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I have my table now I need a phono, please help

I have just recently purchased a Michell Gyrodec with Orbe platter + SME V arm and Koetsu Black cart. I have a max budget of $1k but would much prefer to come well under that.

I am not opposed to buying used. I have been reading incessantly and I have narrowed my search to:

TUBE:

Ear 834p (priced nicely when used, easily modified, easy to resell)

Wright Sound WPP200C (couldn't find much on this amp, is it really quiet with low output MC's? reselling could be tough)

Sonic Frontiers Phono 1 (well received when originally released, upgrades available through Parts Connexion, does use the 6dj8 family of tubes which is known to be a noisy bunch, though the Phono 1 is said to be extremely quiet)

SS:

Ray Samuels Emmeline XR-2 (can handle nearly any cart out there, built very well, supposedly very very quiet, may be difficult to resell, price is right at my budget)

Audiomat Phono 1 (can handle any cart, very quiet unit, hard to find, not well known in North America, said to be an excellent all around performer)

Rogue Audio Stealth (can handle the carts, price is right new, sound may not be up to par with the other offerings above)

Dynavector P-75 (price is right, hands low output MC with some special mojo apparently, how is the noise floor?)

Grado PH-1 (price is right, handles both high and low output carts, though some have stated the gain is not enough for .4-.5 mV carts. May be a bit noisy compared to the other amps I am considering)

So that about sums it up. I am not interested in reselling per say, but I list that as something to think about since I most likely can't listen to the above phonos at any local dealer, though I do have a local dealer willing to order the Dynavector for me to listen to, obviously with the hope I will buy, but they are willing to get it in without an "in blood" commitment.

Thanks for any advice. I'm a complete newbie so please take that under consideration. Also, for the time being, I will be using the SME phono cable, I would rather invest much money in the phono and deal with cables later.

Cheers!
zanth

Showing 1 response by pboutin

pboutin
55 posts
 
Since you worry about being able to try something out with a minimum of financial risk I would say to try the P-75.
I am very please with mine, it as replace 2 well kowned and appreciated phono amp in my house, one tube based unit at twice its price and an SS unit at 4x its price.
Was it better than those two, I dont know, but better to my ears' s list wishes, absolutly... and the only reason for me as why I kept it over them.
If its '' phono enhancer '' circuit mates as well with your Black Koetsu as it does with my Denon DL 103 you might enjoy a similar Japanese connexion of great musical value.
It as not short-change the musical values of the five tables that have hosted the RB 300- Denon combo and it has always made clear the differences among them.
Connected to my integrated SE Antique Sound Lab KI 22 I can hear the sound of silence...so I gess it is quiet
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