ThroneofGame Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 :bump: I'm about to upgrade from my very modest Lehmann Audio Black Cube to either a Manley Chinook (can't afford the Steelhead) or Herron VTPH-2. The Manley would be a new special edition made exclusively for Upscale Audio in California, with Kevin Deal's (owner of aforementioned Upscale and CEO, PrimaLuna USA) own choice of tube complement and new would cost me about the same price as a second-hand Herron. Both have great reviews and unfortunately I can listen to one but not the other...I'm leaning towards the Chinook...not sure why. Perhaps the self-contained loading setup vs. the Herron's external plug-in (you only get the 47Kohm in the box, you pay for any other loading, except for infinite loading, which they say is best suited for most MC cartridges) Decisions, decisions! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD19 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Might I put this one forward? A noticeable improvement over the phono stage in my Shindo Masseto. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Good Vibe Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) Rienhard Thoress phono enhancer and JPS 66 of course Edited February 24, 2015 by Dr Good Vibe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugo_wilco Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Very happy with my Soulution 520 phono Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PorkBun69s Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 RCM Sensor Prelude 2 ...very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viognier Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Might I put this one forward? IMG_2084.JPG A noticeable improvement over the phono stage in my Shindo Masseto. Always wanted to hear this phono. Where does it have it over the Masseto? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cafe67 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I'm very happy with how my karat 17d3 sounds through my now rega aria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analog brother Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Always wanted to hear this phono. Where does it have it over the Masseto? yeah, masseto onboard phono is very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samman Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I have 2 favorites In no particular order: The Thrax Orpheus, beautiful organic sound and massive sound stage and the RCM Theriaa with dynamics to die for.... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmhf Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 After almost 4 and a half years since I first started this thread I have finally found the phono of my dreams! 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThroneofGame Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 That's f*****n' nice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analog brother Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 talk about timing.....! old thread with timely new result. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viognier Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I want to like every post in this thread. Superb components. Better get the camera out and post pix of my baby. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 G'day all, I'm quietly proud of the performance of my humble DIY phono stage efforts for MM cartridges. They're nothing to look at, but they work very well. Regards, Felix. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasebass Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 After 6 years of ownership still love my Naim Superline. First 4 and a bit years ran it with an Olive Supercap then updated to a Supercap DR late 2013. Tase. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) Great phono's I've owned,CJ TEA2 SE and currently own,Lamm LP2 and LFD MCT SE.I've also had Td19's Air Tight phono in my system. Edited February 25, 2015 by DRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mungo Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I was lucky enough to have the Mares Connoisseur Phono Preamplifier by Peter Mares, (referred to earlier by the PROF) in my system for 4 months. It is a truly amazing audio component. The RCM Audio TheRIAA which I have spent some time with is is also in the same class. However, saying that the new RCM Sensor 2 is fantastic, and I am living with it happily and love what it does, Closer to the TheRIAA than the RCM Sensor 1. Quite a bargin Cheers Mungo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyper Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 After almost 4 and a half years since I first started this thread I have finally found the phono of my dreams! Forgive me ignorance vmhf, what is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasebass Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) Forgive me ignorance vmhf, what is it? One of these..... http://www.analogplanet.com/content/new-tw-acustic-raven-phono-preamplifier-debut-rmaf-2014 ATBTase. Edited February 25, 2015 by Tasebass 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmhf Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) Thanks Tasebass. Yes, its the new TW Acustic Raven RPS100. I had the previous model before that was actually made by Thoress in Germany for TW Acustic to spec. Whilst the RPS100 is designed and built from the ground up by Thomas Woschnick. Its really at another level to the old one which I lived with and enjoyed for a number of years. Here's an old pic of the TW Acustic Raven Phono sitting on Stillpoint Ultra5s. Edited February 25, 2015 by vmhf 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willco Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I was lucky enough to have the Mares Connoisseur Phono Preamplifier by Peter Mares, (referred to earlier by the PROF) in my system for 4 months. It is a truly amazing audio component. Cheers Mungo Yes Indeed Mungo--I have heard the Mares--a fair while back now with a Lurne TT/Breuer/Helikon setup--it is indeed one of the two finest Phono stage's ever made-it was a experience I have not forgotten I own the other--the Vendetta Research SCP-2T( for Teflon caps/etc) John Curl only made 5 of these WW. Good listening with your RCM it must indeed be something special Willco 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD19 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Always wanted to hear this phono. Where does it have it over the Masseto? yeah, masseto onboard phono is very nice! I'm no good at describing my listening impressions! The thing that struck me was an enhanced clarity, as if wiping a slightly misted window pane. I didn't believe it the first time so went back and A/B'ed while listening, from memory, to Ray Charles and Milt Jackson 'Soul Brothers'. The difference was definitely there so I used the AirTight through the Masseto! Interesting that Thoress has been mentioned twice in this thread. The AirTight currently sits idle, having been superseded by: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Good Vibe Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) Thoress is a great unit but you want to go phono enhancer. Edited March 3, 2015 by Dr Good Vibe 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmhf Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 I had both the Thoress Phono Enhancer and TW Acustic RPS100 in my system on demos but not at the same time unfortunately. From audio memory the Enhancer had more body in the mids i.e. a fuller sound. In most other departments it was very close i.e. detail, resolution, sound stage size etc... For me the absolute silence of the RPS100 was what won it for me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petng Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 This also bettered my Shindo Masseto. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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