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Need help with finding a new phono stage.

I just got my SOTA TT back from being upgraded from a Star to a Nova. Now I need to work on getting a new phono stage. I currently have a Cary PH-301 that has served me well for years but I'm looking for a phono stage where I can adjust the gain, impedance and preferably the capacitance as well. I have mounted a new Benz M2 wood body MC cartridge (0.8mV) on the Kuzma Stogi tonearm. According to the papers the recommended load is 200 - 47k ohms. I don't see a figure for the capacitance. My Cary has a swicth on the back to go from MC to MM (60db/42db), and says the impedance is adjustable (MC only, 10k - 68k, MM fixed at 47k) but the manual does not instruct how to do this.

Any suggestions for a new or used phono stage in the $1500 price range. I prefer tubes but could go solid state. If anyone also knows what impedance level would be best between 200 - 47k ohms and what the capacitance on my Benz cartridge I'd appreciate knowing that as well.

Thanks
clio09

Showing 5 responses by clio09

clio09 OP
3,363 posts
 
Thanks for all your suggestions and interest in my testing of the Whest, Decware, and Hagerman phono stages. I will start a new thread as soon as I have each unit and have had ample time to listen to them. The Whest will be here by next Friday, the Decware and Hagerman probably not until the end of August or early September. Decware builds to order and takes 2 - 4 weeks. I have to go and pick up the Hagerman and that will take me some time. I imagine I need a couple weeks to get proper burn in and then do some critical listening. Look for something around the end of September.
clio09 OP
3,363 posts
 
Thank you all for the suggestions. Lots of interesting options.

Larryi - I appreciate the explanation and this makes sense to me. I need to call Cary and see what the factory setting on the PH-301 is and how to change it. Then evaluate the results.

To those who suggested the step-up transformers, after doing some research I am sure this is a good suggestion but I would prefer to upgrade the entire phono stage rather than go this route.

Under consideration at this point are:

Musical Surroundings Phonomena with battery PS
BAT VK-P5
ASR MIni Basis
Audio Mirror PP1 (preamp with phono stage modified to just provide the phono stage)
Acoustech PH-1P
Eastern Electric Mini Max

I'm looking for others to research so any suggestions are welcome. Again, budget is up to $1500 used although if I'm not satisfied in this price range with my options I may have to bite the bullet on a Whest.
clio09 OP
3,363 posts
 
Actually that should have said budget is $1500 new/used.
clio09 OP
3,363 posts
 
C123666,

Thanks for the suggestion. I went to the site and looked at the various models. The 1.5 is the one most similar to my needs. I think I may give Decware a shot along with the BAT and Eastern Electric, all of which I can get on 30 day trial.
clio09 OP
3,363 posts
 
C123666,

Thanks for the advice. Right now here is where I am at: Yesterday a 3 month old Whest PS .20 popped up on Audiogon and I grabbed it. This was thought to be out of my budget at $2500, but I got a sweet deal on this one so I could not refuse. In the meantime I ordered the Decware 1.5 and have a sale pending on a Hagerman Trumpet MM with a separate step up transformer, again another sweet deal I could not refuse. I'll be comparing all 3 and then keeping one. I'm sure all 3 can be easily resold, or in the case of the Decware, returned. As such I passed on the Eastern Electric and BAT for the time being.
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