Favorite Phonostage under $15k?

**Mike** · May 22, 2020, 05:03 PM

What are some of your favorite phonostages below $15k?

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**u-sound** · May 22, 2020, 05:20 PM

fm acoustics!
had a full phono-pre-amp combo 3 years ago, shouldnt have sold it i guess.
it was theyr smallest units, thats why the phonostage fits the budget for once

**Bones13** · May 22, 2020, 05:34 PM

I am still loving my K&K Audio Maxxed Phono Amp - it was a $3K kit. Much better than the Cambridge Audio unit I started with.

Not saying I might not upgrade one day...

**Randy Myers** · May 22, 2020, 06:07 PM

I would much more prefer to hear peoples favorites from below $3k.

**gordon** · May 22, 2020, 06:25 PM

Modwright PH 150. For a tube phono, not very tubey. More dynamic, better extension, more resolving, and a touch more tonal weight than previous solid state phonos, mostly British, e.g. Linn, Exposure and Whest. Also more expensive.

**joeinid** · May 22, 2020, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by gordon

Modwright PH 150. For a tube phono, not very tubey. More dynamic, better extension, more resolving, and a touch more tonal weight than previous solid state phonos, mostly British, e.g. Linn, Exposure and Whest. Also more expensive.

Welcome!

**Mike** · May 22, 2020, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

I would much more prefer to hear peoples favorites from below $3k.

Maybe a good idea for a new thread?

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**Mike** · May 22, 2020, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by gordon

Modwright PH 150. For a tube phono, not very tubey. More dynamic, better extension, more resolving, and a touch more tonal weight than previous solid state phonos, mostly British, e.g. Linn, Exposure and Whest. Also more expensive.

Welcome!

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**Randy Myers** · May 22, 2020, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Maybe a good idea for a new thread?

Agreed

**Mike** · May 23, 2020, 09:22 AM

Anyone try the Pass XP27 yet?

**Mordante** · May 25, 2020, 05:49 AM

Merrill Audio Jens
VAN DEN HUL THE GRAIL SE MM/MC PHONOSTAGE

Not sure if it fits in this list

Octave phono module

**aKnyght** · May 25, 2020, 07:14 AM

thöress parametric phono equalizer -- have always been quite intrigued by this phono amp

**CPP** · May 25, 2020, 09:09 AM

Manely Chinook with Philips PCC88/7DJ8 tubes.

**hongkong** · August 14, 2021, 01:24 AM

I had Esoteric E-03, now I have the Accuphase C47.

Envoyé de mon Note 9P en utilisant Tapatalk

**Hounddog** · August 14, 2021, 08:53 AM

The new(ish) Lampi’ s (if you’re into the tube thing). I have the MC2 Silver edition (~$15k) and it is awesome. It’s like a Pacific, but for vinyl. That’s the most expensive one - the others are all below 15k if I recall.

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**JeffK** · August 15, 2021, 07:31 PM

I found a used Ypsilon VPS for that range, best I've ever heard. Pretty much bulletproof, all transformers, 4 super long life tubes and a cheap and long lasting easy to swap rectifier tube. It should last forever. Lamm Lp2 is even cheaper and with a great SUT came within range of the Ypsilon, just less of the WOW factor and goosebumps, chills, emotions. Under 3k Chinnook with Amperex 7308s, stellar sound.

**Ritmo** · August 15, 2021, 09:06 PM

I have the Pass XP-27. Very versatile, lots of flexibility, ultra quiet and sounds terrific.

**Bobvin** · August 15, 2021, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by JeffK

I found a used Ypsilon VPS for that range, best I've ever heard. Pretty much bulletproof, all transformers, 4 super long life tubes and a cheap and long lasting easy to swap rectifier tube. It should last forever. Lamm Lp2 is even cheaper and with a great SUT came within range of the Ypsilon, just less of the WOW factor and goosebumps, chills, emotions. Under 3k Chinnook with Amperex 7308s, stellar sound.

Nice on the Ypsilon. I almost pulled the trigger on one a couple years back, but the Benz LPS I was running at the time had internal impedance, iirc, at 40 ohms. Getting a good SUT for that load was not going to be easy, so I backed off.

Later, after finding an Etsuro Gold cartridge, I sold my Einstein “the turntable’s choice” (excellent and would fit this thread at ~$10k) and chose a CS Port c3eqM2, which uses the same small C3g tube as the Ypsilon. There’s something special about the linearity of that little tube, and the CS Port phono (designed for low impedance MC cartridges, but with a pair of MM inputs) matches superbly with the Etsuro. The improvement of the cart and phono put my analog rig a large step ahead of my digital side. I’m hoping adding a Taiko Extreme boosts the performance of my dCS Rossini so I get back to some small degree of parity.

**hongkong** · August 26, 2021, 12:30 AM

I have Accuphase C47 and Esoteric E-03.

**Marslo** · August 26, 2021, 12:40 AM

Tom Evans Audio Design - The Groove + SRX mk 2.
SRX stands for separate power supply.
Very quiet and with good dynamics, a perfect match with my SET amp.

Groove+ SRX mkII | Tom Evans Audio Design

**FastEddy** · August 26, 2021, 01:37 AM

Boulder 1108

**Drrsutliff** · August 26, 2021, 08:31 PM

Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono 2

**LewL** · January 15, 2022, 02:30 AM

Audio Research Ref Phono 3SE?

**No Regrets** · December 9, 2022, 08:57 PM

Another suggestion for your consideration would be the Wavestream Kinetics Deluxe Reference Level 5.1.
It is an all tube design currently using (2 x 12AX7, 4 x 6DJ8); with extremely low noise ( I believe with the external power supply, noise is below 1uV (one-millionth of a volt ) competing with the best of the solid state phonos; providing 3 front panel selectable inputs providing 62 dB of gain (without the use of SUT’s or FETS) with a useful cartridge range of 0.2mV to 1.2mV. Having both Balanced and RCA inputs and outputs; adjustable loading available on the back panel via custom loading plugs; and an essentially flat RIAA EQ curve within one tenth of a dB (.1dB) from 3 Hz to 40 Khz.
Naturally, with any tubed phono high gain phono stage you will want to use selected low noise tubes, but I can say when using my NOS Mullards in this phono stage, it is dead quiet with my ears up against the speakers with my Dunlavy Signature SCIV's 91 dB sensitivity. I love not having to use a step up transformer with this phono stage; not having to worry about the SUT coloring the audio signal, worrying about possible hum issues, and having to use extra interconnects and connections, etc.

The Wavestream Kinetics gives me the pure, high gain, low noise sound that I love. It is incredibly dynamic in both the micro and macro sense, has the "meat on the bones" which you crave, brings the human voice to life, showcases the resonance of the body of cellos and acoustic bass, has the finesse for brushes on cymbals, etc. It truly is an incredible phono stage built by Scott Frankland who offers incredible customer service and support, which is the icing on the cake.

Best wishes,
Don

**Hounddog** · December 10, 2022, 07:34 AM

The lampi MC2 I have for sale …

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**Puma Cat** · December 10, 2022, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by No Regrets

Another suggestion for your consideration would be the Wavestream Kinetics Deluxe Reference Level 5.1.
It is an all tube design currently using (2 x 12AX7, 4 x 6DJ8); with extremely low noise ( I believe with the external power supply, noise is below 1uV (one-millionth of a volt ) competing with the best of the solid state phonos; providing 3 front panel selectable inputs providing 62 dB of gain (without the use of SUT’s or FETS) with a useful cartridge range of 0.2mV to 1.2mV. Having both Balanced and RCA inputs and outputs; adjustable loading available on the back panel via custom loading plugs; and an essentially flat RIAA EQ curve within one tenth of a dB (.1dB) from 3 Hz to 40 Khz.
Naturally, with any tubed phono high gain phono stage you will want to use selected low noise tubes, but I can say when using my NOS Mullards in this phono stage, it is dead quiet with my ears up against the speakers with my Dunlavy Signature SCIV's 91 dB sensitivity. I love not having to use a step up transformer with this phono stage; not having to worry about the SUT coloring the audio signal, worrying about possible hum issues, and having to use extra interconnects and connections, etc.

The Wavestream Kinetics gives me the pure, high gain, low noise sound that I love. It is incredibly dynamic in both the micro and macro sense, has the "meat on the bones" which you crave, brings the human voice to life, showcases the resonance of the body of cellos and acoustic bass, has the finesse for brushes on cymbals, etc. It truly is an incredible phono stage built by Scott Frankland who offers incredible customer service and support, which is the icing on the cake.

Best wishes,
Don

Scott Frankland designs some wonderful amplifiers. Never heard anything he's designed that didn't sound superb. 👍

**No Regrets** · December 10, 2022, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Scott Frankland designs some wonderful amplifiers. Never heard anything he's designed that didn't sound superb. 👍

I couldn't agree more, Puma. He does indeed has an amazing talent for designing audio gear. What's even more amazing is that he is a top notch gentleman and provides excellent customer service with timely communications. A true asset to the audiophile community!

I'll try and post a couple pic's of the phono stage here.... bear with me as I am slightly technologically challenged, lol.

fullsizeoutput_5f99.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_5f9a.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_5f93.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_5f91.jpeg

The main phono comes shipped in a solid wooden crate and the external power supply comes well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box.

I highly recommend Scott and his products.

Best wishes,
Don

**Puma Cat** · December 10, 2022, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by No Regrets

Yes, he indeed has an amazing talent for designing audio gear. What's even more amazing is that he is a top notch gentleman and provides excellent customer service with timely communications. A true asset to the audiophile community!

I'll try and post a couple pic's of the phono stage here.... bear with me as I am slightly technologically challenged, lol.

fullsizeoutput_5f99.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_5f9a.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_5f93.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_5f91.jpeg

The main phono comes shipped in a solid wooden crate and the external power supply comes well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box.

I highly recommend Scott and his products.

Best wishes,
Don

Could not agree more on all points.

**wisnon** · May 15, 2023, 12:31 PM

Sinnerman, run to the Rock! Was $5K used.

Amplificateurs-Amplificateur-Phono-Audio-Consulting-Silver-Rock-T.jpg

**Puma Cat** · May 15, 2023, 01:46 PM

For me it's the Zesto Andros...

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Favorite Phonostage under $15k?

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