Sota PYXI phono stage.

[Firebottle]

I had to scratch the itch to hear one of these so I ordered one through Audio Affair in Birmingham.

It is made in the USA so took a little while to come over.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SOTA-Pyxi-2048x1343.png

OK the Pyxi phonostage is here! Rather nice birthday present to me.

Well to be more accurate it was picked up from Birmingham this afternoon, what a ball ache of a journey that was. Road closures, one way systems, I had to jump a kerb to get on the road the satnav was telling me.

The comparison is with my BigBottle ultime phonostage, cartridge is a retipped Lyra Clavis.

Oh my word this Pyxi is good. It's cleaner than the ultime. Just comparing with the album LA4 to start with.
There is more timbre to the guitar strings and more rasp to the reed of the sax.

There is no hum and it is a very quiet background.

London Grammar.
More detail and hearing further into the mix. Bass is so clean and solid. No output caps on the Pyxi of course.

Definitely more resolution, there is a section on 'Flickers' where backing vocals and the bass line come in, everything stays separate, with the ultime it's a bit less so.


I shall be revisiting all my vinyl as this stage shown more detail, stuff I haven't realised was so distinct before.
An excellent first session, an itch well scratched.

[Pigmy Pony]

I'm aware of SOTA, they make some well-regarded turntables, even House had one and he was a really clever doctor :) That Pyxi looks interesting, and I look forward to reading more of your impressions of it. Am I correct in thinking it is MC and MM?

If you're comparing it favourably with your Bigbottle, it's a safe bet it'll show my lowly Tube Box how it's done.

Oh and happy birthday :)

[Jimbo]

Happy Birthday Alan and great to hear about a very reasonably priced phono stage that sounds like it delivers a very high end sound.

Did you see the review in tracking angle?

[CageyH]

Looks like an interesting product.
Does this mean that the Firebottle system will finally be ditching Firebottles?

I notice that from some of the reviews, that this is the first of a series of SOTA phono stages. Is there any news on the others?

[Firebottle]

@ Pigmy Pony, thanks for the birthday wishes Steve. It is MC and MM.

@ Jimbo, just read the review, very good. This is for normal individuals not ones that can compare it to a $76,000 stage.

https://trackingangle.com/equipment/sota-pyxi-mm-mc-phonostage-punches-way-above-its-weight-class

@ CageyH, yes the BigBottle will be moved to the subs bench :eyebrows: Wyn Palmer is working on the Acrux phonostage which is a transimpedance input on MC. I believe it is in trial stage but will be a lot more expensive when launched.

To appreciate the performance of the Pyxi the rest of the system needs to be high resolution as well.
As Oli and myself we have touched on before between ourselves, when items are reviewed you just don't know how good or mediocre the rest of the system is.

So glad I went for this, knowing the background for the design through the white paper I didn't have any doubts that this is a stellar performer.
Ticks all my boxes, perfect RIAA eq and no filters.

Oh and did I mention the bass is phenomenally clean, along with the rest of the bandwidth.

[Barry]

Happy Bithday Alan.

Nice birthday present: it can cater for both MM and MC designs, is black, small in size, although shame it's called "Pyxi". :D. Does it use a SMPS?

[Alex_UK]

Looks fun! Happy Birthday, the birthday presents we buy ourselves are always the best? :eyebrows:

[Firebottle]

Happy Bithday Alan.

Nice birthday present: it can cater for both MM and MC designs, is black, small in size, although shame it's called "Pyxi". :D. Does it use a SMPS?

Yes isn't it Barry.
No digital or switch mode in sight, thankfully. It is supplied with a 15V transformer, rectified internally to + and - supplies.

[willbewill]

Hi Alan - some background:

It appears that the Pyxi is based on a design by Ray Palmer derived from the AD797 stage by HynoToad on Audiokarma:

https://www.stereonet.com/forums/topic/577515-sota-pyxi-phono-stage/
https://sites.google.com/site/mpbarney/wyn-palmer-low-output-moving-coil-phono-preamp
https://audiokarma.org/forums/threads/ultra-high-spec-opamp-mc-mm-phono-warp-elliptic-filter-line-headphone-amps.937686/
https://audiokarma.org/forums/threads/high-gain-opamp-based-preamp-for-low-output-mc-cartridges.879145/
https://audiokarma.org/forums/threads/ad797-phono-stage-build-and-help-desk-thread.501186/

[phonomac]

The Sota Pyxi is a commercial realisation of a design by Wyn Palmer, formerly device designer with Analog Devices. The design was developed in full disclosure on AudioKarma to be constructed by DIY enthusiasts on that forum. The project was stimulated by the desire to produce a design using current devices which would exceed the capabilities of the HypnoToad design which is now some 12 years old. The project is detailed in Malcolm's 4th link above.

The Sota Acrux is a mooted upscale version with more features and improved performance based on further design efforts on AudioKarma . However Sota so far appear unwilling to proceed with the Acrux for various commercial reasons.

[Firebottle]

http://i.ibb.co/fdjfHps1/P1010930.jpg

Oh woe is the Thermionic Wizard, the Pyxi is all conquering.

[Pigmy Pony]

His bird doesn't look happy.

[Firebottle]

For those that are unaware my wife Shirley passed away on Saturday the 21st.
She had been in the dementia home for 2 years so I had already lost the Shirley I knew.
Still devastating, I wasn't expecting to feel so bereft.

I am in Tipton this week sorting everything out, there will be a wake next Saturday.


I am playing records in the meantime, by crikey this Pyxi is good. Stunning bass off a vinyl source.
I had it LOUD last night.

[Pigmy Pony]

Sorry to hear that Alan, Shirley was a lovely woman, always asked after Anita, who will also be sorry to hear this when I tell her. Dementia is just the worst thing.

[CageyH]

Sad news. My condolences to you.

[Jimbo]

Very sad to hear that news Alan.

My sincere condolences.

[Alex_UK]

Very sorry to see this, condolences to you Alan.

[Macca]

My deepest condolences, she was a lovely person.

[User211]

Surprised she seemed quite with it when I met her, but I guess it is a few years ago now.

Sorry to hear it, Alan.

[Barry]

Sorry to hear your sad news Alan. Our condolences from all of us here.

Music is a great comforter in times of difficulty.

[Pigmy Pony]

Thinking about you today Alan, hope the day goes ok. Well as ok as these days can go.

[Firebottle]

Thanks Steve, it went very well. Shirley would have been proud.

Everyone was pleased to be there, a lot of catching up as most had not seen others for a long time.

I made an excellent choice with the caterers as well, it was superb.