Oh no , not another phono stage rec

Personally, I wish that MORE manufacturers would get on here and directly help with these discussions. I want discourse and honest dialog about the whys, insides and outs of component philosophy design and construction. I want to be able to ask designers and manufacturers QUESTIONS.

These all should be encouraged as part of contributing to the decision making process. In my humble opinion, we need more representation from those designing and making this stuff.

In other words, I want to be INFORMED by consumers and makers alike. I'll bet I'm not alone.

For me, the more that a poster writes in attempts to defend himself about a subject that has no direct relevance to the OP, the more I question the intentions.

Having said that, I think that Saki70's OP is unusually clear and succinct. I think he describes the 834P's traits perfectly; including warm up time which I would put at about an average LP side to sound relatively stable, one entire LP to sound at close to it's best. I like the PV11 recommendation.

Grinnel ;
Do you have any idea how to contact the Hagerman company ?
I have emails out to him with no reply .
The Cornet 2 looks to be what I am looking for but I don't seem to be able to contact them . I need it to be fully assembled as I am not able to do it .

Frogman ;
Do you have any experience with the Ear with fast complicated music such as rock ? I've read one review stating that it is a little off with the PRAT and doesn't do well with this type of music .

I have an integrated amp and am not able to use a full preamp which would eliminate the PV 11 .

Thank you all for the rec's. Please keep'em coming .

Well, I listen mostly to jazz and classical (mostly far more complicated, but
not necessarily all fast); but also a fair amount of fusion jazz and classic
rock. The EAR has PRAT in spades according to my definition of PRAT;
that is, ability to let music be rhythmic in a natural way, and not the
"time stands still", rhythmically and dynamically dead feeling
that I hear in other (mostly solid state) pieces of gear. Now, if for you a little
softening and warming of the sound means reduction in PRAT, then the
EAR is probably not for you. But, it sounds like that is what you are looking
for. I hear the softening primarily in the bass where it can sound a little full
and round compared to others. Soundstaging is stable and generous, and
vocals sound great. It is not thin and bleached-out like a lot of electronics.
The thing about the EAR (and probably the reason it has been popular for
so long is that it has that elusive quality of letting you stop is tending for hi-fi
effects and listen to the music). It has tons of gain (I use it with a passive
pre), and resale value seems to be very good. Good luck.

Frogman ;
By PRAT I meant the speed of the playback , I guess . I once had a CDP , quite well respected , that actually played fast complicated music at a slower pace or rhythm than the original recording . It also did not quite sort out all of the individual notes sometimes .
What experiences have you had with tube rolling ?

Well I finally heard back from the Hagerman company . Guess I caught him at a bad time ! WOW !
That Ear unit is looking better and better .

Thank you .