2. amps-preamps
  3. 1292190617

Phono Stage or TT upgrade

Ok gang, here is the current quandry. To upgrade my phono stage or my TT. System as of now

Dynavector D 17 MK II Karat ( love it and it will stay )
Rega P 25 w/ RB 600, VTA adjust and no other mods.
Dynavector P 75 MK I phono pre

Ayre K1Xe Line Stage
Ayre V3 w/ Rev 3 boards and Ayre Conditioner
Dunlavy SC-IV improved

I just sold a Tom Evans Groove + SRX and wish I had never tried it in the system. It was more explosive, coherent, deeper, faster and open than the Dynavector P-75.
I have a chance to do a change to a VPI Classic with the HXR center weight and keep using my D-17 MK II and P 75 MK I. Local sale and known seller. I love the Scout and Scoutmaster but have not spent any time with the classic.
The other option would be to upgrade the phono stage. I am not afraid of tubes but QUIET is an absolute necessity. I am just over chasing down a noisy 12AX7 or 6SN7 every few months.
Overall I am looking for more slam ,speed and dynamics than the current combo. My budget is in the $1500-2000 range and fairly strict at the upper limit.

Any ideas?
meadowman
4musica44107
520 posts
 
"Slam, speed and dynamics" - For a turntable I would recommend the Well Tempered Amadeus but that is going to be above your stated $2000 limit, even used. If you go the phono stage route and want the phono stage to be DEAD QUIET as well as helping you obtain more slam, speed and dynamics, I recommend a used Nagra BPS.
cod
2 posts
 
I'm in similar boat with my system ~ Shelter 501mkII / Nottingham Space 294 / Shelter Phono pre / arc DSi200 / ProAc D25's... From my experience (and your comments on the Groove) your current weak link is the phono section ~ you have proven your current TT/cart is capable of giving you what you want. And as your Ayre gear is resolving the limitations of the very good, but simply outclassed, Dynavector phono pre I recommend starting with phono pre upgrade and then next you can consider tweaking your Rega or changing tables... As for which phono pre; if not another Groove there are a couple Ayre P-5xe's listed on Agon in your range right now... Seems like a perfect match... For myself, I am planning an upgrade to an arc PH7 if the year end bonus comes through and I can find one on Agon at the same time... Happy listening
meadowman's avatar
meadowman OP
143 posts
 
Stanwal: The groove was part of a full Tom Evans rig that I bought to help out a pal's widow. I never meant to listen to it, just to move the gear and recoup some money for her.

Learsfool: The P 25 (IMHO) out classes the P3-24 any day and I personally like the 25s PRAT better than the P 5. The P 25 was the 25th anniversary Rega and was far beyond the P3 of it's day.

Cod: Great point. Since the current TT/Cart was able to give enough to the Groove to show the differences I like, maybe phono stage is best.
clio09
3,364 posts
 
Since you have other Ayre gear why not an Ayre phono stage.
meadowman's avatar
meadowman OP
143 posts
 
Clio99: I have tried the P5Xe in my rig with the D 17 MK II and found it very noisy. As in almost a tube rush like sound that was audible from the listening position even over moderate volume playback. Ayre advised this was "normal" with super low output carts like the Dynavector.

I am on the trail of a matching Simaudio Moon lp5.3 plus power supply. Good hunting!
More to discover