Recommendations for Tube Phonostage with XLR/balanced outputs

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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Looking for recommendations for a killer tube phonostage that has XLR outputs (Avantgarde zero XD's have XLR inputs for analog).

Budget is under $10k
Tubes preferred
XLR outputs


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Based on reading, not listening, Thoress is a DHT phono that people have replaced their Burmester, Boulder with, and Mike Lavigne rated it as the best he had heard, and it was low priced. Also heard a guy who replaced his Audio Tekne with it.
 
bonzo said:
Based on reading, not listening, Thoress is a DHT phono that people have replaced their Burmester, Boulder with, and Mike Lavigne rated it as the best he had heard, and it was low priced. Also heard a guy who replaced his Audio Tekne with it.
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The Thoeress is a single ended output only phono stage.
 
Mike said:
BruceLet just bought this one. I'm looking forward to his comments.
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Modwright PH150......I set up my Basis table this afternoon with a new Air Tight cartridge..... A near new ARC REF6 (100 hrs) and a new ModWright PH150. The sound is big, dynamic and crystal clear, with a black background. The 3D soundstage is huge and detailed. I'm sure it will get better with breakin but the Raidho D1s are doing amazing things today. I can't wait to hear what it will do with my Salon 2s. I am running the Modwright single ended at this point until I get a balanced pair of interconnects. I parted with a Keith Herron phono stage, which I loved and had for years, but the Modwright looks like it's going to be a big step up.

I love the external power supply with a 40 inch cable and the on the fly settings on the front. The build quality is excellent.
 
BruceLet said:
Modwright PH150......I set up my Basis table this afternoon with a new Air Tight cartridge..... A near new ARC REF6 (100 hrs) and a new ModWright PH150. The sound is big, dynamic and crystal clear, with a black background. The 3D soundstage is huge and detailed. I'm sure it will get better with breakin but the Raidho D1s are doing amazing things today. I can't wait to hear what it will do with my Salon 2s. I am running the Modwright single ended at this point until I get a balanced pair of interconnects. I parted with a Keith Herron phono stage, which I loved and had for years, but the Modwright looks like it's going to be a big step up.

I love the external power supply with a 40 inch cable and the on the fly settings on the front. The build quality is excellent.
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Let's hope Dan has upped his game since I owned an LS100 preamp with phono stage a couple of years ago. Got channel reversals and phase issues until I opened the unit up and found out the wiring was reversed . Dan was suitably chastened.....
 
Mike said:
Bummer.
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Mike - I have an AMR PH-77 which is an astonishingly good phono stage , XLR outputs . Triple input capability, remote control gain/loading adjustment . NOS tubes . Deadly quiet. Recommend it highly. Ran rings around the amazingly noisy Rhea Signature I had. And it comes in a flight case....I know that's important to you.
 
Bobolaclune said:
Mike - I have an AMR PH-77 which is an astonishingly good phono stage , XLR outputs . Triple input capability, remote control gain/loading adjustment . NOS tubes . Deadly quiet. Recommend it highly. Ran rings around the amazingly noisy Rhea Signature I had. And it comes in a flight case....I know that's important to you.
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Oh boy! That sounds like a winner. Thanks!! I will check it out.


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Mike said:
Oh boy! That sounds like a winner. Thanks!! I will check it out.


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Oh yeah , forgot - 23 equalisation curves & a built-in 24/96 A-D converter for ripping vinyl to digital. I love the fact that the main Cart labels are all built in so you can identify each input by the manufacturer
 
Bobolaclune said:
Oh yeah , forgot - 23 equalisation curves & a built-in 24/96 A-D converter for ripping vinyl to digital. I love the fact that the main Cart labels are all built in so you can identify each input by the manufacturer
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WOW! What's MSRP?


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Mike

I have tried a few Phono stages the one I picked was the Burmister 100

The Reasons were balanced with XLR

It can be had with out A to D converter and only one input it might make your budget

The big down side for you is it is Solid state . A big plus for me

This Phono has a lot of magic in the right system

I looked at phonos that I could not afford many great designers prefer not to use XLR for phonos some will not use them.

The foundation of a phono stage for many designers is the power supply a tricky thing to get right.

Any one buying a phono stage in my humble opinion should look at how many inputs can you limit your self to. Will the cartridge match the Phono Stage.

As far as I know the Phono is biggest multiplier of the signal their for a far more important to get as right as you can.

I heard a very fine tube Phono in my system well built great reviews it was horrid . I heard the exact same Phono in a friends system and it was great 3 of us tried to make it sound even passable in my house and that did not happen.

They are fussy and very system dependent unless some one has the same system and taste in sound as you I really think you are on your own with this one.

Best of luck
 
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