I’ve heard the Zesto with a Merrill-Williams REAL table and it’s very good.
Look at the Modwright 9X with built in SUT. Both @tomic601 and I run Croft RS phono amps, which, with a set of Telefunkens punch well above their price point. Again, you’d need a SUT but you’d have the choice to tune things as you move up from your budget Hana.
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Yes, the Herron is an extraordinary value and so far in my systems w 2 cartridges resists improvement from tube rolling. ( Lyra Delos and the Hana ML )
I assumed since $ was involved getting to the Aesthetix from the Chinook, that you could spend some on isolation or a cartridge upgrade. I am fluent in Bourbon, so i understand the tradeoff.
You might also consider a Croft RIAA RS with SUT. On the Croft @noromance and i are fans for sure.
You might also adjust radar to include Lamm, Alnic, Zesto, , etc.. |
@noromance that's exactly why I'm not considering it sadly. I'd love to own one and had my chance, but here we are. I guess it may just be a dive in and see or wait for something interesting to pop up! Any other suggestions I'm open to. Man there's just a huge gap from the $2k Chinook to a $10k ARC.
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@j-wall Nothing wrong with a good used example especially at half price!
Note the Herron VTPH-2A is no longer made.
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The Chinook is a great phono stage for the money. Yes, the Herron is better. I had to spend a lot more to better the Herron.
Sorry, I have not heard any Aesthetix products. In that price range, I would suggest auditioning a Zesto Audio phono stage. |
@noromance that's one the one I was eyeing. I'm not sure I'd be willing to spend that much for a new model to be completely honest. |
I had an Aesthetix Rhea signature phono stage. The Hana at .4 mv will have enough output to get above the noise floor. If you had a higher output MC like a Koetsu Black at ,6 mv or a EMT at 1,0 mv that would be better. The Aesthetix is a great sounding phono stage. But IMO is better with a higher output MC.
I have not heard the Chinook, but in general I am not a fan of the FET front end and prefer a SUT or something like the Aesthetix with pure tube gain.
The EMT cartridges are great and a bargain in high end cartridges |
I can't speak to the Aesthetix phono stage, but I upgraded from a Chinook to a Herron VTPH-2A and it was significant. The Chinook is very good, but the Herron has more body, drive and detail and does imaging and soundstage better. I still have the Chinook and am listening to it now in my second system and it's more than satisfactory. There's nothing disappointing about the Chinook, but it can be bettered.
I have rolled tubes in the Chinook, but didn't notice much difference. It's been a while, I don't remember which ones. I'm still using the stock tubes in the Herron. It sounds so good with those that I haven't felt a need to futz with them (yet).
I have the Hana SL and the Kiseki Blue NS. The Kiseki is a lot more fun to listen to. I have heard the ML, but not in my system so I can't make a fair comparison to how the Blue compares to the ML. I really liked the ML on my friend's turntable. |
I agree with tomic601 though that improvements to your source and upgraded tubes and Nobsound springs under your Chinook might get you there without needing the Rhea. Maximize what you have, then get the Rhea Signature. |
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@tomic601 likewise my friend. That custom faceplate on the Herron looks damn good!
Hana Umami is in the cards, but I enjoy bourbon too much to purchase one at the moment. I'd definitely like to put my Hana up against at Keseki Blue soon though.
So since the Aesthetix Rhea is pure tube without FET's you'd suggest tweaks over the upgrade? Also, the HRS platform are really THAT good? |
super nice system I would be inlined to isolate your existing tube phono with HRS base or similar products ( symposium, etc ), do some tube rolling, get into a silver AQ cable from arm to phono stage ( if it has a DIN ), iF the Manley has a non torrid transformer, find a VPI Magic brick for it. Finally a Hana Umami .
fun |
@tomic601 wish I had a dealer in the area that had the product availability. One dealer out here sells but doesn't stock inventory, to my knowledge. Very nice gentleman though.
@jperry .4Mv for the Hana ML |
What is the output of the Hana? |
while i am a lover of most things Aesthetix, my personal belief is a FET and tubes will better the all tube phono over time for noise. This is where a great relationship with an Aesthetix dealer AND ultra low noise tube vendor essential. Aesthetix recommend Andy at Vintage Tube services for a reason. I have a ML with a Herron but it has a FET then 5 tubes..
Hopefully you can listen before you buy.
best to you, enjoy the music
Jim |
Ideally I should upgrade my Clear Concept Wood, but the Chinook has impressed me so much I'm going to the phonostage rabbit hole. |
