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so i picked this up finally the other day, did some low-medium level listening for a few nights after work. . then today i put it through the test songs and it came through with flying colors. it was a demo with enough hours on it that i didnt have to worry about breaking anything in.
this isnt really a review ,im just putting it here because so few use this area. when i picked this up the guy who i got it from lent me this axiom2 volume controller, to see if i like it. its tiny and as you can see in the pics, my cables want to pull it off the back of the shelf. so i had to put some weight on it. yes it is my tape measure.lol. i got a rubber block somewhere that would be perfect, but i cant seem to locate it.
as far as the volume controller it does exactly what i need it to do. just has in and out rca jacks and is basically invisible, except for its primary function.
all i can compare this to(with all my gear)is my hovland w/ internal phonostage which was a great unit, that i loved. but when i went to hear this a couple weeks ago i realized that im living in the past, the romanticized liquidy presentation of the hovland was alot of fun to listen to, but it wasnt natural, and i always knew it. feels like it was just getting outdated a bit.
as soon as i plugged this in ,i knew i was going to love it. did it keep up with the allnic h3000 phonostage i also have heard a few times? no, but at $10k less than the 3000 it is so damn close its makes it difficult for me to see myself spending the extra money.
as all allnics i ever heard its about the soundstage first for me. its big and lots of air around all instruments, , and just better than my hovland could do. or alot of pricier phonostages ive heard. might just keep up with any ive ever heard at any price. the bass is a bit deeper than the hovland and when i just added these new sophia 300's to the mix it got even deeper and thicker without losing its composure and staying tight and coherent ,even when i was pushing it all day long.
it comes stock with nos mullard e180cc's(12AV7). which i havent seen in many applications. and the zero microphonic tube bases are pretty cool and keep it vitually silent. but you cant just pull a tube out because you will damage the suspension. so it comes with a tool to pop it out without putting pressure on the base.
it has adjustments for the cartridge in both the mm and the mc settings.
really great phonostage at an unbelievable value. only problem is that if i want to upgrade from here im going to have to spend alot more $$. so it may stick around for awhile.
my other choice was the zesto ph1, which i finally got to hear a couple months ago for a nice long session. its was a great phonostage as well, but was warmer and very similar to my hovland . the allnic has it beat in dynamics, bass, soundstage and price by $1400. in my opinion of course.
this isnt really a review ,im just putting it here because so few use this area. when i picked this up the guy who i got it from lent me this axiom2 volume controller, to see if i like it. its tiny and as you can see in the pics, my cables want to pull it off the back of the shelf. so i had to put some weight on it. yes it is my tape measure.lol. i got a rubber block somewhere that would be perfect, but i cant seem to locate it.
as far as the volume controller it does exactly what i need it to do. just has in and out rca jacks and is basically invisible, except for its primary function.
all i can compare this to(with all my gear)is my hovland w/ internal phonostage which was a great unit, that i loved. but when i went to hear this a couple weeks ago i realized that im living in the past, the romanticized liquidy presentation of the hovland was alot of fun to listen to, but it wasnt natural, and i always knew it. feels like it was just getting outdated a bit.
as soon as i plugged this in ,i knew i was going to love it. did it keep up with the allnic h3000 phonostage i also have heard a few times? no, but at $10k less than the 3000 it is so damn close its makes it difficult for me to see myself spending the extra money.
as all allnics i ever heard its about the soundstage first for me. its big and lots of air around all instruments, , and just better than my hovland could do. or alot of pricier phonostages ive heard. might just keep up with any ive ever heard at any price. the bass is a bit deeper than the hovland and when i just added these new sophia 300's to the mix it got even deeper and thicker without losing its composure and staying tight and coherent ,even when i was pushing it all day long.
it comes stock with nos mullard e180cc's(12AV7). which i havent seen in many applications. and the zero microphonic tube bases are pretty cool and keep it vitually silent. but you cant just pull a tube out because you will damage the suspension. so it comes with a tool to pop it out without putting pressure on the base.
it has adjustments for the cartridge in both the mm and the mc settings.
really great phonostage at an unbelievable value. only problem is that if i want to upgrade from here im going to have to spend alot more $$. so it may stick around for awhile.
my other choice was the zesto ph1, which i finally got to hear a couple months ago for a nice long session. its was a great phonostage as well, but was warmer and very similar to my hovland . the allnic has it beat in dynamics, bass, soundstage and price by $1400. in my opinion of course.
