View Full Version : WHF AWards 2012 Best Phono Stage
had to laugh at this, not knocking the winner as I am sure it's good for the money but get serious, an £85 phono stage, come on guys surely you must have tested better throughout 2012!
just sums up the nature of their readership I guess
WINNER (http://www.whathifi.com/review/fono-mini-a2d)
freefallrob
19-10-2012, 15:25
Never heard one, have Rega bought lots of advertising? I guess at the reasonable price and the fact it's usb thingy m'bob it's an 'audio file phono stage for the masses'.
hifi_dave
19-10-2012, 15:37
It's an excellent phono stage for the money but (obviously) not the best you can buy. So, how WTF came to that conclusion is anyone's guess.
And no, Rega have never advertised any of their products, which is why they haven't been as prominent in the UK mags as some products..:rolleyes:
seoirse2002
19-10-2012, 16:43
Hi Dave,
Any word on that cartridge you mentioned in previous posts? Have I missed it?:cool:
hifi_dave
19-10-2012, 16:47
I have the very first in a Jiffy bag right next to me.,:whistle:
julesd68
19-10-2012, 17:19
I've not heard the Rega but for me one of the most overrated bits of kit of all time is the CA640P - lasted less than an hour in my system - I know it's cheap but it wouldn't be good for a fiver ...
I'm definitely in the the 'why shouldn't a cheap phonostage win an award?' camp here. Of course there will be better 'stages out there - I'd like to think folks' intelligence isn't being insulted that far - but if it's a cracking bit of kit for 85 quid, why the hell shouldn't it get a bit of recognition?
There's plenty of stuff at 20 times its price which is utterly dire IME.
Ammonite Audio
19-10-2012, 17:58
I'm definitely in the the 'why shouldn't a cheap phonostage win an award?' camp here. Of course there will be better 'stages out there - I'd like to think folks' intelligence isn't being insulted that far - but if it's a cracking bit of kit for 85 quid, why the hell shouldn't it get a bit of recognition?
There's plenty of stuff at 20 times its price which is utterly dire IME.
Well said!
+2 (in principle), although I would no sooner trust WTF's opinion of an £85 phono stage, than I would an £8500 one! That said, I'm with Richard.
Anyway, howz dat ST-80SE soundin'? ;)
Marco.
I'm definitely in the the 'why shouldn't a cheap phonostage win an award?' camp here. Of course there will be better 'stages out there - I'd like to think folks' intelligence isn't being insulted that far - but if it's a cracking bit of kit for 85 quid, why the hell shouldn't it get a bit of recognition?
There's plenty of stuff at 20 times its price which is utterly dire IME.
Well said.
I'm definitely in the the 'why shouldn't a cheap phonostage win an award?' camp here.
Me too.
:cool:
Ammonite Audio
19-10-2012, 19:59
Anyway, howz dat ST-80SE soundin'? ;)
Marco.
I've not set the record player up yet!
awkwardbydesign
19-10-2012, 21:42
Has anyone actually heard it? Lots of opinions, based on prejudice, but any actual experience? Probably not a world beater, but "probably" ain't good enough IMO.
I've not heard the Rega but for me one of the most overrated bits of kit of all time is the CA640P - lasted less than an hour in my system - I know it's cheap but it wouldn't be good for a fiver ...
Do what?
jandl100
20-10-2012, 07:40
I'm with Gromit - sorry Andy! - but anything in the same priceband that stops folk wasting their money on a bloody Cambridge 540 greyed-out piece of shite would probably get my vote!
Andy - trying something else - you will be amazed! :lol:
...anything in the same priceband that stops folk wasting their money on a bloody Cambridge 540 greyed-out piece of shite would probably get my vote!
Do you know why that "greyed-out" effect exists, Jerry?
It's because the current designer is a measurements freak 'objectivist' type, and so equipment is designed by computer with (as far as I understand) next to no listening being carried out by discerning ears, during the design process. That's what is wrong with so much equipment made these days, and why it sounds so fundamentally WRONG (when using music as the judgement criteria, not readouts on an oscilloscope).
It never ceases to amaze me why the Cambridge stuff wins so many awards... :doh:
Contacts in influential places, perhaps? The stuff made now is a far cry from the superb products created by the original company!
Marco.
I can't knock the CA 540p. I owned one for a while and it sounded pretty good partnered with an AT95he in a Thorens TD316 and Linn LVX combo. I think I paid 20 quid for it so it was a bit of a bargain...
Well, for £20 what can you say? :)
Marco.
I'm with Gromit - sorry Andy! - but anything in the same priceband that stops folk wasting their money on a bloody Cambridge 540 greyed-out piece of shite would probably get my vote!
Andy - trying something else - you will be amazed! :lol:
No greyed out sound here Jerry- and stop suggesting to me about trying another phono stage please............................................ ..................:)
Presumably the main criteria for WHF awards is vfm so any phono for £85 that doesn't sound bad might qualify. The likes of Vitus etc can hardly be judged on the same criteria even though they may sound marginally better through whatever system WHF lashes together.
hifi_dave
23-10-2012, 21:43
WHF does class it as the "best" but then goes on to say it's "hugely impressive for the price".
It's obviously not the best as their own Ios Reference will quickly demonstrate but it is excellent for the money. May be WHF should have proof read the heading before publication.
Or, is it the "best" in the Which tradition ?
Never stopped being a cynic, have you Dave;)
I don't ever recall seeing a Rega advert in What? but I spend a damn fortune with them and don't win awards on everything so it's not as tainted as it seems. However, I do wonder what the hell they are thinking on the odd occasion:steam:
Apparently it's all about "sound for pound";)
the engine
30-10-2012, 10:46
I had a project phono se 2 . In case I've got the name wrong it cost about £150 and did mc and mm and had a sort of corrugated body.The solid state one and I bought a dino ..dynavector ...and a rega....and every time I ended up having to admit the progy was better.
Only when I got my current sugden stage 2 did I sell it. ...giant killer of a phono amp. IMO pick one up if you can ...wee wee's all over the progy valve ones. No offence anyone but if you can pick one up cheap GEDDIT !
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