Phono Stage/Preamp recommendations - new or vintage

[Hozepipe]

Need some advice guys on a Phono Stage or a pre with excellent Phono.

I've already had some great advice from Anthony TD about current phono stages to look into, I'm also interested in other suggestions particularly older bargains and s/h deals that sound stunning. Nothing more than about £600 preferably less. Am I dreaming???

My system is vinyl only so what I really want is a phono stage with a big knob on the front (ooh er) so I can run directly into the poweramp. I have an Audio Research SP9 MkII which will be sold to fund the upgrade so it needs to be better than that (not too difficult according to Anthony ) and it will be running into an Audio Research D70 valve amp which I'm keeping. I've got a MC cart but would like the option to use a MM too (are MC phono stages MC exclusively or is that only for MM ones? I know not.)

Currently I'm looking at solid state but I'm open to valves too if they're low noise and not too fussy with valve quality. Here's my list so far:

NVA Phono 2 + PSU (about £450)
Trichord Dino +PSU
Trichord Diablo basic (if I can get more for the SP9)

What I'd really like is for someone to tell me about a brilliant bit of kit that costs bobbins

simon

[John]

The world audio design phono stage is really good value for money but no volume control
If you can stretch a bit more than try this it is really worth the effort and extra money
http://www.aqvox.de/phono.html
http://www.analogueseduction.net/acatalog/index.html
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUDION-STERLIN...d=p3286.c0.m14
Or try this yet again no volume pot

[john dolan]

Only phono stage i can think of with built in volume control is the EAR.

[John]

Also try the Icon PS1 phono stage has a built in volume control and hits your budget.
The Ear (as John Dolan mentioned) is a really good phono stage, you maybe able to pick it up second hand
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EAR-834P-MM-MC...d=p3286.c0.m14

[Hozepipe]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll look into them.

s

[griffo104]

I've heard the WAD phono at a bake off, it was excellent. My deck was used so it was a very good test for me.

I owned a Trichord dino+ and swapped it for an Audio Analogue Aria (£500) and I'm glad I did the swap, in fact I preferred the Aria to the Diablo which was my first choice to swap to. The Aria, is typically Italian, it concentrates on musical flow na dmakes for a very enjoyable musical experience. It's as detailed as the diablo but you simply don't notice it as it lacks any analytical sense. It's MC/MM switchable inside the box and comes with loads of stuff to setup loadings.

I've looked at the Icon one myself and I may even take a gamble at some time in the future just to have a play with valves.

Also look for the Puresound P10. It's MM only so budget a couple of hundred for a decent step up trannie.

Also if you want to stay solid state then also check out the Whest (about £650).

Having lived with the Dino+ for a few years I can say that all the stages I've mentioned above would be preferable to me all being musically more engaging than the Trichord stage, which is very good in it's own right.

[Mike]

I'm using a WD Phono3 clone that I built, I've no complaints.

Marco (among others) has heard it and seemed to be reasonably impressed. Considering the price, it's bloody good!

It was at least as good (better if you ask me) than the inbuilt phono stage in his Croft Pre-Amp... There's no way on Earth that he'd admit that though!

[Marco]

Yes I would... And I told you what I thought of it when you were round - it's bloody good!

Mind you, since then I've added the 1958 NOS Brimar CV1985s to the Croft so things may have changed a little

The Teslas should arrive tomorrow, and this may raise the bar even further. All will be revealed in due course...

Good thread this. I will make some appropriate recommendations tomorrow. I've had a rather fun day helping my mate uplift and set-up his new 96db Tannoy Canterbury's with 15" drivers, weighing in at 76kg each! They sound, erm, 'rather nice' on the end of his AOS KT88 valve amp

[Gross underestimation alert!!!] - the bass is making me ill...

Marco.

[Mike]

Would that be Ian's new boxes then?

[Marco]

Yep - thay are F*CKING AWESOME! No joke, they make my Spendors sound like toys. You know the bass you heard that night at mine when we were playing Kraftwerk at 'silly' levels and it hurt your back? Well try multiplying that effect by about ten!!

We were playing 'Moby Dick' by Led Zep and just sat there laughing out loud at how stupidly deafening-mad the drums sounded - there was quite literally a live gig in his room

I've never heard anything like it - and this from a 'silly little' 30w valve amp!

Marco.