Dr Good Vibe Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) Yes but all that you mentioned can be changed with the de-emphasis curve controls which is why Rienhard made this it's all open to what you like it to sound like or need I've spent many hours talking about this with him, it's not plug and play. Edited March 3, 2015 by Dr Good Vibe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsb7244 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Peter Avgeris more than $100,000 http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/246678-most-exotic-mm-phono-preamplifier.html Audio Tekne TEA-9501 http://jlvalin.zenfolio.com/p855223471/h2097a80e#h2097a80e Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hergest Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Peter Avgeris more than $100,000 http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/246678-most-exotic-mm-phono-preamplifier.html Audio Tekne TEA-9501 http://jlvalin.zenfolio.com/p855223471/h2097a80e#h2097a80e ? I though this thread was Best Phono Amps Regardless Of Price not Trawling The Web To Find The World's Most Expensive Phono Amps. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Anderson Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I am seriously looking at these 3 DIY kits in readiness of my turntable rebuild All are tube type as its my preference 1) Bottlehead Eros http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=220&rn=428&action=show_detail 2)Trenscendent phono stage http://www.transcendentsound.com/Transcendent/Transcendent_Sound_Phono_Preamp.html 3) Audio Note http://www.audionotekits.com/M3PhonoStage.html FR Has anyone bought or heard any of these. look interesting and I'm thinking of upgrading, if these would be a upgrade my MS Phonomena Nova Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiomuze (R.I.P) Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Here's something you may want to consider. Good enough for van den Hul, it's surely good enough for most of us...and the price won't bring tears to your eyes or force you to sell the kids. http://www.valveaudio.co.za/products_whisper.htm 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal beat Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) Good enough for Van Den Hul? Are you sure about that? How does it sound? He uses it instead of his own phono stage? I'd like to see that Edited March 8, 2015 by metal beat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiomuze (R.I.P) Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Good enough for Van Den Hul? Are you sure about that? How does it sound? He uses it instead of his own phono stage? I'd like to see that, especially some , any proof. http://www.valveaudio.co.za/international_order.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiomuze (R.I.P) Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Good enough for Van Den Hul? Are you sure about that? How does it sound? He uses it instead of his own phono stage? I'd like to see that, especially some , any proof. http://www.valveaudio.co.za/international_order.htm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal beat Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 http://www.valveaudio.co.za/international_order.htm So they gave Van Den Hul a phono stage back in 2008. Do you really think he uses it over his own phono, especially now in 2015. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiomuze (R.I.P) Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 So they gave Van Den Hul a phono stage back in 2008. Do you really think he uses it over his own phono, especially now in 2015. He wasn't given one, he bought it. Dunno, but do you really think the tech that goes into a phonostage has made phenomenal leaps and bounds or led to a new branch of science between 2008 and 2015? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKay Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Here's something you may want to consider. Good enough for van den Hul, it's surely good enough for most of us...and the price won't bring tears to your eyes or force you to sell the kids. http://www.valveaudio.co.za/products_whisper.htm It would be interesting to hear this. What do they sell for? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analog brother Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 new addition to this thread. looks lovely! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAKMAN Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 On 21/11/2010 at 3:54 PM, Steve M said: vmhf: You probably need to set a price limit for the best phono stage question? You can spend $50K plus on cost no object phonos ...Aesthetix make some nice ones. The phono stage built into my Supratek Grange preamp (@$9K) is supposedly world class. I recently heard a Tom Evans Groove phono which I thought sounded very good, no tubes involved and had an uncommon clarity and separation to the soundstage. They cost about $4K new, see here: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TOM-EVANS-AUDIO-DESIGN-GROOVE-20TH-ANV-PHONO-STAGE-/120614107110?pt=AU_Electronics_Home_Audio_Turntables&hash=item1c152937e6 And yes, I agree with you a good phono makes a world of difference. Sounds heretic, but I reckon an expensive phono stage is more important than an expensive tonearm. Hi Steve, Hope you are well. I was hoping to obtain some advice on the Supratek Preamp; not sure whether you still have this unit or not? Essentially, would like to know whether you still consider his "phono stage" world class (as good as anything else out there). Thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spider Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 On 3/8/2015 at 6:39 PM, audiomuze (R.I.P) said: http://www.valveaudio.co.za/international_order.htm They hide the price well....I've read the specs, the 2 page review....it has to be bad...I'm sitting down....hit me? $3000? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdarkfish Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 My opinion is that no one piece of gear will ever be the 'best'. I have an Audiaflight stage and love it. But even the Audiaflight can be 'bested' by much cheaper stages like a Dynavector P75 on some vinyl. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kab Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 One of my best was the Phantom Audio MM phono by Mike Kontor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 5 minutes ago, kab said: One of my best was the Phantom Audio MM phono by Mike Kontor. Then I'm afraid you haven't listened to enough alternatives, kab! Mike is an old friend of mine but even he agreed that my Phantom Audio sounded much better when I replaced the PS he had used with an emitter-follower PS designed by Hugh "Mr AKSA" Dean. (Of course, if Mike had used this PS, he would've had to more-than-double the price of the Phantom Audio - so it wasn't a fair comparison!) My (modified) Phantom Audio was judged better than, say, an EAR834P ... a JLTi v3 ... and a Nighthawk ... but my own 'Muse' has finally bettered it (which was my aim, in starting on its development path ). And there are certainly better-sounding phono stages than my Muse (but at a much higher price). Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigC Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 Andy, Was Mikes phono the Bill Beard clone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagleeyes Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 The tom Evans groove 20th anniversary is an outstanding box capable of main high end audio trickery and results. Would be nicer if finished off in a bid full sized solid metal box but that goes against the tom Evans ethos so acrylic box it is. Mind blowing capabilities for its mid range price. Thanks to those who read. Check them out one day you will not be disappointed cheersAdam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kab Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 (edited) For the money and back in the day the phantom was very nice cheers. Edited August 3, 2017 by kab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red MacKay Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 1 hour ago, drdarkfish said: My opinion is that no one piece of gear will ever be the 'best'. I have an Audiaflight stage and love it. But even the Audiaflight can be 'bested' by much cheaper stages like a Dynavector P75 on some vinyl. I agree with this. I have an Audia Flight too, but sometimes I prefer my humble old Dynavector P100 on some vinyl. With yet other vinyl, the tube phono is better. I have come to learn that there is no "best". With all the great gear I have here, the last month has brought me the greatest joy playing vinyl using a $100 old Pioneer PL 51A, it's an ugly thing completely stock. A CA Virtuoso V2 MM cart into my Dynavector, a borrowed Primare SS amp into a borrowed pair of Sonus Faber Electa Amators. It was an awesome fun sound, a great synergy of the gear. My friend who owned the amp and the speakers could not believe that his gear sounded so good in my room. Audiofool SQ? Maybe not. But FUN and we wanted to listen to more and more and more music. Alas, the Electas sold in a flash last Sat. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kab Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 One of my favourite rigs was VPI HW19 mk4 turntable Syrinx PU3 arm Grado Sonata cartridge Phantom Audio MM phono Not overly expensive but gave me lots of happy listening. btw i don't listen to vinyl these days CD only. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 7 hours ago, kab said: For the money and back in the day the phantom was very nice cheers. I agree with you. I merely disagreed with your statement that it was one of the best. 7 hours ago, CraigC said: Andy, Was Mikes phono the Bill Beard clone? That's the one - the Beard BB P100, I think (from the days before Bill developed tube gear! ). Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat-with-one-t Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 (edited) http://boulderamp.com/products/1008-phono-preamplifier/ how 'bout this monster? http://www.audionote.co.uk/products/preamp/m9_phono_01.shtml or maybe a nice Audio Note (but you'll need to sell your house and set it up in an alley way somewhere) Edited August 5, 2017 by Mat-with-one-t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 Doesn't darthlaker have an Audio Research Ref 2SE? That's the one I would have. I love the ability to change the loading and settings on the fly with a remote and get instant feedback on how the change affects the sound. Plus it supports dual inputs - cue multi arm turntable thread [emoji51] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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