Best phono stage?

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
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I am not a vinyl guy at all. I just thought it would be fun to post so that there are now officially 5 owners of CJ GATs on this particular thread...;) Suteetat, Sunnyboy, Myles, XV-1, and LL21.
 

Johnny Vinyl

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
May 16, 2010
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I am not a vinyl guy at all. I just thought it would be fun to post so that there are now officially 5 owners of CJ GATs on this particular thread...;) Suteetat, Sunnyboy, Myles, XV-1, and LL21.


LOL! That's too funny! But congrats to all for that Milestone! :D;)
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
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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?

While you're at it, don't miss out the Gryphon Legato Legacy. I spent 3 days with one during a show in Malaysia, and I thought that it was one of the best I've ever heard.
 

audioblazer

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May 13, 2010
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While you're at it, don't miss out the Gryphon Legato Legacy. I spent 3 days with one during a show in Malaysia, and I thought that it was one of the best I've ever heard.

Would probably consider that since I have gryphon pre & power except for the need to use Lemo connectors for all my Tonearms . That's makes experimenting with tonearm occasionally troublesome
 
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trueblue

Member
Jan 23, 2013
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The Lemo connectors ( or XLR ) are the price to pay for running a balanced phonostage but other Legato owners has made a convertion box that can be used when experimenting with other tonearms.

Would probably consider that since I have gryphon pre & power except for the need to use Fischer connectors for all my Tonearms . That's makes experimenting with tonearm occasionally troublesome
 

SAMMAN

New Member
Apr 29, 2014
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I went through quite a lengthy process a few months back auditioning a number of phono stages.

Including amongst others the:

Esoteric E-03, RCM Sensor Prelude, RCM Theriaa, Octave 300SE with phono module, and the Thrax Orpheus Phono Preamplifier with LCR RIAA equalizer.

For me the RCM Theriaa and Thrax Orpheus were far and away the best.

In the end I decided on the Thrax Orpheus for the realism it relayed, it's sensational sound staging, rich full sound, powerful bottom end, the quality of the fit and finish as well as it's versatility with three switchable inputs 2 RCA and 1 XLR.
 

awsmone

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2014
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Thx

Just looked at Thrax looks pretty beautifully made

Can you run different impedances simultaneously?
 

awsmone

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Apr 6, 2014
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I see your in Melbourne

Whom do you get it from may I ask?

How did you get to demonstrate it first ?
 

oldears

New Member
Jun 8, 2014
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Andrew,
Next time you're in Perth come and give my AudiaFlight a listen. 2 inputs each customisable for loading MM or MC. Maybe not in the price category of the others mentioned here, but sounds amazing, needs a very protracted run in (Hagermann reverse RIAA to the rescue). System has changed since you were last here, Ayre MRX/KRX, Clearaudio, 4 point, Atlas and 802DII. I'm sure you can get one for home demo, but it needs >100 hours run in....seriously. Goes through light edgy phases x2 and then a seriously overblown bass phase before settling down. What's wrong with the Bakoon Phono, all Satri connected?
Happy hunting,
john
 

Mike Lavigne

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 25, 2010
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after spending the weekend with the new darTZeel pre-production NHB-18NS preamp with internal phono stage i'll have to venture my opinion that it is likely in the running for the very very best phono stage at any price. it is the best phono stage I have heard; although many of the other top ones I have heard are in show conditions.

not cheap. but when you consider it also includes what I think will be as good a line stage as there is too, it actually becomes quite a good value when compared to other very top level phono-line stage duos. and when mated with the dart 458's it is a formidable tour-de-force.

built like a swiss tank, battery powered, and excellent ease of use. it can be purchased with two separate phono stages in one chassis (which is how I have my current model dart pre). it offers up to 70 db of gain, and gain and loading can be changed dynamically on the fly thru toggles and LED's on the back of the unit.
 

XV-1

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2010
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Mile
Can you take a photo of the gain and loading changes on the back of the Dart?
 

awsmone

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2014
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Canberra Australia
Hi Mike

I am seriously interested in the new 18NS with two phonos

Can you post some pics and initial impressions

Thx
 

awsmone

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2014
1,616
513
435
Canberra Australia
Thx John

Yes still interested in new bakoon phono

Waiting for Pat to get back to me :) he has been cycling in italy with Giro !

My only issue in the past is the open loop bandwidth means RF can creep in something I suffer from here, but very suitable from my cartridge point of view

Good to hear from you :)

Regards

Andrew
 

Sunnyboy1956

Member Sponsor
Feb 22, 2014
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after spending the weekend with the new darTZeel pre-production NHB-18NS preamp with internal phono stage i'll have to venture my opinion that it is likely in the running for the very very best phono stage at any price. it is the best phono stage I have heard; although many of the other top ones I have heard are in show conditions.

not cheap. but when you consider it also includes what I think will be as good a line stage as there is too, it actually becomes quite a good value when compared to other very top level phono-line stage duos. and when mated with the dart 458's it is a formidable tour-de-force.

built like a swiss tank, battery powered, and excellent ease of use. it can be purchased with two separate phono stages in one chassis (which is how I have my current model dart pre). it offers up to 70 db of gain, and gain and loading can be changed dynamically on the fly thru toggles and LED's on the back of the unit.
Mike
Any indication of price ? This could be promising IMO if I can trade in my GAT and Nagra phono...
Cheers
Pradeep
 

rockitman

Member Sponsor
Sep 20, 2011
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Sounds like the Dart kills two birds with one stone...great main pre and phono. If it wasn't for the zeel BNC connections (prefer XLR), I might even be a customer.
 

Sunnyboy1956

Member Sponsor
Feb 22, 2014
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Sounds like the Dart kills two birds with one stone...great main pre and phono. If it wasn't for the zeel BNC connections (prefer XLR), I might even be a customer.
Wot ... No RCA ?
 

Sunnyboy1956

Member Sponsor
Feb 22, 2014
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Thanks. Any indication of price ?
 

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