The Sota Pyxi replaced a highly regarded tube based phono stage that I’d had for 12 years. My prior stage is very popular and the customer service was great. I was able to sell it for over $2,500, but prefer the Pyxi by no small margin. I’d swap in my tube stage just to be sure, and it came across as soft and unfocused without the detail, resolution or low noise floor that the Pyxi has. Frequency response issues like brightness, glare or lack of midrange "thereness" simply don’t come up. It sounds like real music. Bass is accurate and tight too. It has MM and MC inputs, load and capacitance are adjustable, and it's only $300. At that price you’re not going to find many dealers who’ll recommend it, there’s just not enough margin in it for them. That may sound cynical, but if I ran a store I’d probably do the same. Cartridges - Myajima Shilabe and Ortofon Cadenza Bronze, so these observations are from listening to the MC input.
Looking for a great phono pre-amp in the $1000 or less range
I’ve a vintage Kenwood KD-500 DD turntable (concrete base), and grace tonearm. Currently running a grado gold MM cartridge running through the built-in phono preamp section of my NAD C658 preamp, into an Anthem MCA 225 mk 2 amp and Martin Logan Classic 9 electrostatic speakers. Streaming Tidal can give me some stunning results but my music through the turntable is far less compelling. Hence the desire to try upgrading my phono preamp section (and eventually move to a MC). After substantial digging I’ve got a few higher level candidates, there are obviously many out there.
the two front runners I’m considering are:
the Back Ice Audio F9 mk and the gold note PH5. The black ice is intriguing but not nearly as well known or reviewed as the gold note.
others I’ve considered:
sutherland KC Vibe mk2
moon audio 110 LP V2
parasound zphono XRM
feedback from the community appreciated!