View Full Version : Suggestion for a good phono stage
Hello,
I am thinking of adding a second arm to my Dais.
I need a new phono stage because the Croft 25 R has all the Inputs used.
I would like a phono stage that allow two inputs (MM and MC) and possibly the mono switch.
Budget 1000£ max.
Any Suggestion ?
Thanks and Happy new year to everyone !
Primalsea
28-12-2017, 09:58
I wonder if going for a solid state phono stage would be an idea, as you already have a valve stage. This will give you a bit of a mix of both worlds.
There is quite a few to chosse from. At the £1000 mark my suggestion would be to go with one of the smaller companies who are well established such as Rothwell, etc., as you can usually contact them and discuss what you are looking for.
hifi_dave
28-12-2017, 10:17
Rega Aria fits the bill nicely.
DiveDeepDog
28-12-2017, 10:47
I was very happy with Trichord Diablo/NCPSU, till I bought (overbudget) Trilogy 907. 906 should be a good call under budget 2nd hand.
Both are flexible mm/mc with loading options
Get Glen to add a couple more inputs to your 25R. Room aplenty and loads of change for more music/better arm or cart ☺
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Thank you all for the suggestions, I will look into it.
Surfing the net I saw the EAR 834P... even if it has only 1 input..
Any opinion about it ?
hifi_dave
28-12-2017, 16:18
Excellent phono stage. Usually my go-to choice when I do a turntable demo. I've been using the same one for over 20 years.
Thanks Dave.
I saw one for 800 GBP...
hifi_dave
28-12-2017, 16:35
If it's the MM + MC version, that will suit you nicely.
walpurgis
28-12-2017, 16:47
If it's the MM + MC version, that will suit you nicely.
I had that version.
I found the built in SUT's for the MC input pretty dull and thick sounding with each of my MC carts.
The MM input was OK and used with a better external SUT turned in a decent enough sound, but it was distinctly outclassed by the Graham Slee ERA Gold V phono stage.
The 834P is daftly overpriced second hand now.
Yep...MM+MC version.
22273
Boyse6748
29-12-2017, 12:10
If you want the best Phono stage available you can’t go wrong with this!!!!! (It will better anything at ten times the cost. MM & MC with load matching on the fly).
Ray Samuels - Nighthawk F117
Take a look[emoji7]
Peter.
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Sand Dancin Donkey Walker
30-12-2017, 12:45
If you can find one, give some thought to an Audiovalve Sunilda, 2 I/P's and either are selectable to MM/MC and load and capacitive adjustable.
Has an external PSU too.
I too have a Dais with 2 arms, great TT.
https://d29pumjbf1ozmy.cloudfront.net/resize=w:840,h:630,fit:max/rotate=deg:exif/output=quality:70/compress/security=policy:eyJleHBpcnkiOjQ2NjA1OTA2NTQsImNhbG wiOlsicmVhZCIsImNvbnZlcnQiXX0=,signature:3e8efea35 146d953df63e68c63845ddfa71aad29fd07a00b293442f24e3 316b8/thevk7RQDuZ3m73iDrJp (https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwig0M7S4bHYAhUR3KQKHWsGCZQQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.audiogon.com%2Flistings%2Fph ono-audiovalve-sunilda-phono-preamp-new-2017-04-08-preamplifiers-33143-south-miami-fl&psig=AOvVaw0WY9Nlv9r-i1mgAGivFUf1&ust=1514724207165328)
Bigman80
30-12-2017, 13:17
If you want the best Phono stage available you can’t go wrong with this!!!!! (It will better anything at ten times the cost. MM & MC with load matching on the fly).
Ray Samuels - Nighthawk F117
Take a look[emoji7]
Peter.
Sent from my iPad using TapatalkI completely disagree with this.
Compressed sound under the weight of negative feedback in the circuit. Yes, silent background but other than that it just didn't do anything for me. Quite emotionless and grey when I heard one.
The EAR has negative feedback in the circuit and the suggestions of it sounding dark would allude to the feedback. I've never heard one but they are very popular.
The Tron Convergence suffers from sounding dark although with a few tweaks it becomes a very very good phonostage. The most holographic phonostage I've heard. I almost bought a modded one.
Personally, I'd try and find a Jolida JD9II. it's an exceptional phonostage or ask Firebottle for a listen to a Vivant both in your budget.
The Jolida gives nothing away to anything I've put it in against. It's a tube buffer after an opamp based SS board so is very tight and detailed but has good grip on the bass. It has all the possible capacitance and impedance settings you can shake a stick at and can be used with really LOMC carts.
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Boyse6748
30-12-2017, 13:31
I completely disagree with this.
Compressed sound under the weight of negative feedback in the circuit. Yes, silent background due to battery but other than that it just didn't do anything for me.
The EAR has negative feedback in the circuit and the suggestions of it sounding dark would allude to the feedback.
The Tron Convergence suffers from sounding dark although with a few tweaks it becomes a very very good phonostage
Personally, I'd try and find a Jolida JD9II. it's an exceptional phonostage or ask Firebottle for a listen to a Vivant
The Jolida gives nothing away to anything I've put it in against.
There are other candidates too on other forums.
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Oliver, I'm afraid it didn't sound compressed to me. I tried this via the Mcintosh and it was superb. I think it's a case of we all like what we like, as we are individuals.
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Bigman80
30-12-2017, 13:35
Oliver, I'm afraid it didn't sound compressed to me. I tried this via the Mcintosh and it was superb. I think it's a case of we all like what we like, as we are individuals.
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkNo doubt, Peter. As in all things, personal experience will differ but It certainly didn't give a good impression when I tried it. In fact I found it difficult to tell the difference between the Tron and the Nighthawk when we tested them. I disliked both. Again, all personal experience and opinion but I can say with confidence, it wouldn't beat a LDA JFET which is well within the 10x the price limit at £1800.
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montesquieu
30-12-2017, 13:36
Do you like the phono stage on the Croft?
If you do then why not have a custom SUT made with two inputs and a bypass for use with moving magnet. Graeme 'Valvebloke' (trades as Ampregen) did a couple of these for me, one using S&B TX103 transformers, the other using Hashimoto HM7s. But really you could take any sensible pair of step up transformers and do this.
This gives you the option too of swapping in an improved stand-alone MM phono stage at a later date.
There are in my experience very few two input phono stages out there that sound equally good on both MM and MC, the exceptions are generally expensive ones with good bypassable SUTs ahead of a MM stage.
Here's a pic of my former setup, the Aurorasound Vida I had was a very good phono stage but while the MC section was indeed very capable, it was significantly bettered with a good SUT like the Hashomotos, so I ran both arms via the SUT into the MM stage. Nowadays I run an EAR 912 which has SUTs built in.
https://i.imgur.com/LT4fIRw.jpg
Firebottle
30-12-2017, 13:37
If you want the best Phono stage available ...
Ray Samuels - Nighthawk F117
It's good but it's certainly not the best. There are a number of phono stages that will show it the door.
Of course the rest of the system has to be top notch to appreciate the difference.
montesquieu
30-12-2017, 13:38
No doubt, Peter. As in all things, personal experience will differ but It certainly didn't give a good impression when I tried it. In fact I found it difficult to tell the difference between the Tron and the Nighthawk when we tested them. I disliked both. Again, all personal experience and opinion but I can say with confidence, it wouldn't beat a LDA JFET which is well within the 10x the price limit at £1800.
Haven't heard the Nighthawk but wasn't overly enthused by the Tron when I heard it.
I'm not the biggest fan of the EAR 834P myself, at least when stock, but I have heard modded versions of it sounding superb.
Bigman80
30-12-2017, 13:39
Haven't heard the Nighthawk but wasn't overly enthused by the Tron when I heard it.They sound similar. The Tron had a bit more life but neither really delivered IMO
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Bigman80
30-12-2017, 13:41
There is a modded Tron Convergence knocking about Btw. It's a completely different animal. I think someone on here bought it. He's a lucky fella.
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There is a modded Tron Convergence knocking about Btw. It's a completely different animal. I think someone on here bought it. He's a lucky fella.
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You mean one upgraded by Mr.F , GT won't support it anymore so I 'd bee cautious when buying this particular unit.
Bigman80
30-12-2017, 15:13
You mean one upgraded by Firebottle, GT won't support it anymore so I 'd bee cautious when buying this particular unit.GT has no idea which one it is and if Alan decided to put it back to stock, he wouldn't know either.
Personally, I have no idea what need there is of caution.
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Ok edited my post
GT Audio said:
BTW I have the serial number recorded on the Convergence you have modified so the 2 year warranty is now void.
lets keep it friendly folks.
Bigman80
30-12-2017, 15:27
Ok edited my post
GT Audio said:
BTW I have the serial number recorded on the Convergence you have modified so the 2 year warranty is now void.It's irrelevant. The unit is built like a tank and his record of build quality is never in question. It wouldn't fail in those first two years. It's probably approaching that age already!
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Bigman80
30-12-2017, 15:37
Thank you, Mac.
No worries, Grant.
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Apologies , one of the earlier comments triggered little evil inside me
Bigman80
30-12-2017, 15:41
Apologies , one of the earlier comments triggered little evil inside meIt's all good [emoji41]
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Firebottle
30-12-2017, 15:52
It's all good because as Oliver says the build quality of Tron gear is not in question, it is exceedingly good.
I fully understand that any manufacturer will nullify their guarantee if any modifications are undertaken and have no problem with that.
I have undertaken to give an extended warranty on this particular unit, as I do with all the equipment I manufacture.
If there is a fault it gets fixed, no worries.
Thank you very much for the suggestions.
I like very much the phono stage of the Croft....and maybe montesquieu is right...instead of buying a "do it all" kind of phono stage, which I doubt for the budget I have would be equally good in all aspects, I think it will be better to go with a MC phono stage only...
In the end, some of the most common MONO cart are MC type...
Happy New Year Everyone!
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