Alternatives to Ypsilon VPS-100 (maybe Allnic or Soulnote?).

[skinnyfla]

Hi,
it’s not that I am unhappy, just being curious as to what alternatives there might be. I do feel like experimenting with different phonostages - not done that in 10 years.

Open outcome - might stick with the Ypsilon, might change things.

Any suggestions - nothing that sounds analytical, thin or overly hifi-ish… musical, rich and colorful sound with good bottom end is always my preference

Cheers,

Chris

 

[Kofi Baffour]

Hi,
it’s not that I am unhappy, just being curious as to what alternatives there might be. I do feel like experimenting with different phonostages - not done that in 10 years.

Open outcome - might stick with the Ypsilon, might change things.

Any suggestions - nothing that sounds analytical, thin or overly hifi-ish… musical, rich and colorful sound with good bottom end is always my preference

Cheers,

Chris

This(https://michaelfidler.com/products/pro/mm-pro-moving-magnet-phono-stage/) is an MM phono stage that is incredible.

All friends I've recommended too have been blown away by how incredibly robust it sounds. No gaps in performance and for that cost. It's a no brainer imo

You order by sending Michael Fidler and email here - order@michaelfidler.com

 

[gestalt]

Hi,
it’s not that I am unhappy, just being curious as to what alternatives there might be. I do feel like experimenting with different phonostages - not done that in 10 years.

Open outcome - might stick with the Ypsilon, might change things.

Any suggestions - nothing that sounds analytical, thin or overly hifi-ish… musical, rich and colorful sound with good bottom end is always my preference

Cheers,

Chris

The Cinnamon Galle phono (https://cinnamonaudio.com/components/gallephono):

or the SW1X LPU IV (https://sw1xad.co.uk/products/sw1x-lpu-iv-phono-pre-amp-tube-amplifier/):


are both exceptional vacuum tube MM phonos in the VPS-100 budget range. Both offer in-house matching SUTs if you like.

 

[No Regrets]

The Cinnamon Galle phono (https://cinnamonaudio.com/components/gallephono):
View attachment 156887
or the SW1X LPU IV (https://sw1xad.co.uk/products/sw1x-lpu-iv-phono-pre-amp-tube-amplifier/):
View attachment 156888

are both exceptional vacuum tube MM phonos in the VPS-100 budget range. Both offer in-house matching SUTs if you like.

Hello Colin,

How would you describe the sound differences between these two phono amps?

I believe the RIAA network in the SW1X is active and it's solely a MM phono amp in which you are free to use any external SUT when utilizing a MC cartridge.

Is the RIAA network in the Cinnamon active or passive? Does this phono come with internal SUT's or do you use an external SUT with MC cartridges?

Thanks much for any additional insight that you can provide us with these two pieces.

Best wishes to you,
Don

Best wishes,
Don

 

[skinnyfla]

The Cinnamon Galle phono (https://cinnamonaudio.com/components/gallephono):
View attachment 156887
or the SW1X LPU IV (https://sw1xad.co.uk/products/sw1x-lpu-iv-phono-pre-amp-tube-amplifier/):
View attachment 156888

are both exceptional vacuum tube MM phonos in the VPS-100 budget range. Both offer in-house matching SUTs if you like.

… thanks - that’s the input i was hoping for. Don’t know either one, both sound like interesting alternatives though. As they seem hard to get here in Germany, how would you describe them soundwise?

 

[iaxel]

If you like your Ypsilon, why not try to all-silver VPS-100?

I would recommend the Aries Cerat Talos Reference of Signature.
They also make their own custom built SUTs.

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

If you like your Ypsilon, why not try to all-silver VPS-100?

I would recommend the Aries Cerat Talos Reference of Signature.
They also make their own custom built SUTs.

You stole my comment

I would look at the VPS-100 MK2 (standard or silver). I’m also intrigued by the offerings from Aries Cerat within this segment where I’m hoping to learn more in autumn here.

We do also carry Allnic, but I haven’t heard their top offerings. You have to love (!) tubes to consider them though as they’re fully loaded.

 

[shakti]

You might like the following thread:

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

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) https://www.analog-forum.de/wbboard/index.php?thread/123154-shakti-vergleich-verschiedene-high-end-phono-vorstufen/ (German...

www.whatsbestforum.com

With the segment of the Ypsilon VPS-100 you will find many good sounding tube phono stage alternatives,
all with a little different blend in voicing. Some more examples:

Air Tight ATE 3011

Phasemation EA-2000

Zanden 1200 MKIII Signature

Engström Monica M Phono

Kondo GE-10

Allnic H-8000

The most Tube based Phonostages do work with Step Ups for the MC section.

The internal step us are always a compromise. Better external step ups do exist, like

Kondo- SFZ

Phasemation T-2000

An upgrade for your existing Phonostage might be a better (and easy to realize) step up transformer as well.


You also can move into a higher price segment for phono stages, like

Allnic H-10000

Koda MC One

EMT JPA 66 MKIII

and others .

 

[skinnyfla]

… does all sound very interesting - I would suppose my VPS-100 sets the bar rather high… will be interesting to find out if things really get better still

 

[shakti]

… does all sound very interesting - I would suppose my VPS-100 sets the bar rather high… will be interesting to find out if things really get better still

Enjoy to find out!
my recent personal surprise was the performance level of the Koda MC One.

Now I am looking forward to explore more phono stages at this level

 

[dan31]

I can see others asking about their current state of the art phono and if the VPS-100 should be next to consider. The VPS is excellent. Perhaps a different step up to experiment? Silver or copper. Japanese or UK/EU.

Enjoy the options, there are plenty of different choices, not sure better than the VPS-100.

 

[skinnyfla]

I can see others asking about their current state of the art phono and if the VPS-100 should be next to consider. The VPS is excellent. Perhaps a different step up to experiment? Silver or copper. Japanese or UK/EU.

Enjoy the options, there are plenty of different choices, not sure better than the VPS-100.

… the VPS 100 sure is up there with the best and it may well be that it‘ll just stay… I‘m just going through a phase of every so often occurring unrest and wondering if a change will bring any bettering - probably just a phase & part of the hobby

 

[dan31]

Looks like you are in Germany. For different I would visit Shakti and listen to the Robert Koda MC phono. From description and design it should be something special. Best of luck.

 

[Salectric]

EMIA LR Phono Corrector, either copper or silver.

 

[nattonrice]

EMIA LR Phono Corrector, either copper or silver.

Second this. Have the Ag version here with an Ag SUT, just an incredible phono stage.

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

Hi 'skinnyfla',
If you can get to the UK, I would recommend arranging with Definitive Audio to paying them a visit (they are based in Nottinghamshire - fly into Birmingham Airport), and listen to one of their phono stage set-ups consisting of one of the Consolidated Audio SUTs linked to one of SJS Arcadia MM Phono Stages.

 

[bonzo75]

nothing that sounds analytical, thin or overly hifi-ish… musical, rich and colorful sound with good bottom end is always my preference

No reason why one would prefer the former bracket over the latter, though one might end up in the former bracket because of their research (lack of) and set up

 

[JRW1971]

I’ve been running a CS Port phono side-by-side with a VPS-100 for several weeks. The CS Port is quite good. Quite good. They both use the same tubes.