what Phono stage do you using?
- Thread starter byrdparis
- Start date
Hi Tunes,
Excellent choice
What kind of impact did adding the X1 have in your system?
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Carlos,
The X1 added a greater sense of weight to the bottom end and the soundstage seems to be expanded in width and depth. I am guessing that much of this is due to the further minimization of noise and therefore more detail observed when listening. CH has the measured stats of how much of a reduction of noise can be expected for the P1 with X1. I have this info somewhere and can dig it up and share it with you if you're interested.
Chris
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slowgeezr
Active member
I've been using a BAT VK-P5 for over ten years and love it. With mc cartridges I also use a K&K Premium SUT. You have to spend silly money to make much improvement, IMO. Fortunately, we have an abundance of very good phono amps in the $2K - $5K range.
Try1256
Member
I have a K&K as well. Recently, I have just plugged directly in to the VK-P5 using the high gain with very good results. The output of my cart is .4mv.
I've sold my Vitus Masterpiece (owner won't be picking it up until the new year). I'm looking at replacing it with the Kronos Phonostage, ARC REF3 or ARC REF10 Phono. My concern about the Kronos Phonostage is that it's designed only to be used with the Kronos. Although unlikely, what if I replaced it one day? Guess that's my concern.
Would love to hear from someone who has compared the ARC REF3 Phono vs the REF10 Phono.
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Would love to hear from someone who has compared the ARC REF3 Phono vs the REF10 Phono.
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Oh no, I am, it's one of the best (Asian Audio Reviewer, Danon Hong says it's the best), but I had someone interested to buy it. Time to change.
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slowgeezr
Active member
Yeah, K&K makes a very good transformer. When I told them what load I needed for my cartridge, they sent me a pair of plug in resistors to make it happen. They didn't even charge me for them. Great small company.
Switched to SME 20.2. Huge difference. Also tubed rolled all tubes. Kills my very good digital system.
RedSectorA
New member
1) Aesthetix IO Signature dual power supply for my stereo setup, currently running a Lyra Etna on a Graham Phantom II Supreme.
2) Ayre P-5xe for my mono setup. Michell Tecnoarm and a Miyajima Zero cartridge.
My table is a Clearaudio Master Solution on a MinusK bm50-8
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2) Ayre P-5xe for my mono setup. Michell Tecnoarm and a Miyajima Zero cartridge.
My table is a Clearaudio Master Solution on a MinusK bm50-8
Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk
Why not CH?
Not a fan of the sound of their amps, preamp and digital. The phono is excellent however, but I️ prefer tubes in my phono. YMMV.
I am a bit uncertain right now on SS vs valve phonos, mostly due to lack of experience of comparing.
I compared burmester to AR ph 7 (yes, that is a lower model of AR) wth Fuuga, an Italian one called AM audio to VTL 6.5 with zyx r1000, and XV-1s through Lyra connoisseur with AN IO through Tron GT.
In each case, the SS was much better. Most obvious was with piano, where range was more, attack on leading edge was better, you could feel the dynamic and nuance of each note, and it flowed better. Noise floor was lower, more resolution, and violin was excellent. Richard Mak's review of burmester seems to agree, it is the AR ref 3 that he rates at a similar level, not 2.
The exception was comparing Airtight to a much more expensive music first phono where the AT was much better, with the Proteus cart.
This is different from my pre amp experiences where the valves make me more involved even if I can see disadvantages on noise floor and dynamics and bass. And I don't like the other burmester electronics. Just the phono. I preferred AR LS 27 much more to burmester pre even with the burmester amp. And the LS 29 to the constellation pre with constellation inspiration amp. Possibly with phono it happens because vinyl is musical enough for information to just present itself
In non compares, the Dartzeel phono appears to have achieved the same benefits, though not Pass. I remain in awe of the Aesthetix, which I have ruled out due to three boxes. I was amazed at the transformation in the Allnic 3000 on the recti upgrade. I can only imagine how good the 5000 with the KR recti, the 242 already in it, and the 300b upgraded to the Takatsuki must be. And it is two boxes. I hope to arrange a compare between the 3000 and the Thoress sometime.
However all these are non horn, and with horns and SETs valve phonos have been wonderful, and I haven't had an SS experience with horns except that FM 122 in one of my favorite systems, the yamamura, which happens to use all SS electronics.
So to summarize, Allnic, thoress, airtight on the valve side vs burmester on SS side. I am not going to spend as high as CH. One guy in Texas did move from h5000 to the CH. Higher models of AR will be interesting to listen to as they really upped their game with their recent preamps and amps.
I compared burmester to AR ph 7 (yes, that is a lower model of AR) wth Fuuga, an Italian one called AM audio to VTL 6.5 with zyx r1000, and XV-1s through Lyra connoisseur with AN IO through Tron GT.
In each case, the SS was much better. Most obvious was with piano, where range was more, attack on leading edge was better, you could feel the dynamic and nuance of each note, and it flowed better. Noise floor was lower, more resolution, and violin was excellent. Richard Mak's review of burmester seems to agree, it is the AR ref 3 that he rates at a similar level, not 2.
The exception was comparing Airtight to a much more expensive music first phono where the AT was much better, with the Proteus cart.
This is different from my pre amp experiences where the valves make me more involved even if I can see disadvantages on noise floor and dynamics and bass. And I don't like the other burmester electronics. Just the phono. I preferred AR LS 27 much more to burmester pre even with the burmester amp. And the LS 29 to the constellation pre with constellation inspiration amp. Possibly with phono it happens because vinyl is musical enough for information to just present itself
In non compares, the Dartzeel phono appears to have achieved the same benefits, though not Pass. I remain in awe of the Aesthetix, which I have ruled out due to three boxes. I was amazed at the transformation in the Allnic 3000 on the recti upgrade. I can only imagine how good the 5000 with the KR recti, the 242 already in it, and the 300b upgraded to the Takatsuki must be. And it is two boxes. I hope to arrange a compare between the 3000 and the Thoress sometime.
However all these are non horn, and with horns and SETs valve phonos have been wonderful, and I haven't had an SS experience with horns except that FM 122 in one of my favorite systems, the yamamura, which happens to use all SS electronics.
So to summarize, Allnic, thoress, airtight on the valve side vs burmester on SS side. I am not going to spend as high as CH. One guy in Texas did move from h5000 to the CH. Higher models of AR will be interesting to listen to as they really upped their game with their recent preamps and amps.
