Looking for phono preamp advice in the $1000 - $1600 range
I am thinking of upgrading my current Vincent PHO-701 hybrid phono stage to something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and still would make a meaningful improvement.
The chain I have now is Rega P8 with Hana SL LOMC cart, the Vincent phono stage, PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium (tube) preamp, McIntosh MC312 (solid state) power amp, and GoldenEar Triton One.R speakers.
My armchair research has identified e.g. the following phono stages in a reasonable $1000 - $1600 (depending on which and demo/used vs. new):
Any recommendations or insights into these, or others in my price range, given my surrounding equipment would be greatly appreciated!
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@bimmerlover Your power amp is balanced. Your existing line stage can't take advantage of everything the amp (or interconnect cables) have to offer as a result. There are balanced tube preamps that also have a balanced phono section that can tick all the boxes. |
@atmasphere thanks for your comments, but I have basically upgraded my system at least twice since that post... I ended up with the Simaudio MOON 310 LP phono stage with it’s matching 320 S linear power supply. That connects, via balanced XLRs, to an Audio Research Reference 3 preamplifier, and onward to an ARC Reference 150 power amp. (I keep my Mac MC312 solid state power amp in my back pocket for when I want to change it up a bit (and generate less heat…). I.e., everything is balanced from the phono stage and onward. |
