IF cost was no objective what phonostage would you own?

[User211]

Why imbalanced? I've heard people say nice things about Allnic I'll put it on the short list.

Well, I think a 10K stage warrants a better cartridge but then again you may not agree.

Origin Live TT/arm/IO/Kondo S6/MM stage of an Audio Note M5/Audio Note P4s/AN Es worked brilliantly - one of the best set ups I've come across for a vinyl front end.

That IO/Kondo thing really DOES work.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Another option might be a TRON Seven in whatever spec you can afford. I have a TRON Seven Reference built specially to match my Decca C4E. It is seriously good. If I had hods of cash, maybe I would go for a GT spec with separate PSU.

Just been reading the review of the GT spec Tron, it's £10K give or take 50 quid. For a stage this expensive you'd need a few weeks with it.

[Reffc]

If cost was no object, then some of the very best phono stages would still be within reach as it seems to be another area where more cost doesn't = better performance. RIAA equalisation and gain stages are relatively straight forwards to implement, there's no magic involved. Those implemented really well can still be had for under a grand. I'd be very happy with a Graham Slee Era V with upgraded PSU. The power supply is often where short cuts are made.

[User211]

If cost was no object, then some of the very best phono stages would still be within reach as it seems to be another area where more cost doesn't = better performance. RIAA equalisation and gain stages are relatively straight forwards to implement, there's no magic involved. Those implemented really well can still be had for under a grand. I'd be very happy with a Graham Slee Era V with upgraded PSU. The power supply is often where short cuts are made.

From an engineering point of view, seemingly true. But there's foo at play and I don't believe it is that clear cut.

Hearing an AN S3 SUT versus a Kondo S6 really makes you realise all is not as perhaps it seems. Unless an AN S3 is technically flawed, of course. Or the S6 is. If neither are, one of them is definitely doing something the other isn't in a way a room full of people can easily appreciate.

[paskinn]

How pleasant to be invited to spend as much as you want.....not an experience I am too familiar with. Anyway, in this fantasy I will have a Thomas Meyer handbuilt six box phonostage, with all transformers (a lot) in silver. With matching silver step-up. I suspect you could buy a very expensive Porsche for similar cash; if you're feeling generous, perhaps I could have both? 911 Carrera4S, in dark grey. Phonostage...whatever colour you nominate. My thanks. Most appreciative.
If restricted to a measly 10k (spoilsport!) I'd be stuck....because your system could surely enjoy some of that cash sprinkled elsewhere. So, I'd replace your deck with a new SME 20-3. Sell your Technics and buy a Croft phonostage, the best you can afford.
Or would you prefer the Porsche?

[Andrei]

If cost were no object I would think about the Zesto Audio Andros. I haven't heard it but it is a Class A Stereophile component, has lots of valves and looks £10Ks worth! I think I a positive review by Michael Fremer. As an aside I like his reviews as he does not make excuses about a product's shortcomings.

[Marco]

If cost was no object, then some of the very best phono stages would still be within reach as it seems to be another area where more cost doesn't = better performance. RIAA equalisation and gain stages are relatively straight forwards to implement, there's no magic involved. Those implemented really well can still be had for under a grand. I'd be very happy with a Graham Slee Era V with upgraded PSU. The power supply is often where short cuts are made.

I totally agree with the latter - it is also what costs the most! Serious attention to power supply arrangements is one of the things that sets truly the BEST phonostages apart from the rest. Oh, and also glowing bottles (and a top-notch SUT), when implemented optimally with the right cartridge...

Another vote for the Allnic (a truly superb sounding device)!

Marco.

[MikeMusic]

How about the top end Whest ?

The MC Ref is £9999 which seems to fit your budget

http://www.whestaudio.co.uk/phono-stage/mc_ref_v.php

One on offer ATM for £7999
http://www.whestaudio.co.uk/phono-stage/b-grade.php

[Marco]

Andy, in that scenario (if the Whest was chosen), would you be retaining the use of your ST-80 SUT? IME, to date, any MC cartridge I've heard has sounded eons better used via a quality SUT, than directly through the MC input of a phonostage.

Marco.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Well, I think a 10K stage warrants a better cartridge but then again you may not agree.

Origin Live TT/arm/IO/Kondo S6/MM stage of an Audio Note M5/Audio Note P4s/AN Es worked brilliantly - one of the best set ups I've come across for a vinyl front end.

That IO/Kondo thing really DOES work.

I've not heard any of the components that you list so I can't comment. I've a budget upto 10k, that's not to say that I would spend 10k.

If cost was no object, then some of the very best phono stages would still be within reach as it seems to be another area where more cost doesn't = better performance. RIAA equalisation and gain stages are relatively straight forwards to implement, there's no magic involved. Those implemented really well can still be had for under a grand. I'd be very happy with a Graham Slee Era V with upgraded PSU. The power supply is often where short cuts are made.

I agree. I heard a tri chord Diablo and ncpsu compared to a whest 3.0rdtse and I thought the tri chord sent the whest packing with a clean pair of heels and was significantly cheaper.

How pleasant to be invited to spend as much as you want.....not an experience I am too familiar with. Anyway, in this fantasy I will have a Thomas Meyer handbuilt six box phonostage, with all transformers (a lot) in silver. With matching silver step-up. I suspect you could buy a very expensive Porsche for similar cash; if you're feeling generous, perhaps I could have both? 911 Carrera4S, in dark grey. Phonostage...whatever colour you nominate. My thanks. Most appreciative.
If restricted to a measly 10k (spoilsport!) I'd be stuck....because your system could surely enjoy some of that cash sprinkled elsewhere. So, I'd replace your deck with a new SME 20-3. Sell your Technics and buy a Croft phonostage, the best you can afford.
Or would you prefer the Porsche?

Thanks, but remember budget is upto 10k.

How about the top end Whest ?

The MC Ref is £9999 which seems to fit your budget

http://www.whestaudio.co.uk/phono-stage/mc_ref_v.php

One on offer ATM for £7999
http://www.whestaudio.co.uk/phono-stage/b-grade.php

Yep heard the 3.0rdtse and my sugden and ortofon st80se SUT produced the same results and for about 1k less than the cost of the phonostage. I've never heard the V, so I presume it would be a massive step up in performance over the 3.0rdtse.

Andy, in that scenario (if the Whest was chosen), would you be retaining the use of your ST-80 SUT? IME, to date, any MC cartridge I've heard has sounded eons better used via a quality SUT, than directly through the MC input of a phonostage.

Marco.

I tried the whest 3.0rdtse with a the 80se and they simply didn't get on, I ended up sending the whest back for repair twice and eventually lost patience with it. The small amount of time that it did work I noticed I didn't get that much of an increase in performance over what I already had. I would have had to pay an extra grand for a very small Increase in performance. Finally, I may decide to upgrade the 80se with a choir sut.