G'day mates, from down unda Melbourne, the best city in the world!
We are having our HiFi show as I write this, starting today up till Sunday. Won't be able to attend as I work during weekends. Hope it turns out ok though compared to the last one organised by Stereo Net...
Just thought I'd some points of wisdom for those on a simple budget and are after a high level of musicality.
Since acquiring the Rega RP3 few years back, I've always been after a fairly simple realistic priced phonostage that can compete with the top end gear. I have tried so many in my system and they were all around 4-5 grand starting. Even the most affordable CJ starts at 3.5 grand for its entry level. I was after something around 2 grand or less, and then came along the Rega Aria.
I tried this at home, and it never went back to the dealers! Superb musicality and a wonderful match with CJ amplification. Wish I had it when I had the ACT2 and Classic 60SE just for comparison. With the CAV45 it's like a match made in heaven. The Aria has separate switches and settings for MC and separate MM circuitry using Bipolar devices for inputs. The MC stage uses Mosfet devices, and you can connect two TT's to the Aria. The build quality is superb, solid finish and healthy weight to it, plus it runs very cool compared to other phono stages I have tried. All in all, I got this for just under 2 grand, and the level of musicality is simply superb.
The gain stages are remarkable and on MC the settings are quite high to compensate and match various types of cartridges. Just last night I was listening to Patricia Barber (plays Cole Porter mix on Mofi), Miles Davis (my kind of Blue), Cassandra Wilson (new moon daughter) simply superb! Inner detail and level of depth I had not experienced before from this phono rig, and through the Quads is outstanding. I could only image what this would be like on a pair of ML CLX's, I guess that would be another pleasant journey.
I'm using the Ortofon 2M Black as well as the 2M Blue for older LP's. Either of these works extremely fine with the Aria and the level of fine detail comes out unhindered, utterly transparent. Most pleased with the Aria and couldn't justify why on earth I would want to spend over 5 grand for a phonostage. The Aria is definitely good enough!
So, for those looking for the simple approach without having to break the bank or go homeless, if you can muster 2 grand (I would think the Aria would cost less in Europe & USA), please give the Aria an audition, you won't be disappointed.
Cheers and happy listening, and enjoy those LP's!
RJ
We are having our HiFi show as I write this, starting today up till Sunday. Won't be able to attend as I work during weekends. Hope it turns out ok though compared to the last one organised by Stereo Net...
Just thought I'd some points of wisdom for those on a simple budget and are after a high level of musicality.
Since acquiring the Rega RP3 few years back, I've always been after a fairly simple realistic priced phonostage that can compete with the top end gear. I have tried so many in my system and they were all around 4-5 grand starting. Even the most affordable CJ starts at 3.5 grand for its entry level. I was after something around 2 grand or less, and then came along the Rega Aria.
I tried this at home, and it never went back to the dealers! Superb musicality and a wonderful match with CJ amplification. Wish I had it when I had the ACT2 and Classic 60SE just for comparison. With the CAV45 it's like a match made in heaven. The Aria has separate switches and settings for MC and separate MM circuitry using Bipolar devices for inputs. The MC stage uses Mosfet devices, and you can connect two TT's to the Aria. The build quality is superb, solid finish and healthy weight to it, plus it runs very cool compared to other phono stages I have tried. All in all, I got this for just under 2 grand, and the level of musicality is simply superb.
The gain stages are remarkable and on MC the settings are quite high to compensate and match various types of cartridges. Just last night I was listening to Patricia Barber (plays Cole Porter mix on Mofi), Miles Davis (my kind of Blue), Cassandra Wilson (new moon daughter) simply superb! Inner detail and level of depth I had not experienced before from this phono rig, and through the Quads is outstanding. I could only image what this would be like on a pair of ML CLX's, I guess that would be another pleasant journey.
I'm using the Ortofon 2M Black as well as the 2M Blue for older LP's. Either of these works extremely fine with the Aria and the level of fine detail comes out unhindered, utterly transparent. Most pleased with the Aria and couldn't justify why on earth I would want to spend over 5 grand for a phonostage. The Aria is definitely good enough!
So, for those looking for the simple approach without having to break the bank or go homeless, if you can muster 2 grand (I would think the Aria would cost less in Europe & USA), please give the Aria an audition, you won't be disappointed.
Cheers and happy listening, and enjoy those LP's!
RJ