2. analog
  3. 158102-11588

Is it really worth it to get a phono stage over $10k

Vinyl has been a steep learning curve. I have, I think, a nice John Curl phono boards built into my Audible Illusions M3B. I am considering getting the new AI PH-1 $11.5 phono stage. Art Ferris at AI  says that this two box unit, also designed by John Curl, is no compromise able to match or beat the best available. Curl did design the two Constellation PS-Andromeda and Perseus. I wonder if the $35k Perseus puts a lot of $ into the beautiful chassis and unnecessary bell and whistles? AI does have a long lived reputation for value and quality. In addition to the outboard phono stage I will have to get a really good interconnect which will add a lot. My analog rig is super good. Surely the best I have ever had. Woodsong Garrard 301, Ortophon 309 arm, Myajima Shalabi. It has me going a bit nuts in upgrading. $33k Tetra speakers, $7k Stealth speaker cable, $4k Stealth phono cable, amp-to be decided. The main question is whether an expensive our board phono stage is the way to go.
mglik

Showing 2 responses by lewm

lewm
12,543 posts
 
+1 for Dave Slagle. He is also a designer of EMIA, mentioned by Mike Lavigne.
lewm
12,543 posts
 
I think you can certainly do better than your current AI preamp, and you don’t have to spend $11.5K to achieve that goal.I personally am not a huge fan of John Curl phono stages I have heard, but that doesn’t mean you need to be restrained by my opinion. He is certainly good at what he does. But there are many others who are also very good at designing phono stages.

Mike, what did you think of the CTC blowtorch, when you had it in your system? It would seem that you didn’t fall completely in love, or else you would still own it.
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