actually sounds like as a phono stage, before we go all orgasmic. If you are listening to the "linestage", isn't that only essentially a passive volume control? (I can't remember for sure, but I think there is no active linestage built in; it just acts as an attenuator.)

Essrand,
I assumed you listened initially to your phono section prior to your post.

Hi Lewm,

Actually the line stage on Coincident Phono is better than direct CD player connection to the Coincident power amp (which has its own volume control).
The bass and "weight" of the music came back and "deflation" caused by lack of pre-amp has vanished.

Burn-in will take some time. Then I will know if I can live without an active line-stage (fingers crossed).

The line-stage in the phono does not have any gain however its not passive.

Am trying to figure out a MC Cartridge for Clearaudio Concept, which is proving to be a challenge (i do not want to get the clearaudio mc cart).

Interesting update.

Enjoy your new preamp!

I've had my Coincident phono stage for about 2 years, and I like it a LOT. As I've upgraded my turntable, my tonearm(s), and my cartridge(s), I've never had the slightest urge to upgrade my phono stage.

After being advised by a fellow audiophile in Europe that the weak link in this unit is the volume control, I sent it to Bill Thallman in Springfield, VA to bypass the internal volume control and I now run it into an Emia (Slagel designed) passive attenuator that feeds my tube monoblocks. And it sounds just great.