GS Era V Gold vs Trichord Dino

Don't dismiss trying the ERA Gold V. I had one until recently. It's a lovely phono stage. I've since bought a Reflex M, which is a little more detailed, but to be honest, the ERA Cold V was just as enjoyable. It has a 'wideband' sounding presentation, you get the impression of very tight, extended bass and a top end that reveals all cleanly. Neutrality and depth are very good. You'd never guess whether it was solid state or valve unless you looked. It just does everything right.

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Originally Posted by Marco

+1, or try a Croft.



I think the entry-level Whest is good, but the more expensive ones in the range just aren’t worth their huge price premium. If you’re spending that kind of money, IME, there are far better options out there.



…and that wasn’t an accident, matey! :nono:

Quite simply, the worst thing for the delicate music signal, emitting from your cartridge, is subjecting it to over-complication, as that is very detrimental to maintaining its integrity, and it destroys the music.

Therefore, there’s a lot to be said for a high-quality, well-designed internal phono stage, hard-wired into the same circuit as a preamp or integrated amp, minus all the breaks in signal and increased capacitance and resistance, created by interconnect cables, plugs and sockets, joining up the use of another box! ;)

Also, in my experience, phono stages come into their own when they’re designed with valves. Valves, done properly, particularly in that application, have a magical way with music that, so far to my ears, escapes any solid-state designed phono stage.

Marco.

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Thanks Marco. This makes me want to check out the Croft Phono Integrated Amp. Which I will!

I have a croft phono intergrated works superb with high sensitivity speakers the built in phono was purposefully designed by glen for moving magnet or moving iron cartridges.Also the music signal is taking the shortest route which is always helpful as regards sound quality,plus glen is a top guy if you have any problems.