Phono stages
Posted by: Tony L on 21 August 2001
Looks like I will need to start thinking about out board phono stages. I'm predictably looking to get the job done as cheaply as possible. The ones that come to mind are:
- Tom Evans Micro Groove - its relatively affordable at 400 quid, and everyone seems to love it out there in hi-fi land.
- Naim Stageline - Quite expensive as it would mean retaining my Hicap, and I really want to sell that to get some cash in to my CDX fund. Effectively this option is 170 quid more than the Micro Groove, is it better. Oh, I don't want to go for the even more expensive Prefix as I am not prepared to screw up my RB900 to fit it - I bought the P9 new, so want to take a minimum financial hit on it when I come to sell it.
- Densen DP-02 - I am not sure how much this costs, though suspect it will be around the 400 mark. Is it any good? I know I love their amplifiers, so that’s a start.
- John Linsley Hood RIAA stage - Available in kit form for about 220 quid with a reasonable external PSU ( http://users.classicfm.net/williamshart/phono.htm ). Cheapest option by far, but has anyone heard one. I would be more than capable of building it neatly, but do not have the electronics knowledge to tweak or modify it. Obviously the biggest risk as I wouldn't be able to dem it, this is the option I am the least interested in due to this fact.
I can't think of a lot else out there at the sort of price I want to pay, any ideas? How much does the likes of a Linto or the Exposure stage change hands for second hand? Either might be a pretty good option.
Ideas folks?
Tony.
quote:
Yes, I have them tattooed on my forehead. I actually want more FEPs for planning to dump a big amp to upgrade my sources.
I bolded that bit. The bit about upgrading sources. The key here really. You know the LP12 makes sense - and you don't need to blow out a 250 to do it, either! 
There have been a few CDX's turning up lately, so your hunt there should not turn out to be a lengthy one!
Rico - ok, the Kans are sorted, now whatabout the rainforests?
No problem. I thought Andy W. had a Stageline but after I posted the message I clicked on his profile to find out the lucky bastard has a Prefix 
Did you or you dealer retrofit the Stageline to use BNCs or is it ordered to spec?
Joe
quote:
I am fearful of this rumour that you are hunting a CDX - why?
I'm definitely not abandoning vinyl if that is what you were thinking!
What I am attempting to do is finally balancing my system. I want to get it to a finishing point, where I am not chasing upgrades that I have no chance of affording etc. I have a great record deck, as this thread suggests I am looking for a good phono stage, so that’s my vinyl front end sorted. I do like the CD 17KI that is my current digital disk spinner, it sounds suffers from few digital nasties, is smooth and weighty etc. It does however not play music as well as a CDX. I own over 1000 CDs, so have quite a lot invested in the medium, and whilst I could never consider a CDS2, a second hand CDX is financially feasible with a bit of system re-jigging. This is all possible by sacrificing the amp a little.
I already have a Nait 1, and I do the deal on a Nait 2 tomorrow. Changing from my 32.5 / Hicap / 250 to the Nait 1 the first time really surprised me, yes it is not as good, but what it looses is to my ears not actually very important. It looses some low level detail and a little definition, and does not have the sense of power of the 250. What it does not loose is pitch, rhythm, or timing, bizarrely it sounds just as much fun to my ears, and as soon as I picked my jaw back off the floor I started thinking that the Nait is really all I need. I ran the Nait 1 for a week in my main system (just CD as I had no MC stage), and I definitely could live with it. Things like low level detail are forgotten in a few days, the ability to play music is what keeps me listening. The Nait 1 plays music big time.
I am a firm believer in source first, so am utterly convinced that getting a better phono stage and CD player will result in a better system. I have come to the conclusion that I definitely don't need a 82 or 52 or whatever, I just need a simple system that plays tunes. I am also really lucky as I do not really enjoy listening loud, so the Nait drives the Kans to the level that I require without any noticeable stress. If I can get the prices I think I should for my existing amp and CD player I should be able to do this at next to no cost. Might even make a few quid
Tony.
Let's try again. I would also like to second the Linto as being a really excellent phono stage. The Linto gives a very solid and musical performance. However, whether it partners well with the NAIT is another thing.
The Densen stage may be the best partner for the NAIT.
Alternatively, your financial reserves may have improved by the time you track down and hear all the options. In which case don't sell the HiCAP until the last minute, you might afford a CDX and Stageline by that time
Andrew
Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
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quote:
While you two guardians of the flat earth and source first principal are here - Should a power supply Hi Cap go on the Phono stage or the amp, Nait? I seem to have broken my stone tablettes with the commandments.
A few years ago a friend brought by his Prefix and Flat-Cap for me to try in my LP12/Lingo/Ekos/Klyde/32.5/Hi-Cap/250/Sara system (sorry for pulling a -=>Mike<=- but I wanted to the provide context for the dem ).
We tried both configurations -- Hi-Cap on the Prefix and Flat-Cap on the 32.5, and Flat-Cap on the Prefix and Hi-Cap on the 32.5. The verdict? No dem has been more clear cut to me or to my friend -- put the better supply on the phono stage.
It gets more complicated if you have other decent sources, say a good tuner and CD player. You might opt to put the Flat-Cap on the Prefix so the preamp gets the better supply, benefitting all sources. But this wasn't an issue for me since I was running only a table back then.
Joe