Location: london
Posts: 162
I'm martin.
That was always my view on phono stages till I heard the Vida - which is also over £4k now, though in my view you also have to figure in a decent SUT as well.
Incidentally, Allnic is up to double that (and no better in my view though I can't remember which was the model I heard), for the Zandens, five figures minimum, and the new retail on the EAR 912 is over five figures too, though that is also a full feature line stage along with its two-arm LCR phono section + quality four-ratio SUT... so yes, the Valab does indeed seem like a bargain in this company.
Remton is a new on on me (nice find!) and would appear to be respectable value for a tubed LCR phono stage, though as the author suggests, I'd be tempted in this case to buy the MM version and select my own SUT as the ratios provided internally don't really suit what I need in my setup. Would probably suit most though.
Location: Ferndown, Dorset, UK
Posts: 248
I'm Brook.
I have heard the Vida a few times now & I agree it is very, very good, but I have a modified Art Audio Vinyl One Reference that really does it for me, it sounds lithe with lots of air between instruments which to me is beguiling, probably helped by the fact my amp is a Art Audio Quintet, also heavily modded. I was seriously contemplating the Vida until I found a couple of wee problems with both that were sorted easily & quickly by Graeme (Valve bloke), & now the overall sound is sublime & more than good enough for me. The V1 also isn't cheap, not far off the Vida in term of price, at least with the spec mine has, but it is a keeper for sure, lottery win excepted!
Location: North Lincs
Posts: 193
I'm Keith.
There is a diy version but have no idea how it sounds.
http://www.pmillett.com/LR_phono.html
Location: london
Posts: 162
I'm martin.
There's a list of parts:
http://www.pmillett.com/file_downloads/lr_phono_BOM.pdf
and the grand total of $175 + the PCBs - got to be worth giving it a shot!
Shit. I quite fancy this project.
Where's the link to buy the PCBs?