Best Phono You've Heard Under $2200

Black Cube $600.  Completely hacked.  Balanced inputs, Iron shielding, daughter board op amps.  Powered from my Jeff Rowland preamp, preceeded by PS audio regenerator.   S/N with cartridge -100 dB.  Flat to 100 kHz+. 

I love my Wright Sound 200 wpc that I acquired used few years ago. With good tubes it's super quiet and smooth, and there's dual mono adjustable gain up to 66db. Works great with my HO Grado Sonata. 
 

The downside is that inputs and outputs are on opposite sides of the box, so it's got science lab vibes on my cabinet. 
 

I want to try the tube phono stage from Aric Audio. Just under $2k. Similar design, it seems, just looks like a little 'more'. 

For what it's worth, I just swapped out my Manley Chinook SE with Telefunken nos tubes for a used Zesto Andros PS1 phono preamp with JJ gold pin tubes at around $2,000 and my experience is that the Zesto has a wider Soundstage with a little more depth and detail overall. While built around 2014, it is still a great phono and has received amazing reviews. List price back then was around $4,000. Hope this helps and surprised the Audiogon community doesn't consider this a great phono or hasn't really discussed its merits.

@dhite71  thanks I will look into that depending on how I feel about the Sutherland.

Audio Research PH7

Excellent ARC sound that can be had for under $2000

I have climbed the ARC Phono ladder to the REF Phono 2SE. The PH7 and PH8 are both great values.

I had a Rogue Ares Magnum for a short time and no disrespect, but it could not compete.  

Yeah so I did a thing. 20/20 is incoming. To be honest I'm not as excited as I want to be about it but the rave reviews  and the feverish fanboy-ism has me in. Found one for a crazy good price so....in a few days I hope I'll be drinking the Kool Aid too.

Some great choices here. I'm thinking about the Modwright PH9.0x. Does anyone have any experience with this one in relation to the others mentioned? I do own one of Dan's modded SACD players and love it.

For under $2200, the Sutherland Insight with LPS is excellent and you'll have a few bucks left over for records. Extremely quiet and adjustable in case you decide to go for a MC cartridge. No extra circuitry, no on/off switch. Ron is a very nice, patient guy and not salesy at all. I asked him once about upgrading and he told me to just enjoy the Insight. He was very big on the LPS though that was recently offered as an option. It exists in a much more expensive model (I think the DUO).

All he does is phono stages. That counts for something.

@avanti1960  there's no doubt the Sutherland is good. Maybe even great. I guess it's not exciting for what ever reason. Sounds dumb I agree. It's nothing to look at and by all accounts sounds like nothing. I can get one used so I'm debating it. If it doesn't excite me I can sell for what I bought for.

my OCD is in overdrive haha

If you shop for used gear in good condition you can do pretty well

I paid around $2K Can for my Venfetta SCP-2D (but it took several years of hunting to find one) and similar prices for my CJ Premier 15.

Herron VTPH-2a. Hands down the very best at any price.  Might find one used around your price point, if you;re lucky.  VERY lucky.

Handles LOMC and HOMM carts with equal quality.  Easy to manage loading.  Sunds terrific.  Does not get in the way of the music.  

@tablejockey  since capacitance affects the sound I don't see how it's a non issue. I spent way more for low cap phono cables which I would not have done if I didn't have to. MM/MI carts sounds can be changed by cap. I'm not running MC but maybe in the future I will.

"I emailed them about changing the 220pf to 100pf and was told no on that." 

gochurchgo- You are concerened about a non issue. There are posts somewhere in the archives. The carts you want to use will be compatible with most phonostages available.

@sandthemall  very nice. I emailed them about changing the 220pf to 100pf and was told no on that. I'd be curious to compare the Trumpet to the Decware.

@gochurchgo

YES, I was also concerned about loading issues as I had the AT740ML loaded at 100pF on the Phono Box RS. But at 200pF on the RS it sounded about the same.

This cart now sounds simply ’more detailed’ with no sibilance issues at all. The detail is coming from the Trumpet MC. So loading was not an issue.

This is definitely a game changer. You may find better at a higher cost, but you’ll probably keep this in rotation because it’s so clean and big sounding.

Also love the looks of this thing.

@sandthemall 

👍🏼 Enjoy!

@gochurchgo 

The 20/20 is a dual mono design and has more filtering caps than the Insight.  Look at the chassis pice. 

The Duo is a dual chassis dual power supply design with yet even more filtering caps.  

Ron Sutherlae would be happy to explain the diffrences via call or e-mail.  

I love the sound of my 20/20- with optional LPS.   

@sandthemall 

The loading at 220pf wasn't an issue? Its one of the things that has me concerned with Trumpet and a few others.

Initial impressions of Hagerman Trumpet MC with an AT740ML (mm) cartridge:

Wow!!! Ballsy. Bass Supreme. Simply better in every dimension from top to bottom than the Phono Box RS with an outboard power supply. First off, it’s much louder than the Phono Box RS...this with a quieter noise floor. My AT740ML never sounded better. Lot’s of nice detail/timbre.

Jim Hagerman was able to make a wall wart PS quiet. Brilliant. I suppose you can get an outboard powersupply...but he basically solved the problem with the circuit topology.

I’ve always hated fussing with the load settings at the back. That’s another pain point gone (the first being noise).

I will post more detailed impressions after it settles in and I can get the AT33PTGII cart in there to see how quiet the MC settings are. But for now...so very happy. Can’t believe this thing costs about a grand. Ordered it on the 12th...so fairly expeditious shipping.

I think this phono preamp is going to change the performance/cost landscape.

Technics 1200G>Hagerman Trumpet MC>Don Sachs Preamp>Primaluna Evo 400>Tannoy Turnberry GR

@gochurchgo 

rs worry me. Also the cap might be too high for my cart but I see many with 220pf. I run MM/MI only (at least for the forseeable future) and so it seems like I would be wasting most of this thing’s functionality.

As do I, but it is nice to have options for the future without needing a SUT. As example my 'new' Soundsmith MIMC Lo cart, which I am quite enjoying. In addition, I still have my eyes on an MC cart at some point in the future, just to have/try one. The line of Benz are looking quite attractive to me lately.

@tim_p  There’s a few used easily in budget but the computers worry me. Also the cap might be too high for my cart but I see many with 220pf. I run MM/MI only (at least for the forseeable future) and so it seems like I would be wasting most of this thing’s functionality.

The Modwright PH 9.0 is quite good. Separate MC and MM inputs; on the fly loading; selectable gain; tubed with Lundahl step ups. Even has a mono switch, which is surprisingly uncommon but useful. MSRP is a bit above your budget but you might be able to find a dealer to discount it. Used is squarely in your wheelhouse.

@tim_p +1 love my PH-10

Gold Note PH10, and I also have the matching PSU10 external power supply to go with it, love it. 

What is the difference between the Insight and 20/20 and PHD? I know the 20/20 is a higher end model vut I can’t see what the upgrades are.

Sutherland 20 20.  So clean and detailed it doesn't sound like vinyl.  Does everything well.  

still use the same tubes it came with.
 

I'm sure. Their stock of NOS tubes is incredible.

Manley Chinook SE, It’s a little bit above your budget but you can find one used. I use mine 10-20 hours per week since 2018 and still use the same tubes it came with.

Space Tech Labs P-103-Mk3 with the outboard super rectifier. Very nice indeed.

@sandthemall

Mr. Mulveling’s input and this was a large part of me looking into the this phono stage as his posts are always well-reasoned and thoughtful.

Same. I think you will enjoy it. And it seems it can take just about any cart you can throw at it. Although it is helped by a fet to drive lo carts (because of the power supply choice to keep the cost low), I do like my lo Soundsmith MIMC vs my hi Zephyr. Both sound great, and I was a bit hestiant on the fet helping to drive lo carts, but again, it sounds great.

Thanks @bkeske,

It’s scheduled to arrive today so very excited to listen to it in my system. Yes I do respect Mr. Mulveling’s input and this was a large part of me looking into the this phono stage as his posts are always well-reasoned and thoughtful. And the more I looked into it, the more I liked. My system is already on the warm side so this should be interesting. I will be first testing it with a MM cart (AT740ML...which prefers a 100pF capacitance setting but seems to sound fine at 200pF) and then on a MC (AT33PTGII).

I certainly will look into some nos 12ax7 as I have a good stash of 12au7 already.

I can probably stretch my budget a bit if its wirth it. I freely admit the Herron would be a great pickup. Decware ZP3 but thats like a year + wait. My research on the ZP3 seems like a no brainer. MM only, and the reviews and such all point to a sound I am looking for. I didn't at first but am warming to the "Frankenstein's lab" aesthetic.

If anyone is selling a Herron hit me up wink wink nudge nudge.

@sandthemall

I’ve done a bit of research on this segment. And I’ve put an order in for a Hagerman Trumpet MC.

Congrats. I’m really enjoying mine, and is incredibly flexible for various carts lo to hi. Run with the stock tubes, but don’t be afaraid to use others. Before I stumbled accross the Dynaco/Telefunken snooth plates at a good price, I was using Gold Lion gold pin ax7’s, and for new tubes, those are pretty darn good. Very similar to the Tele’s, but the Telefunken's have a bit more smoothness. But both provided a bit more detail and definition over the stock Mullards. That said, it all dependes on the rest of your equipment, and what your ears prefer.

From some (@mulveling here provided some great insight and convinced me), whom have had many more and much higher end phono pre’s than I, a great pre and performance for the money. And can easily compete with pre’s twice it’s cost+.

+1 on the McIntosh MX110Z, I use it with a Dynavector SUT and a Dynavector XXII cartridge. Beautiful!

I won’t part with my Vintage McIntosh Tube Tuner/Preamp mx110z, I love it’s MM phono, and use a SUT for my MC cartridges to keep using the mx110z’s Phono.

If it died, I would get another one without hesitation. You get terrific sounding phono (2 inputs), and everything else, the very helpful mode switch, a loudness contour if you listen at low volume, balance, terrific FM tuner (I listen to only one Jazz station). Most people have never heard really good FM.

Regrettably, they are getting more costly.

This one is in Canada, around $1,900. USD (seller would accept a bit less I suspect).

Seller will not ship, there is a solution for any ’local pickup only’ item:

You find the closest UPS to seller, pre-arrange with UPS, ask seller to simply drop un-boxed unit in your name, UPS packs and ships to you. You pay UPS directly.

I used my mx110z as-is for over a year, loved it, decided to have Audio Classics overhaul it. The most important thing they did, aside from replacing small stuff no longer in spec, was replace the rca jack panels with new gold plated ones. Prior to that, I cleaned the original corroded rca jacks up (not easy, they are close together), and used locking rca connectors as the old rca jacks are a spec undersized.

this convinced me to take a chance on one

https://positive-feedback.com/Issue77/vintage_mcintosh_experience.htm

features

http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/en/MX110.htm

In that price category the Tavish Adagio definitely worth an attention. The Rogue Audio Ares is great too and if you can stretch to $500 more you could consider Magnum version of Ares which is truly excellent, I’m very happy with my.

@gochurchgo have to agree the EAR was light in the bass not my cup of coffee

@sandthemall  please do. I have been eyeing that one but the gain and cap is high for me and I don't know if it matters that much

I've done a bit of research on this segment. And I've put an order in for a Hagerman Trumpet MC.

Will report back. Current phono stage is a Project Phono Box RS with outboard power supply. It's great with MM but just too noisy with MC.

Was thinking of getting the battery power supply but decided to go for the Hagerman instead. 

@herbreichert  I've heard the bass is soft and its an overly fast amp. DO you agree with this? I had looked into this earlier and something turned me off to it but I don't recall what it was exactly. Possibly the gain.

Hagerman Cornet II

The tube EAR Phono Box/Phono Classic (at $1800) could satisfy for a lifetime 

Black Ice Audio F159. Includes electronic azimuth adjustment for for arms that don't allow for that (Rega, SME).

I had the musical surroundings nova 3 with the linear power supply. That runs just about 2200. I wanted to go tube so I moved to a Rogers PA-2 which I'm very happy with but is much more expensive. The Nova 3 sounds ded way better that the Pro-ject tube box DS I have in my second system.

Tavish Classic with Swagman external PSU 

I've heard great things about the Tavish Adagio

phono. I admit I haven't heard it but I almost 

bought one. 

Ear 834P, Graham Slee Era Gold V, pro-ject Tube Box DS2, Tavish Design The Classic (NOS tubes installed), and lastly, the Musical Fidelity Lx Lps...amazing sound for what it costs, even comes with loading plugs....I own all of the above in my current stable/stash...

Sun Valley SV-EQ1616D. Very vivid and energetic sounding. Good tube rolling options and excellent EQ options for people who like to collect older records. 

My current Hagerman Trumpet MC tube phono pre with two 1960’s NOS Brimar au7’s and four Dynaco/Telefunken smooth plate ax7’s. 
 

Very well under the $2,200 mark.