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What's your experience with fine phono preamp s ?



Arthur Salvatore highly recommends the Coincident Technology Statement phono preamp on his blog. I know nothing about Arthur's listening preferences, so can't know why he feels it superior to other phono pre's.

My table is a Technics SP10, arms are Talea and SME with Benz and AirTight cartridges respectively ( phono cable undetermined for SME arm, open to suggestions on a separate thread --to keeps things 'simple' ) My gear is hybrid, with solid state 100 wpc bass amps, 300B and 6SN7 tubes for mids and tweeters, and JL Audio subs for the bottom octave. The CDP and preamp are solid state and very high quality.

Please weigh in on phono pre's between $2 and 7K that you have owned or heard in systems you know well. I don't have a prejudice or preference for solid state or valve gear, and I'm receptive to used equipment.

I DO, however, strongly prefer an 'I am there' presentation, over 'the musicians are in the room' sensation, when the that's in the vinyl. More interested by far in an emotionally engaging ( not distortedly emotional or euphonic ) listening experience than a precise, highly detailed but soul-less presentation.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and shared experience.

Best,

David
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dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Aesthetix Rhea. I bought mine used 8 years ago and couldn't be happier. Extraordinarily flexible, with 3 inputs, 2 outputs, adjustable gain and loading via the remove, built-in cartridge demag. Uses 10 tubes (8 12AX7, 2 6922) but very quiet for a tubed unit and has been easy on tubes IME.

The best part: it's a glorious sounding phonostage. I upgraded from a Conrad Johnson Premier 17LS2, which is also a great-sounding unit.
dinster
76 posts
 
I have found the AudiaFlight Phono to be exceptional. It is quiet, fast, dynamic, and I have yet to hear a better phono stage. I think you would be hard pressed to beat it.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Correction. My CJ Premier 17LS2 was a linestage, not a phonostage.
lewm
13,011 posts
 
FWIW, I have heard the Coincident phono and it is excellent. My friend who owned the piece has since supplanted it with an EMIA phono stage, built by Dave Slagle and a partner. You can find their website via Google. It's hearsay evidence, but my friend prefers the EMIA to the Coincident. The EMIA costs about $5K. Conversely, this same person preferred the Coincident to a Doshi Alaap that he owned previously. I am not sure I heard much difference between those latter two, but the EMIA is indeed a winner.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
David, a lot of fine phono stages have been suggested. My one suggestion is that you indicate the input impedance of your solid state preamp, or at least its make and model number. And also whether the inputs it provides are balanced or unbalanced or both.

If the input impedance is less than around 25 or 30K or so some of the suggested phono stages may not be optimal matches. That may include the EMIA, the Rhea, the Herron, and possibly the Allnic. On the other hand, if the preamp's input impedance is say 47K or higher impedance compatibility would be a non-issue with pretty much any reasonably designed phono stage.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al
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