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Help me pick a phono, pre and cart

Hi all,
My WF spending restraints are going away so I’m going to upgrade my system.
I primarily play CD, but also have an MMF-5 with Glass platter, Golding GX1022 cart going through a Clear Audio Nano to Ayre Ax-7e to Sig 2 Ce’s.

This year I’m going to Quatro CT’s and upgrading my vinyl pre and source side. Next year I’m upgrading my main pre and power amp.

I’m looking for help in picking a phono player pre and cart. My musical taste is pretty wide: female vocals, rock, blues, jazz; not much classical on vinyl. Think Amy Winehouse/Cold Specks/Pixies/Weezer/Jeff Beck/Johnny Winter/Winton Marsalis and Maynard Ferguson for you other old timers. LOL
My budget is about $8-10k

Right now my main thoughts are VPI Prime Scout or Prime with Grado Statement series cart, and an Ayre Px-5e pre.
In addition to specific item recommendations, I’m very interested in how to split the budget item wise. In other words more or less on player vs cart vs pre, I.e. Scout with Statement2 or Prime with Reference2 for example. Or go higher than 20-30% on the pre?
I lean towards spending the most on what’s least upgradeable - sorry if that’s too general or obvious.
Thanks much
Jim

jetson

Showing 5 responses by chakster

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I was into tubes for some time, now even more happy without them. 
First Watt gear is excellent, i am happy that i replaced my expensive (nearly $3k) tube amp with First Watt F2J and First Watt B1 preamp. 

I think Raul is right about the tubes, i must confess.
Been into rare vintage NOS tubes and new tubes. First Watt F2J killing it with details, resolution, sound stage! 

I believe there must be a very nice tube amps, but it's a pain in the ass as the life of the tube is short and if the amp contails too many of them it's not the best idea (practically). 

Everyone should check and read more about First Watt products, even tube lovers. My advice is to audition them to compare to your tube amp. 

P.S. I do not listen to digital at all, vinyl only.  
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
If the Herron sound more like solid state phono stage then why not just buy a decent solid state phono stage? 

I've never tried Herron producsts, i believe they are great, but there must be equal or even better solid state phono stages. Do you believe? 


chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@atmasphere 

Just a FWIW: we get about 10,000 hours out of our power tubes and warranty all the tubes in our gear for a year.

You're talking about the new tubes, not the expensive vintage NOS tubes that are by far superior to the any new tube. 12at7 is what you use? The very best of this type can be $50-150 each. Same with phono stages. The NOS tubes are extremely expensive if they are good. New tubes are not equal to the old tubes from the 50s,60s and even 70s. The owner of the tube gear will spend a fortune on the tubes. I'm quit, it was enough for me. Now i have to sell the tubes i boughin the past. 

In my opinion it's much better to find a decent solid state amp or phono preamp. 

I am not agains the tubes, but the posts here looks like only "tube sound" is right which is not true! 

Also i don't believe that Herron is the answer, because it is a tube phono stage (and very expensive unit). 
 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@jetson

Technics own website states that DD was/is mainly considered for DJ use, while belt drive was for “Hi- Fi” use.

That’s not true, historically Technics SL1200 is a japanese hi-fi component than later became an iconic turntable for DJs worldwide. First DJs started with Thorens TD125 and even with Garrard turntables. EMT was a professional turntable too. As you might know that Technics supplied SP-10mkII and EPA-100 tonearms for Radio Stations in the 70’s, at that day DJ equipment was way different from todays junk.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@atmasphere 

Yes- new tubes. We don't recommend NOS tubes for either the output tubes or the phono tubes. In the case of the latter, its just too hard to find NOS tubes that are actually in fact quiet- those were sold off the shelves decades ago and all that are left now are the dregs unless someone got extremely lucky. So we don't recommend NOS tubes for our phono sections- we encourage people to use new tubes if they want the best noise floor and lowest microphonics.

Most of the reputable tube dealers manually tested each NOS tube for low microphonics, low noise etc. Lucky people knows the difference between new and nos when it comes to the great tubes. I bet you have some decent NOS tubes yourself. 

Anyway it's a good news that your or herron preamps works great with stock new tubes. 

BTW i really like the design of Atma-Sphere MP-1 and MP-3 
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