tommy100 Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Hi, I’m looking for a tube phono stage to upgrade from my Heed Audio Quasar. Cart is a Dynavector 20x2L, and budget is around $1,200. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 1 hour ago, tommy100 said: Hi, I’m looking for a tube phono stage to upgrade from my Heed Audio Quasar. Cart is a Dynavector 20x2L, and budget is around $1,200. Any thoughts? An upgrade from a Heed Quasar which is tube ... and around $1200 - good luck with that! Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy100 Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 The heed isn’t tube. But get your point on my budget. It’s definitely too low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwbasement Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 I used to have an Audio Note M1 with the Dyna 20X2L, good value for its price, secondhand price is under 1k, if you want to get a taste of tube phono. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mloutfie Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 You can get EAR - 834P clone and get some good tubes. I really like my haggerman cornet 3 with teddy pardo LPS those combo cost between $1100-1200 depending currency conversion and postage option, then you need to spend extra 1-200 for some nice tubes. But not sure how it compares with the Quasar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 1 hour ago, tommy100 said: The heed isn’t tube. But get your point on my budget. It’s definitely too low. Sorry, my sentence construction was not as clear as it should've been. I should've phrased it "a tube upgrade from the Heed Phasar ..." I would second @mloutfie's suggestion of a Hagerman Cornet 3 as being a good-sounding phono stage. One good thing about that is that (despite using tubes) it uses a 'wall-wart' (SMPS) to provide power. I'm not sure of the voltage but you can start off with, say, an inexpensive Meanwell initially ... and then when funds are available, replace this with a LPS for an upgrade in SQ: a Teddy Pardo like Mahdie is using, or an Sbooster or a Gieseler. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pulinap Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Allnic Goldenage Audio Line Magnetic Supratek New Valve Order Coincident Plenty to pick.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy100 Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 All good Andy. Thanks all for the suggestions, great help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimbo Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 @pulinap "how good is a holiday....." - Messiah Mo, Land of Chosen People Got mates in Admin huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pulinap Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Wimbo said: @pulinap "how good is a holiday....." - Messiah Mo, Land of Chosen People Got mates in Admin huh? eh...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyW Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 (edited) On 30/01/2020 at 2:39 PM, pulinap said: Allnic Goldenage Audio Line Magnetic Supratek New Valve Order Coincident Plenty to pick.... Has someone taken over Goldenage Audio..... Duc's gear was stunning though he's no longer with us (God rest his soul). I'd suggest Abbas Audio for a quality tube phono stage, though mines in the process of being built still. Edited February 23, 2020 by MattyW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shark Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 Hi Tommy(?), the link below leads to the website of Transcendent Sound (Bruce Rosenblit) and offers one of the best value for money Phono Stages available. If your handy with an iron, buy it in kit form, if not, buy it built! These kits are very easy to build however. I've had mine for 8 years or so, modified it slightly, and I imagine you'll need to spend upwards of $5K AUD to better it. And it's bullet proof. If your in the Geelong area some time I'd be happy to demonstrate. Price on Bruce's website is in USD of course. I've attached an old photo of the internals of mine for your reference. The coupling caps have since been swapped for Jupitor Coppers and made a substantial difference. They are also super quiet for a Tube Phono which is no small feat. Note : they are M Magnet gain only, and a Step Up is required for M Coils. Cheers Mark. https://www.transcendentsound.com/phono-preamp.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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