Analog Upgrade itch

@dover my budget is US$15k-20k for the TT+tonearm+phono amp, can be a little  more flexible if “necessary” lol. If I trade up to Kuzma TT/ arm I can get a pretty good deal with my local dealer.  Not sure if my Etsuro Cobalt will match Linn LP12 better than Kuzma 4point ? 
 

@rdk777 thanks and good point : one of the thing I found with my current Gold NotePH10 is the “hum” or high noise floor.  Currently I am using XLR connect to my Pandora pre. I was thinking changing to RCA to give a better analog sonics 

Maybe a built in Legato phono card can help this issue ?

seems like many experts here recommend Kuzma over Linn LP12 , anyone can share your experience how the two differ sonically ? Thanks 

I would choose the Stabi R/4 point 9 as well.  Place the table on the appropriate sized and weighted HRS platform and you will be impressed.  

ARC Ref 3 offers balanced output which I prefer over single ended. Manley Steelhead only has single ended outputs. In my experience, balanced connection lowers the noise floor which makes a difference when dealing with analog.

Keep the Stabi S and add external power supply.

Add a Kuzma 4 point 9. This will be significant step-up.

Add a phono amp which suits you best. I use a Doshi EVO 3.0 phono amp with the above combination.

All the best.

@eddiechanghk 

Depends on your budget. How much do you want to spend ?

The Allnics tend to be on the lush side. Manley is very good - and very flexible.

I would suggest you do the TT upgrade first and then do the phono later.

This gives you the opportunity to reassess  your phono requirements once you have the new front end dialled in.

@dover thank you for the valuable input , for TT my finalists are

Kuzma Ref 2 : like its suspended base which is more “musical” than Stabi R ? I have a belief that suspended TT designs gives a smoother, analog sonics 

Linn LP12 : isn’t it the icon to own at least once, in the passage of every vinyl audiophile ?  Closest thing I ever owned was a Systemdek back in the 70s and I have been out of vinyl for the last 30 years … still miss the “old “ analog sound and I hope I can reproduce that with modern equipments. 
 

kuzma Stabi R : it can accommodate 2-3 arms which maybe my next step , so is the reason I want to have a phono amp with 2-3 inputs.  
 

never thought about the Legato phono card , which I appreciate your heads up ! But aside from that do you have any recommendation for a separate tube phono that may fit my system and the “warmth” sonics I am after ? 
 

anyone tried Allnics ? 
 

cheers 

@eddiechanghk 

In my view the upgrade to Kuzma R or Ref II with 4point should be significant.

The 4point is pretty much unbeatable in my view for the money. I have installed 4points vs other arms such as Moerch, Helius and a few others - it is a step up in transparency and very neutral.

The overall sound of the Kuzmas/4point I would describe as self effacing - neither lean nor bloated - nicely balanced. One thing I really like is that the Kuzmas designed to be easy to set up which makes dialling them in easy.

For phono stage I would suggest investigating the cost of adding the Gryphon Legato Legacy phono boards to your existing Pandora. The Pandora is state of the art so why not take advantage of that architecture ( dual mono power supplies etc ) and just get the phono boards installed. ( You also save the cost of interconnects phono to pre ).

Cheers.

OP,

I believe the sound of the Audio Research will be much more natural and musical with outstanding mid-range bloom, without loosing detail… something the Steelhead is known for. Personally I would unquestionably buy a ARC Phonostage unheard… but, of course, that is because I have heard so many.

I just upgraded my vinyl front end:

JRTransrotor Rodino FMD

SME V arm

Airtight PC-1 Supreme
 

Allnic H-3000
 

i am floored by the sound. 

@rsf507 thanks for the info , does the soft suspended base on Ref2 give a more “musical “ sonics over the Stabi R ? What I like about Kuzma in general is their liveliness and openness but I am also tempted by Linn’s “ vintage analog” sonics but hesitate about the spring re-calibration that seems needed every periodically on a Linn table. 
 

@ghdprentice Audio Research is on my list just I cannot  get a demo to connect with a Gryphon amp ( different dealer) , so to me blind purchase a phono amp seems too risky…  how does it compare to Manley Steelhead , sonically ? 

I have a ref 2 + 4point + car 50

All I can say is good choice, either the ref or R will be good tables and sound excellent. 

@eddiechanghk are you looking for two inputs for a specific scenario or to be future proof'? Just curious...

I would also consider a good and modern direct drive table, such as from Brinkmann, STST*, Gran Prix etc

For phono it could be you use a SUT for each cart and then a single input. This is eg how EMIA does it. I have been loving the RADA Precious* btw

* sales relationship disclosure :)

Nice looking system.

From your description, I get the feeling we have similar tastes. You can see my systems. I would keep your cartridge as you said.

I have a Linn LP12 which I bought a couple years ago at the Akurate, mid-level with a Koetsu Rosewood Signature cartridge. I have since upgraded the sub chassis and tone arm for what I consider well worth upgrades, significant sonic improvements. The Linn is small, beautiful and sounds outstanding.

One class of upgrades I consider the most significant over the last 40 years has been phonostages. They have always produced what I consider outsized sonic improvements. I found until my last upgrade my phono stage was always holding back my TT. I started with a Class A $200 Phonostage in about 1980… which I can’t even begin to tell you how terrible it sounded. I quickly upgraded a couple times until at last bought a new Audio Research PH2. From then on I never left Audio Research. PH2SE, PH3, PH3SE, PH8, and now REF3. I recommend PH8 or better for your system. ARC preamps and Phonostages… really sets them apart.

My combination is wonderfully musical with good midrange bloom, great sound staging and highly detailed. But the key words are natural and musical… the tone arm upgrade to the Ekos-se brought up the detail significantly with loosing any of the musicality. 

Hello,

Impressive system. You are going to receive lots of differing opinions on suggestions for your needs. Let your ears and market research help you in your decision making process.

My personal recommendation and experiences for a phono amp which describes the “musicality and warmth” is the Aesthetix Io Phono amp. It is to me, a means to an end for achieving musical satisfaction. It is a tubed based unit with tube voltage rectifying power supplies. The factory tubes are great right out of the box, although many have also used other tubes to achieve different levels of sound quality. The Io can also be configured for two inputs, remote, volume controls, and dual power supplies. It can get pricey with all of these options. I had tested and used Einstein and ASR before settling on the Aesthetix Io. Good luck.