IF cost was no objective what phonostage would you own?

[shane]

£10,000? WD pre3/phono3 and a Lotus Elise!

[Yomanze]

Not sure if this LFD Battery Disc is still available: http://unique-audio.co.uk/used/phono-stages/

It was built for SME's R&D / testing department & think it's still used...

[topoxforddoc]

£10,000? WD pre3/phono3 and a Lotus Elise!

I had a WD Phono3/PSU prior to my TRON Seven Reference. The TRON is a massive upgrade over the WD, which is itself a very good phono stage. There are very few further stages costing less than £2000, which are better than the WD.

[MikeMusic]

Oh yes. As Marco says you need a SUT too

[Marco]

I tried the whest 3.0rdtse with a the 80se and they simply didn't get on, I ended up sending the whest back for repair twice and eventually lost patience with it. The small amount of time that it did work I noticed I didn't get that much of an increase in performance over what I already had. I would have had to pay an extra grand for a very small Increase in performance. Finally, I may decide to upgrade the 80se with a choir sut.

Regarding the bit in bold, that's interesting... I think that every SUT which has been tried with Martin T's Whest, in conjunction with the MM input, has sounded WAY better than when the MC stage was used directly. Therefore, I suspect that the above mismatch is more to do with whatever cartridge you've been using, than with the combination of the ST80SE/Whest.

This also demonstrates just how important it is to find an SUT which, first and foremost, performs synergistically with the cartridge that is going to be used. Once done, one can then consider the (final) choice of phono stage. In that respect, you'll need to ensure that 'upgrading' to a Choir SUT is the reality, rather than it simply being a side-grade.

I'd be tempted to retain the ST-80SE (since your primary cartridge is an Ortofon Cadenza Black), whilst you're auditioning alterative phono stages, and only change the SUT if after obtaining your new phono stage it becomes obvious that the ST-80SE is the weak link.

Marco.

[purite audio]

The quietest phono stage currently available, it also has the most accurate RIAA curve is the balanced design by Dietmar Brauaer of Trintiy Audio.
http://www.trinity-ed.de/typo/index.php?id=17&L=1

Keith.

[MikeMusic]

I tried the whest 3.0rdtse with a the 80se and they simply didn't get on, I ended up sending the whest back for repair twice and eventually lost patience with it. The small amount of time that it did work I noticed I didn't get that much of an increase in performance over what I already had. I would have had to pay an extra grand for a very small Increase in performance. Finally, I may decide to upgrade the 80se with a choir sut.

Fairly close to that I have a ST80SE going into a Whest .30r and it works very well

[Beobloke]

£10,000? WD pre3/phono3 and a Lotus Elise!

Funnily enough, my first thought was an Anatek MCR and a TVR Griffith to carry it home in!

[Marco]

The quietest phono stage currently available, it also has the most accurate RIAA curve is the balanced design by Dietmar Brauaer of Trintiy Audio.
http://www.trinity-ed.de/typo/index.php?id=17&L=1

Keith.

Yes, but what kind of daftee would buy a £10k+ phono stage on specs alone? Anyone who did that would need their head examined...!

Marco.

[Reffc]

Funnily enough, my first thought was an Anatek MCR and a TVR Griffith to carry it home in!

you'd need to factor in a good percentage then Adam for petrol and servicing just to get you home not to mention a neck brace to cover the whip-lash from the back end breaking away most of the trip probably worth it for the grin factor alone though, so I'm with you on that one.

Yes, but what kind of daftee would by a £10k phono stage on specs alone? Anyone who did that would need their head examined...!

Marco.

+1