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Which phono preamps among these three?

1. Manley Chinook Tube phono stage
2. Whest PS.30R
3. Aesthetix Rhea

I picked these three because they are currently available for sale in audiogon, and all three have very good reviews. All three are a bit over my budget at the moment, but I expect to get enough fund in the short future.

I mostly listen to Jazz (50s-60s) and classicals, occasionally pops and rocks. Rhea is more expensive than the other two, but Rhea supports three inputs while the other supports only one input, switchable to MM or MC. The other two cost about the same as used Rhea.

If you are to pick one, which one? For what reason? Is one definitely better than the others? Or, they are pretty much in the same league with different characteristics?
128x128ihcho
ihcho's avatar
ihcho OP
612 posts
 
No particular reason. As I said in my first post, I just picked those three because
1. They are on sale in audiogon
2. They are within my budget (with stretch)
3. They all seem to have very good reviews and followings

So, I might go for any other phono that falls into $1000~2000 with good reputation. Up until 6 months ago I was pretty happy with BAT VK60, VK30 with phono, Yaqin MS-12B, and Budgie Cinemag SUT. Since then my amp has changed to Plinius, and I acquired Hashimoto HM3 SUT. A phono pre that works well with Hashimoto SUT would be a plus.
michelzay
114 posts
 
I tried once manley Chinook with a great result.

I was always asking this question why Atmasphere doesn't have any stand alone phono preamp??!! I like very much so their products and Mp-1 is in my list for next line stage!
analogluvr
859 posts
 
I'm emphatically withbpoletti. Go for the Herron. I heard a rhea signature with a premium tube set against the Herron and it was no contest. I few people have mentioned muddy and that echoes what I heard. The Herron was open and musical and there is a good reason why they do not come up on the used market.
The Herron will get you off the merry go round. If I had to choose from the 3 you mentioned I would go for the Chinook.
ihcho's avatar
ihcho OP
612 posts
 
OK.
When a used Herron VTPH-2 comes up for sale, it would be mine! I cannot afford a new one at the moment.
I wonder if Herron's MC would be bettern than Herron's MM + Hashimoto SUT. Then, I can sell Hashimoto.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,841 posts
 
I was always asking this question why Atmasphere doesn't have any stand alone phono preamp??!! I like very much so their products and Mp-1 is in my list for next line stage!

It looks like we will finally be producing a phono stage for one of our larger distributors.

I've always held the opinion that building the phono section into the preamp with the line stage allows for better performance, on account of the fact that all the connections at the output of the phono section are hard-wired. Both our MP-1 and MP-3 were initially built as stand-alone phono reproducers with built-in volume control and input switching.
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