Phono Preamp Recommendation (Solid State).

T

thegoodarcher

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Dear Friends,
I am running a Diapason Adamantes III 25th Anniversary with Synthesis ROMA 510AC Limited Edition (85 Watts pc) and GoldNote Meditaraneo
Turntable with B7 Arm - Digital Arsenal Includes Hegel HD30 at the moment (but i might switch to GoldNote's very own DS1000 Streamer/DAC) Or the New Lindemann Music Book 25 Network Player/DAC for ease of playback but never mind digital, I am perplexed to find a new phono preamp and auditions are difficult where i live - i love warm sounding gear which at its heart needs to be as musical as possible.

Budget is around 2500-2700.00

Cartridge is the new Hana SL Black (Low Output)

I've tried Parasound JC+ (good detail but musically a bit poor) Heed (worst of the lot, bland) Lehmann Black Cube SE
(Was best of the lot musically, but not good enough as there is always some roll-off at the HF)

I am looking for the last phono stage, preferably ultra quite i can consider stretching my budget to another 300.00 if i absolutely need to.

Regards.

P/S : I used to own a mega system and toned down for good in the pursuit of "musicality" versus "HiFi Sound" or ultra detail retrieval.
 
You like warm but detailed? Nagra VPS (sorry, this is tube).

You need to double your budget, but I think it will be worth it. I got one to test today, it is still in my trunk but I will get it set up later on today.

I'll report back.


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Seeing as you like the Lehmann Black Cube SE but for some apparent roll off, have you tried the Black Cube Decade? There's a Black Cube Decade (two chassis model also) on Agon now for $1275.

I'm a big fan of the SE II that I own....very musical and wonderful drive, tone and pace.
 
I would highly recommend buying my Krell KPE Ref phono stage with outboard power supply. Enough gain for any MC cartridge and sounds great. $1000 plus shipping and that is a steal for this quality of phono stage!
 
mep said:
I would highly recommend buying my Krell KPE Ref phono stage with outboard power supply. Enough gain for any MC cartridge and sounds great. $1000 plus shipping and that is a steal for this quality of phono stage!
Click to expand...
that right there from someone that has heard more than most, can't beat experience that we come to a forum for
 
Kuoppis said:
You like warm but detailed? Nagra VPS (sorry, this is tube).

You need to double your budget, but I think it will be worth it. I got one to test today, it is still in my trunk but I will get it set up later on today.

I'll report back.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Sorry for my confusion for adding the Nagra VPS into the equation here, as it obviously is tubed. I was just testing it and hence threw it in.

However, there is a reasonably priced Nagra solid state preamp as well, the BPS. Quite good also, detailed but a tad bright.
 
My current favorite in this price bracket is the very recently launched Octave EQ.2. It might be more expensive in the US, but EU RRP is about €1500,-.

While Octave is a respected tube-only hi-end amp manufacturer, they have launched this transistor phono-pre as a separate unit, to go along with the tube amps. It is also what is built-in into their reference tube amps as a phono stage.

I have tested it and it is staggeringly good for the money. Octave-typical detailed, but also full and musical sounding. It was reviewed by Audio-Magazine this month and rated above long standing industry benchmarks like the Linn Uphorik, Ayre P-5 XE or Transrotor Phono 8 Sym.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Kuoppis said:
Sorry for my confusion for adding the Nagra VPS into the equation here, as it obviously is tubed. I was just testing it and hence threw it in.

However, there is a reasonably priced Nagra solid state preamp as well, the BPS. Quite good also, detailed but a tad bright.
Click to expand...

I use the BPS and a Hana SL. It is certainly not a bright pairing. I would also recommend the Aurorasound VIDA
 
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