2. amps-preamps
  3. 1269900652

Help Selecting a Good Tube Phono Stage?

Hello,

I need some help deciding on an economical tube phono stage for my system. It must be reasonably priced as my wife and I are cooking a baby in the oven. My system consists of a JVC QLY-66F turntable, a Uwe body Denon DL-103R cartridge, a pair of nice Bogen MO100A tube monoblocks, and a vintage pair of Klipsch Cornwall speakers. A nice tube Pre-amp would be nice too but I am thinking that purchasing a phono stage will be more economical. Besides, this is my vinyl only system and a full pre-amp is not required. I do have a Bob's Decices cinemag step-up transformer if needed, but will sell if my new phonostage is flexible enough to use with both MC and MM cartridges.

Thanks in advance for any input.
thebclshow
15 responses Add your response
stew3859's avatar
stew3859
119 posts
 
"Economical"is a relative term. You might want to suggest a budget.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
I was looking for another tube phono stage, at some fairly pricey ones too, and I bought a PS Audio GCPH as a stop gap while I looked, and you know what? I kept the PS Audio, it's a modded one from Parts Connexion, but the standard one sounds great. Just a thought.
riley804
1,224 posts
 
Would second the PS Audio GCPH.....
grinnell
1,095 posts
 
$350 or so will get you a Pro-ject Tube Box SE or II.
Yes i have one for sale at AA but there is another one there cheaper than mine :)

I liked the sound and swapping tubes gives you some change.
if you want to spend around that but want a much better phono stage get a Bottlehead Seduction kit with the CS4 upgrade. Pretty much just a MM stage but the sound is so sweet. Its clean and sweet.

I just got a Wright PP200c and it is even more tube sounding than the Seduction.
Post removed 
grinnell
1,095 posts
 
Dear Tvad,

I just got my WPP200c and wonder if you could give a description of the sound? I know what i hear just want some comparison in my listening.

thanks
Post removed 
Post removed 
dividebytube
50 posts
 
as already mentioned, a Bottlehead Seduction with the C4S mods is a great bargain. It only uses a pair of 6922s, and with the right tubes, punches above its price.
grinnell
1,095 posts
 
Thanks TVAD

You confirm what i hear. I have bright 12ax7 tubes in the WPP200c and it helps but it definitely has a bloom in the midtones that is different very rich and organic. I like this the best with classical and the least with rock. It is an amazing sound and very different from the Seduction I have.

I wanted one of these and finally got one (one of the last one made)especially for the two pots so i can adjust balance for my room.
Post removed 
grinnell
1,095 posts
 
I have a decent stock of 12ax and 12au tubes mostly mullards which i think are too dark, tubey, too much mid range so i might look for brighter tubes that might be thiner in the midrange. I have De Capo speakers which may accent the midrange
Post removed 
grinnell
1,095 posts
 
I have some RCA5814's in it now with Sylvania 12ax7wa's.

In my tube box se and my primaluna PL2 the sylvania'a are too bright but it opened up the WPP200c
Post removed 
Log in to respond
More to discover
80x80
EAR (Esoteric Audio Research) 890
80x80
McIntosh MC275 MK IV
80x80
VAC 300.1 Tube Amplifier