Hi,
A very happy EQ 500 owner here! If you type in Luxman EQ 500 in Search, you will see my comments. It is my end game phono stage even with the stock tubes and the performance has been raised when I installed NOS Amperex tubes. There is no comparison to the Herron VTPH 2A or the Tavish Audio Adagio that I have previously owned, although they are fine phono stages. As for the Zesto...although I have never heard their phono stages at home, I have heard them at several HiFI shows and the sound was excellent! I ended up purchasing the 1.2 preamp,with the thought of getting a phono stage later on. After about a year, I traded for a Luxman preamp, because the Zesto just wasn't "doing it for me". From the time I set up the Zesto, I was disappointed in the "feel" of the knobs and even the looks from up close. It felt rather chintzy and the metal sculpting was of a very thin gauge. Sonically, I came to realize that it was not the most transparent sounding, plus the sound staging seemed rather limited.The Luxman cured all of that, as it should, since it cost double of what the Zesto cost.
The EQ 500 is the most quiet phono stage I have ever owned and also the most dynamic!
Good luck with your decision.
A very happy EQ 500 owner here! If you type in Luxman EQ 500 in Search, you will see my comments. It is my end game phono stage even with the stock tubes and the performance has been raised when I installed NOS Amperex tubes. There is no comparison to the Herron VTPH 2A or the Tavish Audio Adagio that I have previously owned, although they are fine phono stages. As for the Zesto...although I have never heard their phono stages at home, I have heard them at several HiFI shows and the sound was excellent! I ended up purchasing the 1.2 preamp,with the thought of getting a phono stage later on. After about a year, I traded for a Luxman preamp, because the Zesto just wasn't "doing it for me". From the time I set up the Zesto, I was disappointed in the "feel" of the knobs and even the looks from up close. It felt rather chintzy and the metal sculpting was of a very thin gauge. Sonically, I came to realize that it was not the most transparent sounding, plus the sound staging seemed rather limited.The Luxman cured all of that, as it should, since it cost double of what the Zesto cost.
The EQ 500 is the most quiet phono stage I have ever owned and also the most dynamic!
Good luck with your decision.