Best phono stage?

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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Wow what carts?
 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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And differences that you note ? Especially for classical?

And sorry, which arm and speakers?
 

Leif S

Industry Expert
Feb 13, 2015
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My favorite is the VAC Statement:)

Statement Phono.jpg
 

Mobiusman

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May 24, 2010
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Thanks to everyone so far….
This website is great at getting feedback from people with real experience :) My new wife refers to it as the " audio porn" website as she misread phono for porno lol when I was typing this thread

I have just looked at Thoress which was not on my horizon… thanks to those who suggested It would seem version 3 might suit me
I should mention I have 6000 records or more I have put links to my dedicated vinyl library room, the classicals are all originals and the jazz a mixture of originals and reissues

But back to the Thoress website….phono enhancer
I have to say it has one of the most interesting manuals I have read
http://www.thoeress.com/manuals/thoeress_phono_enhancer_manual.pdf suggest others who haven't read it who are interested in lp reproduction !

So far phonos I have looked into

Boulder 2008
Boulder 1008 ( a bit quieter and half the price)
Burmester 100 similar price to boulder

Allnic 3000
Ypsilon but requires separate step ups?
Accuphase c27
Audio Research Ref 2SE and Ref 10
Soulution 750 with power supply

Fm acoustics I have ruled out for compatibility issues as mentioned vide supra

And the Vitus Mp P201 and SP 102

Any others?
What about the LAMM LP2.1 which I have and love or if funds allow, the LP1 Signature 3 chassis?
 

Mobiusman

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May 24, 2010
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Curious to hear your outcome. TAS seemed almost to prefer the pass...
I have had Pass XP15 being fed by a Benz Micro LP in a 12" 3D Aries and replaced it with a Lamm LP2.1 being fed the same way several months ago. To my taste, the Lamm was an immediate improvement in every dimension, especially the bass, but then I have a Spectral DMC 30 SV and Spectral DMA 300RS as my core and tubes made my sound way more realistic through my Vivid G3's and JL F113's.
 

jackelsson

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Dec 1, 2013
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I have had Pass XP15 being fed by a Benz Micro LP in a 12" 3D Aries and replaced it with a Lamm LP2.1 being fed the same way several months ago. To my taste, the Lamm was an immediate improvement in every dimension, especially the bass, but then I have a Spectral DMC 30 SV and Spectral DMA 300RS as my core and tubes made my sound way more realistic through my Vivid G3's and JL F113's.
I moved up from a Pass XP-15 to an XP-25 two years ago and thought it was a considerable step. So much so that in the meantime I now run two XP-25 to have enough inputs for the four tonearms on my deck without the need to plug and unplug things.
 

Loheswaran

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Dec 19, 2014
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For those that can only dream - like me - a full FM Acoustics system with Vertere Front End will be on demo at the London 'Indulgence Show' the last weekend of September.
 

Pani

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Jun 4, 2013
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Has anyone heard the Yamaha HX-10000 phonostage. It was the statement phonostage by Yamaha. I have a lower version at home it is indeed very special sounding
 

byrdparis

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Nov 24, 2015
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I know its been a while when the Manley "steelhead" was the "HOT STUFF..."
but i cant stop wondering.... why no one was referring to it this days.. (its lost his charm?)
i remember 8-15 years ago, EVERYONE talked about it and want one.. (maybe Mike-f "fault"?)
do you think it still can hold it own compering to a 10-30K phono stages of today? sound wise....

its no secret that 10-15 years ago HIGH END audio was a lot less expensive...
now days everyone are just get a high $$ price tag and trying to get the most attention
from the heavy buyers. no matter how good (or less) they are.

your thoughts?
 

MadFloyd

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May 30, 2010
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I know its been a while that the Manley "steelhead" was the HOT STUFF....
but i cant stop wondering.... why no one was referring to it this days.. (its lost his charm?)
i remember 8-15 years ago, EVERYONE talked about it and want one.. (maybe Mike-f "fault"?)
do you think it still can hold it own compering to a 10-30K phono stages of today? sound wise....

its no secret that 10-15 years ago HIGH END audio was a lot less expensive...
now days everyone are just get a high $$ price tag and trying to get the most attention
from the heavy buyers. no matter how good (or less) they are.

your thoughts?

I owned it at one time but sold it because I thought it was very dark sounding. I would be very surprised if it held up today.
 

byrdparis

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2015
427
478
295
Israel
I owned it at one time but sold it because I thought it was very dark sounding. I would be very surprised if it held up today.

why is that?
the build is superb, design, versatility... sound wise it was compared to about almost everything was available those days (and most of the time won over)..
i think it been dark sounding (i was never thought it was dark... when i was hearing it in the past though)... was subjected to your preference and taste those days (no problem there).
 

booker

Well-Known Member
Oct 16, 2017
21
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How about Van den Hul Grail or Grail SB? I keep wondering about best phono preamp for my VdH Colibris. Would you guys recommend a good match preamp for these?
 

Worldcat

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2012
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From what i hear the Grail SB is amazing phono!

How about Van den Hul Grail or Grail SB? I keep wondering about best phono preamp for my VdH Colibris. Would you guys recommend a good match preamp for these?
 

Atmasphere

Industry Expert
May 4, 2010
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www.atma-sphere.com
Any preamp with enough gain will do the job. Its not like preamps work particularly well with one cartridge as opposed to another.

The real issue is whether the preamp is stable (if its not, cartridge loading will be important and you will hear more ticks and pops) or not, as the best preamp for the job will not be one that is unstable.
 

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