best phono preamps?

David

Will be very interested in hearing the difference between the Alnic and TW Acustics phono stage. Are you getting the Alnic 1500??

Dear Downunder: +++++ " This suits his argument and self advertising for phono stage and line stage to be together. " +++++

I think that you read my posts but you don't understand it ( I have to say that this is not the first time ) or you don't want it: " everything the same ", this means that IMHO and due to my priorities if I have a stand alone state of the art phono stage and a stand alone state of the art line stage against a state of the art integrate unit then I prefer the Phonolinepreamp integrated unit that does not needs any additional " ridicolous " cable and connectors.

I'm not pushing any thing this is my opinion. If you prefer the stand alone units its fine for me.

I respect what Jcarr posted but " everything the same " I don't agree with him about separates against an integrate unit, like I told you my preference ( absolute preference here, now and today ) is for an integrate unit, with out any single commercial issue here, read again: the Essential was designed for us not thinking on you to make money.

You can absorb it, then make your own minds up.

+++++ " self advertising " +++++, I don't need it because I'm not on the audio commercial business, the Phonolinepreamp subject form part of my today priorities.

+++++ "On the other hand Raul luvs tonearms with removable headshells. Now how many stages/veils/distortions etc do these have compared to non removable??. " +++++

as I always posted almost always we have to choose our trade-offs and that's why I choose to go for removable headshell tonearm designs and I can tell you that in our self tonearm design with removable headshell there is no single " veil/stages/distortions " due to that removable headshell subject.

Again, " You can absorb it, then make your own minds up. "

Downunder, I would like to know what are you doing in this thread when you answer or refer to me or my posts: looking/waiting how to go against/attack what I'm saying or you really want to share your opinions with an open mind and trying to learn/understand, could you explain about?

+++++ " You and Audiofeil should get married. " +++++

If you don't want that in a near future I go an insult you with out any respect please that this be the last time that you insult not only me but to the other person and if I don't like you that's is your problem and my advise is that you try not to read my posts, why should you?

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

In my perhaps limited experience, the doshi alaap phono stage is the first one I ever forgot was there.

Mothra,

I think you raise an interesting point, which leads back to our differing listening priorities and critical questions of fidelity. With my phonolinepreamp you do not hear it as such. Similarly with my integrated satelites and subs. What you hear is the musicians in all their varying degrees of glory. An obvious comparison would be the infamous Proac Response 2.5, Audio Research VT100; Audio Research SP25MKII combination. A beautiful sound but heavily coloured. I lived with and loved this system once but have progressed in many ways towards losing the obvious presence of my hardware. The Essential 3160 marks the pinnacle of that progression but is comparible to the improvements I achieved moving from valves to the EAR 324 phonostage some time back. It takes all sorts!

Downunder, FWIW although Raul and I do have different viewpoints (mostly: transistors vs tubes...) I respect his position. I hope you understand that in both his case and mine, those things that we talk about seem also to be things that we practice. I do not see a problem in that, in fact I see it as a good thing.

AIR TIGHT ATE-2....

thanks for the feedback

my system?
DCS Puccini
Jeff Rowland Capri and monos 501
Infinity Renaissance 90
everything at he moment connected by NBS Monitor II

I have to choose the new cartridge and the phono preamp...

Simply put... ASR. You can't go wrong here.