New phono stage [Archive] - The Art of Sound Forum

Renfin

21-01-2015, 21:58

Hi guys
Looking to purchase a phono stage to suit my sl1210 m5g and need some advice from the guru's.

The deck came with an ortofon pro dj cartridge which is currently fitted but I also have a 2m bronze or black to choose from.

So my question is which cartridge, phono stage combo would suit best.
Budget max 1500 pounds.

Cheers

Tarzan

21-01-2015, 22:00

Nice problem to have mate!:)

Floyddroid

21-01-2015, 22:08

Firebottle.

Hi guys
Looking to purchase a phono stage to suit my sl1210 m5g and need some advice from the guru's.

The deck came with an ortofon pro dj cartridge which is currently fitted but I also have a 2m bronze or black to choose from.

So my question is which cartridge, phono stage combo would suit best.
Budget max 1500 pounds.

Cheers

Ali Tait

21-01-2015, 22:11

+1 Firebottle.

struth

21-01-2015, 22:32

+2 Firebottle:eyebrows:

Frankyc2003

21-01-2015, 22:45

+3 Firebottle and either a 2M Black or an Audio Note IQ2 or 3...:)

Renfin

21-01-2015, 22:53

I'm leaning towards the 2m Black but i've heard some complaining that it can sound bright.
Was also looking at the Ayre P-5xe but would like some opinions from members that have similar setups and what they found works best.

6L6

21-01-2015, 23:05

2M black and 2nd hand Pass AlephOno or Xono (If you can find one...)

Renfin

21-01-2015, 23:16

2M black and 2nd hand Pass AlephOno or Xono (If you can find one...)

Thanks will check it out.

Andrei

22-01-2015, 01:43

I have notion that it is good to have tubes 'somewhere in the system'. So if your amp / preamp is SS then consider a tube phono stage. I have this: http://www.musicdirect.com/p-119134-fosgate-signature-v2-phono-preamp.aspx It is simply glorious, and looks to be within budget. If you want solid-state then Sugden Masterclass would just about fit within budget - I have tried one and again it is a real class product. http://www.originlive.com/phono-stage-amplifier/amplifiers/phono-stages/masterclass-pa-4-phono-amplifier.html

6L6

22-01-2015, 01:58

I have notion that it is good to have tubes 'somewhere in the system'

I agree wholeheartedly!

...I'm in the middle of making a valve phonostage, (and have built them in the past) and let me tell you it's a fantastic place to insert noise into your system. Doing it right is very complicated and difficult. Most commercial tube phono I've heard are just plain noisy.

I suggest a fabulous SS phonostage and then a Valve linestage preamp. (Or power amp.) :D

Renfin

22-01-2015, 02:34

At this stage would prefer a SS pre. A couple of other ideas are,
Parasound jc3
Lehmann black cube se11 or decade

But would also prefer balanced out.

6L6

22-01-2015, 02:37

Balanced out from the Phonostage? That's going to blow your budget. And most balanced out are just balanced line drivers after the SE gain/RIAA/gain. (Not that there's anything wrong with that...)

chris_s

22-01-2015, 07:26

+4 Firebottle from forum member Firebottle (Alan) - had the lovely valve phono stage (mines the MM plus) for a few weeks and its astonishing. Some have said its a steal at £400 and probably out performs valve phonostages three times its price!

Chris

Ali Tait

22-01-2015, 07:46

I have a two box version which is very quiet and has both balanced and single ended outputs. Is MM/MC also. Not heard anything at the price to touch it.

RichB

22-01-2015, 08:58

I've been lucky enough to hear the firebottle stage a couple of times. I didn't know it cost only 400quid, expected v high price to accompany the v high performance I heard.

At that price I'd consider one myself.

Renfin

22-01-2015, 09:12

Balanced out from the Phonostage? That's going to blow your budget. And most balanced out are just balanced line drivers after the SE gain/RIAA/gain. (Not that there's anything wrong with that...)

I believe the ayre P-5xe is balanced. Though will have to use a rca to xlr adapter or modify the rca as per recommendations by ayre.

Renfin

22-01-2015, 09:13

I have a two box version which is very quiet and has both balanced and single ended outputs. Is MM/MC also. Not heard anything at the price to touch it.

Can you post a pic would like to see it. Cheers

Ali Tait

22-01-2015, 09:30

Build thread here-

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?30513-Glass-pronography

Renfin

22-01-2015, 10:51

Build thread here-

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?30513-Glass-pronography

Thanks for that. Does look interesting and its balanced. Though at this stage I think I'll stick to a SS pre.....cheers

Renfin

22-01-2015, 10:52

Anyone used a Plinius koru?

Clive197

22-01-2015, 11:37

Renfin

22-01-2015, 11:57

I've not heard the Firebottle, but many on here have and praise it highly.

As an alternative I wanted something different and after listening to a couple of dealers chose the Rega Aria. I can say without doubt that it was a good decision and am very happy with it.

I did have one briefly in my system and whilst it sounded better than the phono stage in my last pre(MF M6 pre) is had noisy power supply and other quality control issues, so out it went.

walpurgis

22-01-2015, 12:14

I'd suggest one of these:

http://www.gspaudio.co.uk/reflexmcphonostagepreamp.htm

With one of these:

http://www.analogueseduction.net/zyx-cartridges/zyx-r-50h-bloom-moving-coil-cartridge.html

I actually use the Reflex M with SUT and ZYX cartridges and it sounds marvellous.

Clive197

22-01-2015, 12:53

I did have one briefly in my system and whilst it sounded better than the phono stage in my last pre(MF M6 pre) is had noisy power supply and other quality control issues, so out it went.

Interesting, I can in all honesty say that I've had no issues with a noisy power supply or any quality control worries. I am not concidering changing/upgrading, it's a stayer and sounds great to anybody who has heard my system.

One of the reasons I went for the Aria was that it did not use a wall-wart.

Renfin

22-01-2015, 21:45

Interesting, I can in all honesty say that I've had no issues with a noisy power supply or any quality control worries. I am not concidering changing/upgrading, it's a stayer and sounds great to anybody who has heard my system.

One of the reasons I went for the Aria was that it did not use a wall-wart.

Maybe I just got a dud.......

Renfin

22-01-2015, 21:48

Renfin

22-01-2015, 21:50

Okay just to recap......any opinions on the following.

Ayre p-5xe
Plinius koru

Renfin

23-01-2015, 12:02

Anymore feedback or recommendations..........

struth

23-01-2015, 12:32

the trichords are all good especially if you stretch to the fancy psu although that will up the price. i enjoyed my basic mark 1. i recently got a schiit mani to try and for the money is really fantastic. the best low price phono i have heard.

6L6

23-01-2015, 14:46

I have not had a chance to try the Schiit Mani myself, but all reports are completely glowing - everybody says it is musical, beautiful, precise, quiet, and punches far, far above it's weight class. If I didn't have two phonostages currently in progress, I'd buy one in a minute.

Renfin

23-01-2015, 19:11

Thanks, keep em coming guys.

topoxforddoc

23-01-2015, 20:02

If you want a proper high end phono stage at a sensible price, then you may just want to wait a short while (i.e. a few weeks) until Graham Tricker finishes the first batch of his new TRON Convergence phono stage, priced at GBP1k for MC and GBP900 for MM. His TRON Seven phono stages are some of the very best (as used by Thomas Woschnick of TW Acustic turntables in his personal system); but they start at GBP3k and go put to GBP8k. His new Convergence is said to give you much of the performance of the Seven at a very sensible price.

http://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/mono-stereo-high-end-audio-magazine-6211291?post=3972818947&group=0&frame_type=a&context=expanded_post&context_ids=&blog=6211291&frame=1&click=0&user=0&viewer=true

Renfin

26-01-2015, 01:38

How about the plinius koru? Is anyone using one? Will it suit the 2m black or bronze?

6L6

26-01-2015, 02:29

Renfin

26-01-2015, 05:56

It's likely a fantastic phonostage. I've never heard one but would love the chance . It seems very well done.

Would it suit the 2m? Of course. That's a particularly easy cartridge to run, no competent phonostage should have any issue with it.

Thanks for the reply..........I'm tossing up between the plinius koru or Ayre P-5xe. My preference is for the Ayre, as its balanced, but costs alot more. Decisions, decisions............

Renfin

26-01-2015, 08:58

Another two option just found, CLearaudio Balanced Plus Phono stage with Clearaudio Accu Battery and bel canto phono 3. Any thoughts....cheers

Renfin

27-01-2015, 11:32

Any opinions appreciated.

Wakefield Turntables

27-01-2015, 11:43

Try a paradise DIY phonostage. I couldn't tell the difference between it and a whest V.

Renfin

28-01-2015, 06:24

Try a paradise DIY phonostage. I couldn't tell the difference between it and a whest V.

Don't really have time to build my own, though it does look interesting. Any more suggestion or opinions on what's been mentioned.

Wakefield Turntables

28-01-2015, 19:44

Don't really have time to build my own, though it does look interesting. Any more suggestion or opinions on what's been mentioned.

Me neither, I used a very talented member of AOS to make mine, and a damm fine job he did as well.