I am interested in learning about your personal experiences with a solid state phono that can accommodate a low output (0.3mv / 4Ω). Don’t want a MM or tube phono and don’t wanna consider a SUT. Thank you!
What are some of best solid state phono?
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other than at hifi shows i don't have much personal experience with solid state phono's other than my own darTZeel. most of my other phono's have been tubed or with SUT's. but here are a few to check out. not sure your price range. looking at your system it's worthy of a top level phono.
the HSE Swiss Masterline 7 and the CH Precision P10 are two newer solid state phono's said to be really good. but both around $80k-$90k.
heard great things about the Pass Labs XS phono are $50k. the Soulution Labs 755 is another good one.
Van Den Hul Grail around $20k. i like my darTZeel on board phono's in my darTZeel 18NS preamp......but slightly prefer my tubed EMIA phono w/SUT's.
there are many others.
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Mike, thanks you for the recommendations. I’ll check it out…HSE reminds me of another Swiss brand - FM Acoustics.
zebo67
I looked at your system , nice , the HSE would definitely work well . Had mine for 5yrs after many tube . It has great power , control , detail . Good luck
Thank you for your kind words @Gardener. Finding a high performance phono in-line with my rest of the system is a bit of a challenge.
My AD-60 phono board in the E-650 is already pretty darn good — transparent, musical, and very capable. Yes, it can be bettered (an Accuphase C-57 or something comparable would certainly tighten things up and add refinement), but I’ve set a hard cap: I’m not prepared to spend more than $30K on a phono stage. Frankly, before committing to the $50–$60K range for a phono-only upgrade, I’d much rather invest that money in Accuphase separates — for example the A-48S amp and C-2900 pre — which would lift the entire system and give me more long-term value and synergy with my 301 and the rest of the chain. I believe, system-level gains from separates beat an extreme single-component phono spend.
I am gravitating towards CH P1 with X1 upgrade down the road. I like its design and upgrade options.
Thank you @Bonesy Jonesy. I really like P1 and options to upgrade as funds permit.
Thank you for your kind words @Gardener. Finding a high performance phono in-line with my rest of the system is a bit of a challenge.
My AD-60 phono board in the E-650 is already pretty darn good — transparent, musical, and very capable. Yes, it can be bettered (an Accuphase C-57 or something comparable would certainly tighten things up and add refinement), but I’ve set a hard cap: I’m not prepared to spend more than $30K on a phono stage. Frankly, before committing to the $50–$60K range for a phono-only upgrade, I’d much rather invest that money in Accuphase separates — for example the A-48S amp and C-2900 pre — which would lift the entire system and give me more long-term value and synergy with my 301 and the rest of the chain. I believe, system-level gains from separates beat an extreme single-component phono spend.
I could see adding CH P1 with X1 upgrade down the road.
Around 10k you can find interesting stuff,
like Perreaux VP4, Luxman E-07, Phasemation ES-550 and Soulnote E-2.
The most carts up to 5k in tonearm up to 3k will be happy with this Phonostages.
If you go higher in your budget, like 20k or even 30k
you should look, if your turntable is on this level as well . Cart and Tonearm should be at least in the 7 to 10k region.
like Perreaux VP4, Luxman E-07, Phasemation ES-550 and Soulnote E-2.
The most carts up to 5k in tonearm up to 3k will be happy with this Phonostages.
If you go higher in your budget, like 20k or even 30k
you should look, if your turntable is on this level as well . Cart and Tonearm should be at least in the 7 to 10k region.
@shakti Thank you for your recommendation. Perreaux VP4 is an interesting piece of gear. My analog set includes, completely rebuild / modified Audio Grail Garrard 301, Woodsong plinth, Artisan Fidelity Hybrid Copper Top platter + Bearing, Reed 3p tonearm and Etsuro Bordeaux. At some point, I am going to step up to Etsuro Gold cartridge. The pursuit of a solid state phono is likely last piece of the puzzle
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I am absolutely not a vinyl person at all. I have read great things about Boulder, Vitus and Robert Koda's solid state phonostages. As an owner of Robert Koda's I do like their designs and admire their maniacal commitment to purity at an elevated level.
Nice analog set up.@shakti Thank you for your recommendation. Perreaux VP4 is an interesting piece of gear. My analog set includes, completely rebuild / modified Audio Grail Garrard 301, Woodsong plinth, Artisan Fidelity Hybrid Copper Top platter + Bearing, Reed 3p tonearm and Etsuro Bordeaux. At some point, I am going to step up to Etsuro Gold cartridge. The pursuit of solid state phono is a last piece of the puzzle
To my personal experience I like the etsuro carts combined with step up and tube phonostages. I heard the etsuro carts incl gold very nice in different variations,
like connected to a Zanden MR 1200 MK 3 phonostage ( actual version is called Signature)
New to my personal set up is the Robert Koda MC-One phono stage, which let me believe, that it is possible to make a very good solid state phonostages, able to support carts in the league of the Etsuro Gold.
Unfortunately the MC-one has nowadays a prohibitive price tag.
Nice system! I am currently using a Soulnote E2 phono equalizer and am really liking it. Good luck in your search.
I prefer using a set-up transformer (SUT) in/with my phono preamps. To that end, I have used Lamm LP2 on the tube side and two Jeff Rowland Cadence (with BPS battery power supply) on the solid state side. Both feature Jensen SUTs. If I was in the market for a new solid state phono preamp today, I would be auditioning the Jeff Rowland Conductor with its flexibility around Lundahl SUT type, gain, loading, multiple inputs, etc.
Hi zebo67, in the below $20k range, you may want to audition the Gryphon Legato! Its sound is slightly on the warm side, if that is what you prefer!
Ron Sutherland builds a fine phono stage and so does burmester
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