How much difference will a phono stage upgrade make?


For the past couple of years I’ve slowly been upgrading my audio equipment. I currently have a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated amplifier, an EAT C-Sharp TT with an Ortofon Quintet Black MC cartridge, and Tannoy Revolution XT 8F speakers. The weak link at this point, it would seem, is my phono stage, which is a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS. All things considered, my system sounds really good to my ears, but I can’t help but wonder what a phono stage upgrade would bring to the table. I’m looking at the Manley Chinook Special Edition MK II, which is a big step up in terms of cost, but I wonder how much better it will actually sound. Has anybody made a similar upgrade, and was there a marked uptick in sound quality?
12hz

Showing 2 responses by rauliruegas

Dear @bdp24 @jmolsberg  : Ask to any tube electronics manufacturer in the 1K-40K range price and every one will tell you that tubes is the way to go. both of you

They are making money through " audiophiles "  for many years and as all them and professional reviewers no one of them can and never will do the whole true about tubes and why are not for reproduce MUSIC at audio home systems.

They make $$$$ because each one of us ignorance and thak's to that heavy corrupted AHEE where all of us belongs and was there where those manufactuerrs/reviewer told us that tubes are the nirvana for audio and you and me belived ! ! ! but some us fortunatellu learned about and I can see that you don't learned yet.

Here in this forum and other net forums I had several dialogues with tube manufacturers and no proved is the way to go and I proved all them that is not the way to go.

Common sense: if I'm making money big money with tube electronics why stop to do it or tell the consumers is not the " glory ".

You will learn, sooner or latter.

Btw, how many times both of you or any other tube system did have the experience in a live MUSIC event to listen it seated at near field position ( 1m-2m. ) from the source. How many times? if you did not have this experiences it's time you look for and then you will understand why tubes is just out of place. No matters what very well regarded manufacturers have to say. I already said: no one can't be against making $$$$$

R.
Dear @12hz and firends : Almost all in this thread are tube lover pre-historic/arcaic technology and is fine with me.

Note that I said " tube lovers " not MUSIC lovers. Because if you were/been true MUSIC lovers then all of you will stay out/far away from tubes.

Tubes can't ( the technolgy of tubes can't do it, is very limited for MUSIC and today audio standards to really enjoy MUSIC. ) honor MUSIC.
Which one of you tube lovers already has the first hand experience to stay/be seated in a live MUSIC event at NEAR FIELD position?.

Near field position means 1m-2m from the MUSIC source that's where normally the recording sessions/proccess microphones are positioned/seated.

Because that's the way we have to listen what comes out from our speakers. Live MUSIC is not sweet but brigth is not warm but agressive is not lush but with a full power we can feel it is not " organic " either.

So, if you like tube electronics then what you like is the hardware but not the source/software that's the star in each one of us room/audio system: MUSIC and its reality.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R: