Favorite affordable phono stage

Randy Myers

Randy Myers

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Mike started a thread asking for peoples favorite phono stage below $15k. Good idea except I would prefer to hear about phono stages that hard working audio fans can afford, let's say below $3k. I know of maybe 1 or 2 people in our audio club of 90 people who might be able to consider a $15k phono stage, however many could swing a $2-$3k one.

I am thinking about the Rega Aria, PS Audio Steller, Parasound JC3+, SimAudio MOON 310, or maybe something like the Wyred 4 Sound PH1. Any thoughts?
 
I heard that Parasound is awesome.

Below $500, we’ve been really impressed with the SimAudio 110LP v2. We literally order them by the case load!


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We're big fans of the Vertere PHONO-1 designed by none other than Touraj Moghaddam, the founder of Roksan. $1,795 Canadian dollars (USD retail is $1,599). With his company, Vertere, he's gone well beyond the analogue products he designed when he was with Roksan.
 
Agreed on the SimAudio MOON 110LP v2. Nice phono stage for great price! I currently prefer the the Rega Fono MC, but I am 100% sure that is because of the synergy of Rega, and their designing the units specifically for their cartridges and tables. I have heard, but do not know for sure, that a vast majority of their cartridges and phono stages are purchased to be used with their tables.
 
Everest Audio said:
We're big fans of the Vertere PHONO-1 designed by none other than Touraj Moghaddam, the founder of Roksan. $1,795 Canadian dollars (USD retail is $1,599). With his company, Vertere, he's gone well beyond the analogue products he designed when he was with Roksan.
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The Vertere looks like a very nice piece. I would be afraid that the 61.4 max gain might not be enough for me. 66 dB on the SimAudio and 69.5 on the Rega are enough, but wouldn't mind a bit more. The 72 dB on the Steller is intriguing.
 
Randy Myers said:
The Vertere looks like a very nice piece. I would be afraid that the 61.4 max gain might not be enough for me. 66 dB on the SimAudio and 69.5 on the Rega are enough, but wouldn't mind a but more. The 72 dB on the Steller is intriguing.
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We have used the Vertere with a 0.28mV cartridge and it did work absolutely fine, but I can see where someone might want a little more gain for sure with a very low output cartridge.
 
[FONT=&quot]Dynavector P75 Mk4.

Its a ripper.

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p75mk4-2.jpg
 
Everest Audio said:
We have used the Vertere with a 0.28mV cartridge and it did work absolutely fine, but I can see where someone might want a little more gain for sure with a very low output cartridge.
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Randy's requirement for a higher gain phono stage is likely due to his Hattor linestage, with its minimal available gain of 3/6/9dB. Not an issue with digital sources but with analog the available gain becomes a consideration.
 
I own the Parasound JC3+ and really like it. I used to own the battery operated MUSICAL SURROUNDINGS - Nova II Phono Preamplifier which was good but do like the JC3 better.
 
The Rega cartridge is fairly low output. 60db setting on the SimAudio did work well and sounded good but did require me to turn the volume considerably higher than other components. The 66 dB setting worked a bit better in my view. Using the 69.5db gain on the Rega phono stage does work better, but still considerably lower than the digital side, which is really not a big deal. I do prefer to get that difference (of how high I need to turn the volume control) at least a little bit closer. But again it is not a huge deal. I know with the digital I will normally have the volume between 25 and 35, with vinyl it will normally be between 35 and 45 :).

The Hattor has no gain, which is absolute fine by me. The selectable gain of 3/6/9 dB is an option. Arek also has an optional external tube gain stage. However, I do not want nor require gain in my line stage. The Hattor is an amazing sounding passive line stage without gain, unless your chosen amplifier requires some gain (then you can add the optional gain). The T+A does not need any gain from the line stage from what I can see.

My only desire for more gain in the phono stage is to try and close the gap between the vinyl setup and my digital or my tuner for that matter. By the way, I have the volume section by passed on both the T+A DAC and the McIntosh tuner.
 
I can highly recommend my remton 383 II MM/MC phonostage. It's € 1,500. It's pretty loud (79 dB) so use a low output MC.
 
tube-vds said:
I can highly recommend my remton 383 II MM/MC phonostage. It's € 1,500. It's pretty loud (79 dB) so use a low output MC.
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This one looks very interesting. Not 100% sure I would want a tube phono stage but certainly worthy of consideration. It does not appear to be distributed in the US though from what I can tell looking at their dealers list on their website. Is it even available in US voltage?
 
Randy Myers said:
This one looks very interesting. Not 100% sure I would want a tube phono stage but certainly worthy of consideration. It does not appear to be distributed in the US though from what I can tell looking at their dealers list on their website. Is it even available in US voltage?
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I don't know if there is a 110V version, but i'm sure there is a good solution for that. In Europe the dealer even allows for 2 week testing for a very low charge (transport fee).
 
I had one of the original Moon LP phono stages, which was very good and that was, I think, almost a decade ago. It played well above its price point, I haven’t heard the latest. If they’ve improved it without big price increase it would surely be a recommendation for this price point.
 
Keces Ephono & Ephono Power Supply for $700. Two separate chassis. XLR outputs. External settings for gain and impedance. MC & MM. I have had this in my system since December. A huge improvement over my Audio by Van Alstine phono preamp.
Michael Fremer is doing a review on this, and their other model-Sphono & Sphono Power Supply.
 
I think the Pro-Ject Phono Box RS is underappreciated. I'll also add a vote for the Simaudio Moon 310LP and Bryston BP-2 units.
 
Easy.

Gold Note PH-10. In the $1500-$2500 price range, the PH-10 as the best feature set, an innovative control interface and accurate, lively, rich and dynamic sound quality. It also scales really well, performing at its full potential with the most complex and demanding music. There also different equalization curves you can invoke including RIAA, Columbia, and Decca curves.

The Single-Knob Control provides all of the phonostage’s settings, such as cartridge type (moving-magnet
or moving-coil), equalization, gain, and impedance oading can quickly and easily be set using the SKC and color
display

You can read my review of it in the current issue of The Absolute Sound, Issue 5.20

Pics here by yours truly taken for the review:

PH-10-Web.jpg


PH-10-Rear-Panel.jpg


There is also an add-on external power supply you can add for another $1000 that takes the performance up a considerable notch.
 
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