Hi Guys
An update. After many of you suggested FIREBOTTLE's Phono Stage, I arranged to borrow a demo sample doing the rounds. In the meantime I heard the Whest PS.30RDT and was blown away. So I decided to cancel the loan of the FIREBOTTLE and start saving for the Whest, maybe after I return from holiday in early April I would do something about it.
Anyway last week I was talking to my friendly dealer (who I've known for over 40 years) who said he would demo me the Whest and another Phonostage which may surprise me. I sat down on his demo sofa and listened to the Whest, it was still wonderful. After a while he changed to the other Phonostage and I sat there with my mouth open when he told me that it could be mine for slightly less than £800. The sound was very close to the Whest with the same bass detail I loved. Needless to say it made my Dino sound rather flat. We had a conversation, a fight and eventually after pinning him down on the floor with his arm half way up his back he agreed to sell me one with a nice discount. So instead of spending just under £3,000 I spent £700. What was this fantastic under promoted Phonostage you ask, it was a Rega Aria, the best kept secret in HiFi Land. Me, I'm a very happy bunny.
When I get some time I'll write a full review for you guys.
Clive
SOURCE:OPPO UDP-205 BluRay, SkyQ, Technics SL1210M5G/HexMat Eclipse/MN Bearing/Origin Live Gravity One puck/Isonoes with Boots/Jelco TK-850S Tonearm/Hana Umami Blue, PS Audio Stellar Phonostage. I also have an AT-OC9XSH as a spare cartridge.
AMPLIFIER: Bryston BR-20 Pre/DAC/Streamer & Bryston 4B3 Power Amplifier
SPEAKERS: Spendor D7 on Iso-Acoustics Gaia III’s
HEADPHONES: OPPO PM-1 with Atlas Zeno cable, B&W Pi7 S2 and B&W C5 v2.
CABLES: Analogue: Speaker Atlas Mavros Grun. Interconnect - Atlas Mavros XLR x3, MCRU Silver Tonearm cable
Digital:Audioquest Carbon Ethernet x 4, Audioquest Carbon digital, English Electric 8Switch, Chord Optichord, Atlas Optical.
Mains: PS Audio Perfectwave AC-05 x 5, Isol-8 Powerline Extreme with Quantum Science yellow fuse on input cable, Sounds Fantastic 6way Mains Blocks.
STORAGE: Synology DS216J NAS with 2 x 3Tb WD Red hard-drives. Samsung 500Gb SSD.
TV LG55B7 OLED
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