The Paradise Phonostage

[Wakefield Turntables]

It is my intention to write an in depth review on this Phonostage. I'm currently loaning a three box version from Simon who also lives on this forum whilst he builds my 4 box version. Tonight is the first night where I have had chance to listen and all I can say is that it's throwing up a few interesting results. Full review will probably take a week or so, please be patient. I'm sure Simon and Mark who also own versions of the Paradise phonostage will chip in and add their own observations (I hope so)! Stay tuned.

[YNWaN]

As andrew says, I have a four box build of this phonostage:





An elaborate moving coil only stage it uses an unusual transconductance circuit with zero negative feedback, instead relying on close component matching.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I don't intend having IEC's in mine i've plumped for some well screened copper cabling, I got talked out of the usual 4-5mm shielded pure silver solid core that I use. So already we have differences

[Wakefield Turntables]

OK am off to bed now, yep its early but I want a full day in Paradise tomorrow!

[YNWaN]

Blimey, too early to go to bed for me yet!

Si told me you wanted the mains cable to be hard wired - no harm in that - it's actually easier than fitting an IEC socket. I have to say that I've not found IEC sockets to be a limiting factor though and the ability to easily disconnect the cable is important to me, plus the IEC socket can house the on/off switch and contain the fuse (which mine do). I'm not against 'purist' build though - I used silver plated, Teflon insulated, OFC coaxial hookup cable internally, 50Ohm BNC input connectors and Eichmann output RCA's, circuit boards are mechanically isolated etc.

[Ali Tait]

Is there a demo unit that can be sent out?

[Wakefield Turntables]

I used silver plated, Teflon insulated, OFC coaxial hookup cable internally, 50Ohm BNC input connectors and Eichmann output RCA's, circuit boards are mechanically isolated etc.

I suppose I could still be coaxed into silver, this may explain why Si's sounds a little laid back. But Eichman output RCA's sound pretty cool and the circuit board been mechanically isolated also sounds quite an easy job to do. I think Si gets around this with sitting the units on sorbothane focal pods which extrinsically dampen?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Is there a demo unit that can be sent out?

No this is a group build project from DIYAUDIO.COM not a commercial product.

[chris@panteg]

So it's dual mono with dual psu's and built into naim cases, does the circuitry share a similar topology and design to naim phono stages ?

[YNWaN]

It doesn't have to be in Naim cases, but both Si's and mine are for two very good reasons; 1/ the circuit happens to fit very nicely, 2/ our friend Andrew (AKA flatpopely) happens to manufacture and sell them.

The circuit has absolutely nothing to do with anything Naim have ever done.
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Andrew, I don't think the silver internal hookup cable makes any difference (well, very tiny), I only used it because I needed some coax hookup cable and it wasn't expensive (you only need 0.5 metre for the whole build) - much more likely is the value of the cartridge loading - which does make a difference. 'Laid back' is definitely not how I would describe my Paradise!