Phono stage recommendations please

[Haselsh1]

In about four weeks I shall be in a position to replace my Musical Fidelity VLPS Mk I phono stage and was considering either a Rega Fono MkII or a Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 SE. Has anyone any experience with these and if so could you share your findings with me...? I cannot unfortunately get a demo of these units where I live so have to go on recommendations.

I use a modified Project RPM-4 with standard arm and an Ortofon 520 cartridge soon to be upgraded to a 540 with a new stylus. Do you think that the stylus would be a more worthwhile upgrade...? I only use moving magnet at the present time.

[Andrei]

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I use a modified Project RPM-4 with standard arm and an Ortofon 520 cartridge soon to be upgraded to a 540 with a new stylus. Do you think that the stylus would be a more worthwhile upgrade...? I only use moving magnet at the present time.

Absolutely cant identify with your equipment. BUT there is a new boy on the block: the iphono. I pulled the trigger and I hit the target! A bullseye!!

[OneyedK]

I cannot unfortunately get a demo of these units where I live so have to go on recommendations.
Graham Slee offers a free loaner program. So you can try the unit at home...

[trio leo]

I'm not sure of the price of the ones you've mentioned, but I am ecstatic with the Albarry MCA 11, it has lifted my system to a new level and at £500 it's a bargain IMO.

regards Al

[julesd68]

I heard the Graham Slee recently and was very impressed indeed - a similar level of performance to my Puresound P10 which I can also highly recommend. The P10 comes up second-hand from time to time ...

[morris_minor]

+1 on Graham Slee's offerings. The home loan scheme from the forum is very useful . . .

I've a Reflex M and earlier Era Gold V. Both stonking little units. :)

[Clive]

The ifi iPhono is very good indeed, especially if you want a clear sound to chase away any cobwebs holding back the mid-range of some MM cartridges. The bass of the iFi is tremendous and really shows off what many MMs do so well. If partnered with super clear very modern MC then I suspect the combination would not gel as well, a Croft or other valve phono stage would suit better in that situation, giving more depth.

[Frankyc2003]

I heard the Graham Slee recently and was very impressed indeed - a similar level of performance to my Puresound P10 which I can also highly recommend. The P10 comes up second-hand from time to time ...

+1 on the Graham Slee, its a straight winner Value for Money!!!

Graham is a true gent, and the GSP forum is a great place with free loan scheme in the UK, etc.
Highly recommended!

[ReggieB]

I spent some time trying different turntables and cartridges, and couldn't really get what everyone was going on about when the raved about LP. LP sounded fine but CD was more convenient and sound at least as good. And then I happened upon a cheap sony battery phono amp, and my records came alive. So I can highly recommend investing in a reasonable phono amp.

I've now got a trichord dino with dino+ power supply (http://www.trichordresearch.com/DinoMk2.html) which I'm very happy with.

[Qwin]

Shaun - I have the Graham Slee GAIISE. It was a step up from my Cambridge 640P, which is on par with the MF VLPS mk I by accounts I have read (no personal experience there).

It is a very nice phono stage with lots of detail and worked well with my Goldring 1042.

It has high gain so not much volume required when coupled up with the robust output from the Goldring. In fact the gain is so high I even coupled it up to a LOMC Denon DL-301 II and got reasonable output while running that cartridge in. The Denon puts out 0.4mV which is towards the top end for a LOMC but is no where near the level of a HOMC. I had to crank the volume up on My 30w Sugden Amp but got reasonable listening levels at less than 180 deg rotation of the volume, so well before any chance of clipping. I am using sensitive speakers (Tannoy Cheviots) which also contribute to this abuility.

Have you considered building a Phono stage? There are some good projects over on Audiokarma by the likes of Hypnotoad, they have even produced the circuit board so you just have to solder the parts into places clearly marked on the board. I am currently building a battery powered LOMC stage by Hypnotoad. (for the Denon). If you can solder its a thought?

[roob]

I used to have an early Gram Amp 2 and it was very good for the money.

[stupinder]

Thoroughly enjoyed Graham Slee offerings in the past and currently enjoying an Electrocompaniet.

[morris_minor]

Have you considered building a Phono stage?
There's also Graham Slee's "Genera (http://www.gspaudio.co.uk/genera-mm-phono-preamp-diy-kit-project.htm)" kit to consider . . .

[DSJR]

Oh what the fugg? People here like the Brio R it seems ;) The closely related phono version is known as the £200 ish "Fono." half the price of a Croft, not as good looking as a Slee, but may be better inside perhaps????????

[malvai]

I preferred the Ray Samuels F117 Nighthawk. Its a superb sounding battery powered, cigarette pack sized phono with tonnes of loading and gain options... been using it for 2+ years very happily.

I have tried various phonos like the Graham Slee (forgetting the model), Lehmann Black Cube SE, Einstein (very freaking expensive), Monk Audio and more....

The best of the Lot is the Einstein, but at less than 1/8th the price the Nighthawk is 99.99% equivalent.

The Monk is good too, but it is at 3x+ the price.

So, we will keep the MOnk and Einstein out of the equation for now...

My choices in the a limited budget would be in this order:

1. Nighthawk
2. Graham Slee
3. Lehmann Black Cube SE

or i'd go DIY and build meself (i did, or rather got a friend to build) a Hypnotad Phonocube based battery phono (details on DIY forum).... its a killer for almost peanuts...!

Just my 2 bits...

[Clive]

Add to that the iFi iPhono, it's just that little bit better than the Nighthawk.

[malvai]

looks interesting clive... gotta try it next to the nighthawk that i have... and then next to the Monk that has various EQ loading options....

but, nice nevertheless for the options that it gives at it price point.

[DSJR]

Add to that the iFi iPhono, it's just that little bit better than the Nighthawk.

Initial thoughts are that it's a bit "cool handed" with some cartridges, but I should have a chance to spend some time with it in a couple of weeks :)

[Clive]

Initial thoughts are that it's a bit "cool handed" with some cartridges, but I should have a chance to spend some time with it in a couple of weeks :)

I would say that it won't suit some lean modern cartridges and that it will spice up some lazy ones. Phono stages have to be matched to deck, arm and cartridge, there's no universally ideal phono stage as they can't be viewed in isolation.

[jostber]

Hagtech's got the new Violin:

http://www.haglabs.com/violin.html

and Trumpet:

http://www.haglabs.com/trumpet.html

Very satisfied with the Cornet 2 myself. Valves rules with analog of course. :)

[Haselsh1]

Thank you so much for your comments. At the moment I am tempted by a Rega Fono II but I certainly like the Slee Gram Amp 2 SE.

[Floyddroid]

Quad QC, EE Minimax, or the very wicked Ayre.:)

[Stratmangler]

Oh what the fugg? People here like the Brio R it seems ;) The closely related phono version is known as the £200 ish "Fono." half the price of a Croft, not as good looking as a Slee, but may be better inside perhaps????????

Is this a guess or an experienced comment?
The Slee stuff is very, very good indeed.
The only Croft I've heard is Marco's, and it's not stock so it don't count :ner:

[Marco]

Why don't it, daftee? It's still Glenn's circuit, just with some better bits in :)

Oh, and it's got a LOT better since you last heard it, as you'll discover for yourself on the 16th ;)

Marco.

[nickbaba]

+1 on the Trichord Dino with external PSU. Very happy with mine.

[hal55]

I've tried the GS2 and was most impressed with it, except that I found it firmly in the solid state sounding camp and, in the context of my system, a touch over the top, very noticeably with classical. Beethovan 7th was a particularly hard listen. In the end I just decided that valves suited me better, purchased the Yaqin 22B (dead cheap) and am finding it an enjoyable listen even with stock tubes. I doubt that it will remain long term, but I'll have some fun with it, roll tubes and generally just play with it until it either gets sold to fund an upgrade or I have it modded.
Hard to do, but having experience of something in your own system is invaluable.

Hal55

[Floyddroid]

In reply to the gentleman from Rossendale, should it be my comment to which he refers, my answer is "no guessing at all". My very dear friend (also an AOS member) Vikon owns the Ayre phono stage hich is absolutely wicked and i in turn own and use an EE Minimax Phono stage having swapped it in preference for a Quad QC which is also a great Phono stage.
In addition, i had two Slee phono stges before which i found very good but did not suit my system. I hope if it was my comment this has clarified the matter of guessing etc. I can be accused of many things, bullshitting isn't one of them. If it is DSJR's comment i would tend to think he knows what he's talking about.
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