Jeff Polan's New NextGen PHONO Preamp!

[LeifH]

@Eichenbaum & @LeifH you have both had The NextGen for a while, can you tell us about your long term experience, and what known phono stages you have compared them to? Thanks

@Eichenbaum & @LeifH you have both had The NextGen for a while, can you tell us about your long term experience, and what known phono stages you have compared them to? Thanks

Been using the Jeffs (NextGen) cards (first generation) for a year by now. Still feel it’s the best MC phono I ever had. Extremely silent electronics.
Space (depth, width, height of soundstage) along with the tone and separation of individual instruments is better than any I ever heard. Voice or tone of piano is exceptionally life-like / realistic. Most satisfying to my personal taste.
Over the 60 years I had music as main source of happiness (aside of family) there has been quite a few different MC phono stages. But lately John Curl (sorry but I forgot model #) and ARC PH3SE and Constellation Perseus. The latter two parallel in time with Jeffs boards. Cartridges / arms are still Brinkmann EMT in the 12” Brinkmann arm. And My Sonic Lab Signature Platinum in the 12” Supatrack. Two very different but both excellent sounding combinations. The former warmer than the latter.

 

[Music Master]

Agree with LeifH. Jeff's phonostage reproduces music (of all genres) in the most life-like fashion of any phonostage i have heard. As LeifH indicated, you can hear it clearly in voices and piano (which, for me, is always what I listen for when listening to a new component). The transparency and dynamics are off the charts and everything is fully fleshed out. If you are looking for a tubey roundness, you won't get that, but there is plenty of weight to the music. I have lived with and heard many top (and very expensive) phonostages over the years and have not heard one that does what this does. I spent several months comparing it to the phonostage in my Dartzeel 18NS Mk 2 preamp (whichbi have always considered excellent) and Jeff's phonostage was a definite improvement. If you are looking for bling, this unit is not for you, but if, like me, the sound is what matters most, you should give this phonostage a listen.

 

[Eichenbaum]

I wasn’t able to access WBF for a while — I just saw your question today.
My system consists of MBL Reference speakers, amplifiers, and preamp, along with a Transrotor Tourbillon turntable, SME V tonearm, and Benz LPS cartridge.
I previously had the MBL phono preamp, Tom Evans Mastergroove, and Tom Evans Supreme before buying the NextGen.
The NextGen is by far the best — it’s quieter, and the resolution is outstanding without losing any musicality.
Since you can test it in your system, it’s a no-brainer.
The TE Supreme is six times more expensive than the NextGen and now just sits on a shelf collecting dust.