Soulution Amp/Pre with a Tube Phono Stage??????

[FlexibleAudio]

I realize some may consider this blasphemy, but I am curios if anyone has experience with a Tube Phono Pre in front of Soulution stuff.

Thinking about Lamm, Allnic, ARC and Doshi..................All comments welcome.

[Mark Jones]

Sounds like a perfect idea to me! I think choosing the Soulution pre to go along with your Soulution amp was the right move too.

[socfan12]

+1

Paul, similar thinking as you. Will likely go Allnic w my CH amp.

[Mike]

Sounds good. I will say a SS phono will have lower noise floor (generally), but you may prefer tubey goodness over that.

The Allnic seems to be a winner and well worth consideration.


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[FlexibleAudio]

Thanks gentlemen.

Allen are you thinking 3000 or 5000??

[sharkmouth]

Sorry, but can't be bothered to look, does the 721 not have a phono stage, Paul?

[FlexibleAudio]

Hello Kev,

No the 721 does not have a phono. The 720 does. I have a pretty severe case of separate-itis and I am a big believer in separates, particularly for the phono section that starts with that itty, bitty little signal. If I go ss it will likely be the 750.

[asiufy]

IMHO, an internal phono stage will most likely be less noisy than an external. Such is the case with the darTZeel pre-amp (18NS). Its internal phono stage is fantastic, and nothing I tried could beat it in the "noise floor" department.


alexandre

[Hessec]

Heard a 710 run direct on the aestetix (sp?) top phono pre with built in volume control and it was outstanding. Honestly best I've ever heard but it could have been the 180k focals... I will say that this dealer had a soulution 540 running direct to the 710 as well and the analog system just obliterated it. I own a 540.

[socfan12]

Thanks gentlemen.

Allen are you thinking 3000 or 5000??

L3000. What are you thinking of, Paul?

[socfan12]

IMHO, an internal phono stage will most likely be less noisy than an external. Such is the case with the darTZeel pre-amp (18NS). Its internal phono stage is fantastic, and nothing I tried could beat it in the "noise floor" department.


alexandre

Really? I would've thought internal (Dartz or other) would be more noisy than separates.

[FlexibleAudio]

Heard a 710 run direct on the aestetix (sp?) top phono pre with built in volume control and it was outstanding. Honestly best I've ever heard but it could have been the 180k focals... I will say that this dealer had a soulution 540 running direct to the 710 as well and the analog system just obliterated it. I own a 540.

Very good comments. Thanks. Your 540 comparison is particularly helpful.

[FlexibleAudio]

L3000. What are you thinking of, Paul?

The 3000 too, but the Doshi also has my attention. Miles review of the Doshi is very compelling. The new Lamm LP2.1 is also on my list.

[FlexibleAudio]

IMHO, an internal phono stage will most likely be less noisy than an external. Such is the case with the darTZeel pre-amp (18NS). Its internal phono stage is fantastic, and nothing I tried could beat it in the "noise floor" department.


alexandre

Hmmmmm....I have heard many argue that a well executed integrated phono can approach the silence of a separate (a view with which I agree) but I have never heard the claim of an integrated being less noisy. As a theoretical matter that seems like a hard cat to skin given the presence of alternating current, transformers and stray fields that are inherent in an integrated that can be eliminated or minimized in a separate. That said, I am sure the 18NS is wonderful.

[asiufy]

Really? I would've thought internal (Dartz or other) would be more noisy than separates.

Hmmmmm....I have heard many argue that a well executed integrated phono can approach the silence of a separate (a view with which I agree) but I have never heard the claim of an integrated being less noisy. As a theoretical matter that seems like a hard cat to skin given the presence of alternating current, transformers and stray fields that are inherent in an integrated that can be eliminated or minimized in a separate. That said, I am sure the 18NS is wonderful.

I'm just going from experience here, as I've had both the CTH-8550 integrated amp and the NHB-18NS preamp, and both were dead quiet in their phono stages.
I think a lot of it has to do with the absence of ground loop/hum, since the phono stage is attached physically to the gain stage via a slot, not via some cable. And since, as the saying goes, the best cable is no cable...
But then again, it's just speculation on my part!
Unfortunately, when I had the Soulution preamp here for a listen, it didn't have the optional phono stage built-in, as I'm sure it'd be a great performer, like the line stage itself. I don't know if it's possible to fit the phono after the fact... If it is, that's a great option for current owners of the Soulution preamps!


alexandre

[FlexibleAudio]

I'm just going from experience here, as I've had both the CTH-8550 integrated amp and the NHB-18NS preamp, and both were dead quiet in their phono stages.
I think a lot of it has to do with the absence of ground loop/hum, since the phono stage is attached physically to the gain stage via a slot, not via some cable. And since, as the saying goes, the best cable is no cable...
But then again, it's just speculation on my part!
Unfortunately, when I had the Soulution preamp here for a listen, it didn't have the optional phono stage built-in, as I'm sure it'd be a great performer, like the line stage itself. I don't know if it's possible to fit the phono after the fact... If it is, that's a great option for current owners of the Soulution preamps!


alexandre

I hear you Alexandre. I know the Dart stuff is awesome. Regarding retrofitting my pre with a phono, I specifically bought it without the phono after exchanging emails with Cyrill at Soulution. We both feel a separate is the least compromised approach per the reasoning of my previous post (but admittedly we are talking differences on the the very margin). Cyril's 725/720 with the phono integrated is indeed extremely quiet and an exceptional phono execution as is the Dart. Its just not the direction for me.

[socfan12]

Paul, is your mind set on a tube phono stage, or are you open to SS ones as well?

[FlexibleAudio]

You know I am sitting here thinking about that exact question. Part of me thinks I should do the 750 to see the best Soulution has to offer and then down the road mess with tubes.

[Mike]

You know I am sitting here thinking about that exact question. Part of me thinks I should do the 750 to see the best Soulution has to offer and then down the road mess with tubes.

Wow! Supposed to be a killer Soulution combo at RMAF this weekend.


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[FlexibleAudio]

Do tell Mike....725 and 701s???? Maybe with the 750 also???

[Mike]

Do tell Mike....725 and 701s???? Maybe with the 750 also???

Yes, yes and yes.

[FlexibleAudio]

Wow, I bet it was something. Maybe the 750 is the answer for me. The JV review was sure good.