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Phonostage: Wavac vs Doshi vs Tron

I am looking to add another phonostage to my system. I currently have the Essential 3160 preamp with phono. This has a MC and MM input Since I now have multiple tables, I wanted to add more phono inputs. Looking at the used market and what is available that I am considering is either a Doshi 2.1 phonostage, Wavac LCR-X2 or Tron Seven Reference. Any thoughts or experience from our readers? It is difficult for me to listen in my system as I am looking for used items. My Cartridges are Koetsu Coralstone/Onyx, FR7fz, Ikeda 9CIII, SPU Gold, Transfiguration Proteus and some high end MM's like Technics EPC-P100C and AKG P100LE.
ddriveman
ddriveman OP
171 posts
 
Thanks guys for your response. I would like to consider the 47 labs phonocube and the ZYX Artisan but can't find any on sale at the moment. There was a ZYX Artisan on audiogon a few months ago. I committed to buy but the seller backed out. I have no idea of the Herron VTPH-2 but will look into it. I have a friend who has the Zesto and while it is good, I feel it is not my cup of tea.
ddriveman OP
171 posts
 
Pani: Between the Wavac and Tron, which do you prefer? Did you own both of them in your system?
david12
1,454 posts
 
Not heard the wavac, but the Tron is truly excellent. Yes I agree it is tube like, but not lush or coloured at all, I would say lifelike. Graham tends to spec the units for a particular cartridge, so if you change cartridges a lot, that may be a problem. I do like Wavac, but I feel they are crazily overpriced
pani
1,220 posts
 
Wavac for me all the way
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Raul visited my home several years ago with his Essential 3150. We A/B'd with my Doshi Alaap (the two chassis version, not the four chassis version). There were no Doshi version numbers then, but it would be a 1.x (upgraded by Nick as far as a version 1 can go).

All listening was done with the components listed in my System, using a large variety of LPs. Listeners included Raul, Dan Edmundson, my partner Paul and me.

After two days of intense listening by four experienced audiofools, it was agreed that:
1) these top end SS and tube preamps sound more alike than different, each was superb in its own way;
2) the Essential offered stronger, tighter bass;
3) the Alaap transmitted more musical information (low level detail and subtlety, instrumental harmonics and complexity).
Which you'd prefer would be a matter of taste, but the presentations are different.

The Alaap 2.x improves on all the above. I've not heard the 3160.

No experience of the Wavac or Tron except briefly in shows, with too many unknown variables to draw valid conclusions about a preamp.

Hope this helps.
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