If you are talking MC carts, then, here it was an easy choice. The Camelot has more detail, yet has a much more musical presentation, much better defined soundstage - larger (width,depth,hieght..)with a tube like "air". More meat on the bones as well. Check out Fremer's Stereophile review. I heard it the same as he.
The Phonomena comes off flat in presentaion (card board like players in the stage). The Phonomena is easy to use. The Phonomena was almost equal to the MM section of the Camelot - as the MC section on the Camelot is light years better than the MM section. Even with all the capacitance options on the Camelot used properly - the MC section just sounds MUCH better. Stick with MC carts with .5mV or higher even at 55dB gain setting. The Camelot is quiet enough to use .2mV carts, but you will lose dynamics and impact.
Add a few Quality Roderstien and/or Vishay resistors and you will up the anty on the Camelot BIGTIME. I ended up with Roderstiens in the gain stage, and Vishays in the impedence circuit. But Roderstiens could be used in both areas. More detail, yet more relaxed. Just more of everything. Power cord used, as well as isolation for both the Power supply and main unit are important. Cones, ball bearings, see what works for you; try as many as possible. I have my eyes on $3G+ phono stages, but the Camelot does so much so well, that I have had a hard time trying to manufacture "upgraditis".
The Phonomena comes off flat in presentaion (card board like players in the stage). The Phonomena is easy to use. The Phonomena was almost equal to the MM section of the Camelot - as the MC section on the Camelot is light years better than the MM section. Even with all the capacitance options on the Camelot used properly - the MC section just sounds MUCH better. Stick with MC carts with .5mV or higher even at 55dB gain setting. The Camelot is quiet enough to use .2mV carts, but you will lose dynamics and impact.
Add a few Quality Roderstien and/or Vishay resistors and you will up the anty on the Camelot BIGTIME. I ended up with Roderstiens in the gain stage, and Vishays in the impedence circuit. But Roderstiens could be used in both areas. More detail, yet more relaxed. Just more of everything. Power cord used, as well as isolation for both the Power supply and main unit are important. Cones, ball bearings, see what works for you; try as many as possible. I have my eyes on $3G+ phono stages, but the Camelot does so much so well, that I have had a hard time trying to manufacture "upgraditis".