Doge 8 and Conrad Johnson ET-3

Tubed phono stages need tubes selected for being especially quiet. Upscale Audio calls them platinum grade, others call them phono grade. Of course there's no guarantee that they will stay quiet throughout their lives. Another one of the joys of being an audiophile.

Careful, the Doge 8 Clarity unit has a poor MC S/N ratio...nothing tubes will change a lot. It will always be noisy. The HISS is clearly audible at all volumes I'd listen to. But, if you must...try one. I'd consider this unit WITH an external head-amp, only.

I have spent some time w/ the CJ ET3 mated w/ the CJ classic sixty. A Prima Luna cd player was the source. B&W 802D were the speakers. Audioquest cabling/cords.

I was surprised that the classic sixty really drove those B&W speakers! It is such a small amp, I never would have guessed...

The ET3 performed flawlessly, IMO. A very satisfying musical experience.

I know I started this thread, supposedly trying to decide between the Doge and the CJ. However, my research pointed me in another direction completely, and I am now awaiting the arrival of a Dehavilland Ultraverve 3. I was offered a price I simply could not pass up, so I went for it. We shall see what happens.

Coming late to this party but here goes:

I have owned a Doge 8 Clarity for a little over a year. I don't use the MC section but instead use a Ypsilon SUT with the MM section. It is incredibly quiet.
I feel that this amp is very hard to beat for under $5-8,000 range Preamp. The linestage is amazing. Great tube depth,not syrupy or romantic.I have rolled the line tubes from GEs,Amperex,NOS Mullards,and the stock Phillips.
The GEs are the most exciting and easy to get cheap.
I would recommend this to most of my friends. The others are in the stratosphere.