New phonostage - which to go for?

**philv** · 13-09-2018, 07:31

Hi,

I’m looking for a phono stage, new or used, up to £200.

Any reccomendations?

Thanks

**Scooby** · 13-09-2018, 07:35

MM, MC or both?

**philv** · 13-09-2018, 07:52

Originally Posted by Scooby

MM, MC or both?

Mm needed.

**philv** · 13-09-2018, 07:53

Originally Posted by Scooby

MM, MC or both?

Mm needed.

**Phil Lawton** · 13-09-2018, 07:55

I can personally recommend this - you can normally pick them up for less than £200 used...fantastic piece of gear:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Graham-Sl...0AAOSw-cFbknYS

**struth** · 13-09-2018, 08:22

Schiit mani is good value if wanting mm. Does mc too but it's mm is a good one for money. Not sure what they cost new now but well under budget

**speedracer** · 13-09-2018, 09:58

You might be lucky & find a Kinshaw Perception SA two box phono stage for £200. Solid state, MM & MC, sounds bloody lovely, is very adaptable, more like a £500 plus stage & gets very close to more expensive stuff, I recently sold my very expensive Art Audio Vinyl One & the replacement was a choice between the Kinshaw or a Welborne Labs MM & a pair of Partridge SUT's, which was three times the price. I went with the Welborne but it wasn't three times better by any stretch, just suited my valve based system more I felt.

**steve-z** · 13-09-2018, 10:03

I’ve owned both the Schiit Mani and the Graham Slee Gramamp 2, both are very good phono stages, of the two the Mani was definitely superior, I would still have the Mani now if I’d stayed with MM, only downside to the Mani is on Moving coil because load impedance is too low (47ohms) to be a good match for most cartridges, making them sound dull.
I currently have a Cambridge CP2 which works equally well on MM and MC and I rate it as good as the Mani and GA2 and it’s considerably cheaper.

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**DSJR** · 13-09-2018, 10:47

The Mani can hum with some decks and not sure if it's due to location or hum-loops (rega arms in some cases but not others for some reason).

Apologies for seeming to flog a dead horse again, but the Rega Fono seems good for MM types if the OP wants to buy new.

**Opti-cal** · 13-09-2018, 11:31

Edwards Audio Apprentice MM

Well under budget and I still have mine (after 10 years) for back-up duties. Has only been superseded by stages 5 fold of its price.

Also the most unassuming little package.

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