My next level Phono Stage ? Comparison of ENGSTROM Monica Phono and Robert KODA Takumi MC ONE

[shakti]

During the last years I was always looking for my personal favorite phonostage.
The road I walked is described in the following thread in detail:
(If you are interested)

SHAKTI VERGLEICH: verschiedene "High-End" Phono Vorstufen - Analogue Audio Association

Da ich in den naechsten Tagen so einige Phono Vorstufen hoeren und vergleichen werden, habe ich mir ueberlegt, dass ich dazu mal einen eigenen thread aufmache [Blockierte Grafik: http://www.aktives-hoeren.de/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif] Die…

www.analog-forum.de

(German, please use google translate)

the following reference phonostage stages were used in the last years to built up some experience:

Airtight ATE 3011
Kondo M7 Phono plus SFZ
Boulder 2008
Aesthetix IO (2x PSU)
Phasemation EA-2000
Allnic H-7000v / 8000
RCM The Big Phono

Overall I tend to prefer tube phonostage with step up over solid state phonostage.

Going to fairs, reading forums, listening to friends gear, talking to matter experts I created a kind of bucket list of phonostages,
Which I should try in my set up as potential next step.

The top 3 on the list are:

EMT JPA 66
( as I always liked it, when listening)

Engström Monica Phono
( highly recommended from various people)

Robert Koda Takumi MC One
( I loved my Koda K10 PreAmp, so I always wanted to hear a Robert Koda Phono stage)

Over the last weeks it was possible for me to acquire the Engström Monica phono and the Koda MC One,
Still looking forward to get one of the rare EMT JPA 66.

Not yet on my bucket list, but I am interested too, are the current Kondo Phonostages.

I will visit the German Kondo Importer soon to get an impression.

But at the moment I am installing the 2 new members to my studio gear into the set up.

Easy walk for the Monica, but the Koda MC One is a nearly 30kg heavy beast, so I asked my brother for some help to get the unit safely moved.

Now both are connected and I can start listening to some music.

I will write a little bit more about this 2 phonostages, when I have heard some more hours with them, hopefully using different cartridges as well.

 

[Lagonda]

During the last years I was always looking for my personal favorite phonostage.
The road I walked is described in the following thread in detail:
(If you are interested)

SHAKTI VERGLEICH: verschiedene "High-End" Phono Vorstufen - Analogue Audio Association

Da ich in den naechsten Tagen so einige Phono Vorstufen hoeren und vergleichen werden, habe ich mir ueberlegt, dass ich dazu mal einen eigenen thread aufmache [Blockierte Grafik: http://www.aktives-hoeren.de/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif] Die…

www.analog-forum.de

(German, please use google translate)

the following reference phonostage stages were used in the last years to built up some experience:

Airtight ATE 3011
Kondo M7 Phono plus SFZ
Boulder 2008
Aesthetix IO (2x PSU)
Phasemation EA-2000
Allnic H-7000v / 8000
RCM The Big Phono

Overall I tend to prefer tube phonostage with step up over solid state phonostage.

Going to fairs, reading forums, listening to friends gear, talking to matter experts I created a kind of bucket list of phonostages,
Which I should try in my set up as potential next step.

The top 3 on the list are:

EMT JPA 66
( as I always liked it, when listening)

Engström Monica Phono
( highly recommended from various people)

Robert Koda Takumi MC One
( I loved my Koda K10 PreAmp, so I always wanted to hear a Robert Koda Phono stage)

Over the last weeks it was possible for me to acquire the Engström Monica phono and the Koda MC One,
Still looking forward to one of the rare EMT JPA 66.

Not yet on my bucket list, but I am interested too, are the current Kondo Phonostages.

I will visit the German Kondo Importer soon to get an impression.

But at the moment I am installing the 2 new members to my studio gear into the set up.

Easy walk for the Monica, but the Koda MC One is a nearly 30kg heavy beast, so I asked my brother for some help to get the unit safely moved.

Now both are connected and I can start listening to some music.

I will write a little bit more about this 2 phonostages, when I have heard some more hours with them, hopefully using different cartridges as well.












View attachment 156703View attachment 156704View attachment 156705

You are German dealer of both brands ? How far down in Germany are you located ?

 

[shakti]

You are German dealer of both brands ? How far down in Germany are you located ?

I am becoming potentially a Dealer for both brands, depending on my findings.
The German importer IBEX is the same for both brands, I work with him already with brands like Techdas and Ikeda. But the market segment of this type of high end Phono stages has unfortunately no big sales numbers in Germany.

So this comparison is mainly driven by personal interest and fun

If you like to join a listening session, please come along,
You will find me in the Cologne / Koeln Area

 

[Lagonda]

I am becoming potentially a Dealer for both brands, depending on my findings.
The German importer IBEX is the same for both brands, I work with him already with brands like Techdas and Ikeda. But the market segment of this type of high end Phono stages has unfortunately no big sales numbers in Germany.

So this comparison is mainly driven by personal interest and fun

If you like to join a listening session, please come along,
You will find me in the Cologne / Koeln Area

Thank you Jürgen !

 

[iaxel]

I know it may be a conflict of interest but I do recommend adding to the mix an Aries Cerat phono preamp (Talos Ref or Signature). I had the Allnic H-7000V and the Aries Cerat is a class or two above it.

 

[bonzo75]

I know it may be a conflict of interest but I do recommend adding to the mix an Aries Cerat phono preamp (Talos Ref or Signature). I had the Allnic H-7000V and it is a class or two above it.

What recti did you have in the Allnic?

 

[iaxel]

What recti did you have in the Allnic?

The one that you recommend

 

[shakti]

The last Reference Phono Stage which I had in my set up for a longer time was the

Phasemation EA-2000

which I had described in the following thread.

My personal phono stage reference: Phasemation EA-2000

Since some years I am comparing phono stages, looking for a product, which can provide: - minimum of 3 inputs - MM & MC - RIAA plus Mono curves - XLR plus RCA - minimum of 65db Gain - output stage which can drive long cables All of the criteria are not a must, but would be a preferred option...

www.whatsbestforum.com

I was very happy with this Phonostage, but now it is sold (which is fine, being a dealer) and a big gap occurred, which cannot be fllled up with the Phasemation EA-1200, which was installed as a replacement.

A lot of records I heard the first time with the EA-2000, so a kind of sonic reference point is built around the EA-2000 performance.

My starting point was, to replace a tube phono stage with a tube phono stage, so the Engström Monica was the starting point

Monica has a separate heavy Power supply .with an unfortunately short connection cable (compared to EA-2000 / EA-1200) so I had to find another place. The Monica has 2 inputs and one output (RCA only). Here are the technical data:

Engström Monica M Phono:

INPUTS:​

MM 10mV load 47kΩ
MC 1mV load 100, 200, 300, 500, 750, 1500
Ω-switch on back (switch works on both inputs in parallel)​

AMPLIFICATION:​

MM 55dB / MC 73dB​

OUTPUT AT 1kHz​

3V THD 0,4% / 7V THD 1%​

OUTPUT IMPEDANCE​

at 1kHz 3kΩ
at 20Hz 10kΩ​

DIMENSIONS (WxDxH):​

480 x 300 X 150​

MAINS POWER:​

115V / 230V
50Hz – 60Hz, 34VA​

WEIGHT:​

15kg​

The internal step up (OEM from Lundahl to Engstrom spec ) has 18db gain, means the ratio is in the 1:9 region.

100ohm is the lowest impedance you can get, bus as MC stage is a step up, this might work well.

55db gain for a MM stage is very strong, so connecting the Monica with an external step up with typical 26db gain (1:20 step up) might case problems with medium to high voltage carts.

First impression of the Monica phono is, that you hear nothing. Means the Monica is dead quiet. This is not with all tube bases phono stages the case.

The first impression (the Monica is already burnt in) is a very vivid lifelike sound with organic mids.

Monica performance can catch you from the emotional side, the music, specially voices, are very involving.

There is a lot of air around the instruments and voices.

Compared to my memory of the EA-2000 sound, the Monica plays less laid back, more dynamic to the front.

The EA-2000 gives you a certain distance to the music, to the stage,
the Monica gives you the feeling, you were sitting closer to the event.

I need to listen to more records, but from my first impression, the Monica phono plays in a similar league to the EA-2000,
but with a different flavor. In this regard the Monica is (to my ears and memories) more close to Allnic H-8000 than to the Allnic H-7000v model.

The understanding of tube flavored sound is different by brand.
Monica in comparison to many other phono stages can fill a cold winter evening with a warm emotion listening to music.
Without being a warm voiced phono stage, the emotional reproduction of music gets you easy by the heart .
Monica is a Swedish developed and produced component, maybe the cold and long winter times in Sweden makes such a product, such a voicing, possible.

Listening to an Air Tight ATE 3011 is a different way to look into the music, the Air Tight is in comparison to Monica a neutral, studio like machine, which is able to show all the differences of various carts by ease.
But never motivated me to dance in front of the set up

Looking forward to the next hours of music listening.

 

[tom539]

Hi Juergen @shakti,

First of all, congratulations on these two great devices – and the Koda looks simply stunning (at least in the pictures).

Personally, I like the look of it even better than Kondo...

I'm really looking forward to hearing these two exceptional phono preamps at your place.

As you know, I'm a big fan of Vitus Audio, so I'd be interested in a comparison with the MP-P201 – is that on your bucket list too?

atb, Tom

 

[shakti]

Hi Juergen @shakti,

First of all, congratulations on these two great devices – and the Koda looks simply stunning (at least in the pictures).

Personally, I like the look of it even better than Kondo...

I'm really looking forward to hearing these two exceptional phono preamps at your place.

As you know, I'm a big fan of Vitus Audio, so I'd be interested in a comparison with the MP-P201 – is that on your bucket list too?

atb, Tom

No, the Vitus is not on my list.

Having had CHP, Boulder, RCM as examples of solid state Reference Phonostages at my home,
my current personal preference becomes more and more Tube MM stage plus step up.

The only exception is Robert Koda, as he proved in my set up with his K10 PreAmp,
that he can create with Solid State technology a music reproduction, which is like the best tube components.

But you will find, for example the

VAC Statement Phono

or the

Allnic H-10000

on the list.

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

Hi 'Shakti',
If you like a SUT with tube phono stage, I would seriously consider contacting Kevin Scott from Definitive Audio / Living Voice Speakers here in the UK as Kevin (with many years experience with SUTs and Phono Stages including Kondo Japan et ) now uses a Consolidated Audio SUT (custom made for Kevin's system - which is linked to a Kuzma CAR60 & Saphir9 arm and Kuzma Air TT) that in turn is linked to a SJS Arcadia MM Model 3 Phono Stage (believe the enhanced silver version) designed and hand built by Simon Shilton here in the UK along with his Pre-Amps & SET Amps) at all of the HiFi Shows where he presents awesome HiFi systems (with some of his HiFi set-ups in the past being best in show systems - with beautiful and very musical and emotional sounding systems).

If you do go down this route with the Phono Stage I would also suggest you also demo the SJS Arcadia Pre-Amp / Line Stage (also silver enhanced) to go with the SJS Arcadia Phono Stage.

Note that I don't have any affiliation with Definitive Audio, Living Voice or SJS Arcadia / Electroacoustics.

 

[bonzo75]

Hi 'Shakti',
If you like a SUT with tube phono stage, I would seriously consider contacting Kevin Scott from Definitive Audio / Living Voice Speakers here in the UK as Kevin (with many years experience with SUTs and Phono Stages including Kondo Japan et ) now uses a Consolidated Audio SUT (custom made for Kevin's system - which is linked to a Kuzma CAR60 & Saphir9 arm and Kuzma Air TT) that in turn is linked to a SJS Arcadia MM Model 3 Phono Stage (believe the enhanced silver version) designed and hand built by Simon Shilton here in the UK along with his Pre-Amps & SET Amps) at all of the HiFi Shows where he presents awesome HiFi systems (with some of his HiFi set-ups in the past being best in show systems - with beautiful and very musical and emotional sounding systems).

If you do go down this route with the Phono Stage I would also suggest you also demo the SJS Arcadia Pre-Amp / Line Stage (also silver enhanced) to go with the SJS Arcadia Phono Stage.

Note that I don't have any affiliation with Definitive Audio, Living Voice or SJS Arcadia / Electroacoustics.

Shakti has already done this SUT shoots

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

Shakti has already done this SUT shoots

Consolidated Audio SUT with the SJS Arcadia Phono Stage ?

 

[bonzo75]

Consolidated Audio SUT with the SJS Arcadia Phono Stage ?

Not SJS but consolidated vs phasemation - dcc has done that too.

I haven’t compared those two but the consolidated is very good. With SJS the great thing is the 300b amp with all silver

 

[Rotatoubib]

Hi Juergen @shakti ! It's not very clear on Engstrom website: is it possible to use the Monica phono with another pre ( Nagra HD by example) or is it mandatory to use Engstrom pre with it?

 

[gian60]

During the last years I was always looking for my personal favorite phonostage.
The road I walked is described in the following thread in detail:
(If you are interested)

SHAKTI VERGLEICH: verschiedene "High-End" Phono Vorstufen - Analogue Audio Association

Da ich in den naechsten Tagen so einige Phono Vorstufen hoeren und vergleichen werden, habe ich mir ueberlegt, dass ich dazu mal einen eigenen thread aufmache [Blockierte Grafik: http://www.aktives-hoeren.de/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif] Die…

www.analog-forum.de

(German, please use google translate)

the following reference phonostage stages were used in the last years to built up some experience:

Airtight ATE 3011
Kondo M7 Phono plus SFZ
Boulder 2008
Aesthetix IO (2x PSU)
Phasemation EA-2000
Allnic H-7000v / 8000
RCM The Big Phono

Overall I tend to prefer tube phonostage with step up over solid state phonostage.

Going to fairs, reading forums, listening to friends gear, talking to matter experts I created a kind of bucket list of phonostages,
Which I should try in my set up as potential next step.

The top 3 on the list are:

EMT JPA 66
( as I always liked it, when listening)

Engström Monica Phono
( highly recommended from various people)

Robert Koda Takumi MC One
( I loved my Koda K10 PreAmp, so I always wanted to hear a Robert Koda Phono stage)

Over the last weeks it was possible for me to acquire the Engström Monica phono and the Koda MC One,
Still looking forward to get one of the rare EMT JPA 66.

Not yet on my bucket list, but I am interested too, are the current Kondo Phonostages.

I will visit the German Kondo Importer soon to get an impression.

But at the moment I am installing the 2 new members to my studio gear into the set up.

Easy walk for the Monica, but the Koda MC One is a nearly 30kg heavy beast, so I asked my brother for some help to get the unit safely moved.

Now both are connected and I can start listening to some music.

I will write a little bit more about this 2 phonostages, when I have heard some more hours with them, hopefully using different cartridges as well.












View attachment 156703View attachment 156704View attachment 156705

Hello,
have you tried some DS Audio?
I have P1 X1 in one system and Kondo GE 10I with SFZ in another system but i am trying DS W3 and i am shocked

 

[gian60]

I have 7/8 cartridges very high level
I like all and all have 90% very good and very small defects,W3 seems perfect 100% to my ears
Cannot imagine MAster 3 or GM

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

Not SJS but consolidated vs phasemation - dcc has done that too.

I haven’t compared those two but the consolidated is very good. With SJS the great thing is the 300b amp with all silver

Yes, the SJS Arcadia 300B Model 5 power amp full silver enhanced is superb. The 300B Model 10 Mono's are even better !

In fact all of the SJS Arcadia electronics are fantastic and have had some great reviews especially as a complete SJS System i.e. Model 3 (hand crafted natural solid wood casing) or 6 (metal casing) Phono Stage, Model 4 (hand crafted natural solid wood casing) or 7 (metal casing) Pre-Amp / Line Stage & Model 5 (hand crafted natural solid wood casing) or Model 8 (metal casing) Single Power Amps and the Model 10 (hand crafted natural solid wood) Mono Power Amps.

The SJS Arcadia electronics with the Consolidated Audio SUT (connected to a Kuzma CAR50 or CAR60 cartridge) and the Living Voice Speakers is a system match made in heaven (as we both well know bonzo75) !

 

[shakti]

Hi Juergen @shakti ! It's not very clear on Engstrom website: is it possible to use the Monica phono with another pre ( Nagra HD by example) or is it mandatory to use Engstrom pre with it?

The Engström Monica phono is a stand alone Phono Stage with external Power supply.

I am using the Monica with a Soulution 720 Solid state Pre and the Tobian SC-1 Tube based Pre

 

[Rotatoubib]

Do you have yet a feeling about your preference, I mean Phasemation EA 2000 vs Monica?