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Need recommendations on phono amp upgrade

I am looking to upgrade my phono amp, spending around $3k-6k. I currently have a Jolida Envoy preamp (JD9 type phono section), with Underwood full mods. It matched/bettered my Whest PS.30RDT Special Edition and a regular PS.30RDT. Interesting there are not reviews of JD9 fully mod compared to more expensive phono's (probably people with different funding capabilities (JD9 $1-2k vs $4-6k)).

My current thoughts:
Canary CA-430 ~$2500 (hard to find reviews of)
Aesthetix IO Signature Dual PSU ~$5-6k (lots of tubes)
Coincident Statement new $6k
Viva Fono ~$6k from Europe (60 dB gain may not be enough in my system)

My current system is:
Quintessence Summit speakers
SR Apex speaker cables (double run - made huge difference)
Canary M500 amps w/ Sophia 300B tubes
SR Apex interconnects
Laufer Teknik Memory Player
Jolida Envoy w/ Underwood mods
SR Tricon phono cable
Nakamichi Dragon CT turntable
ZYX UNIverse II

Thanks for your thoughts.
vernonwtx

Showing 1 response by swampwalker

swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Well, I can tell you that I have heard two ZYX low output carts (Universe and Airy 2) into Nick Doshi's Alaap phono stages. Not most current version but when compared to Aesthetix Rhea (not Io), Manley Steelhead v.1, VAC Ren internal phono and ZYX Artisan, the Doshi was clearly the best, but the ZYX Artisan and the VAC were not at all embarrassed. There is a used recertified Doshi stand alone phono stage for sale right now in your price range (http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-doshi-audio-alap-2-1-phonostage-re-certified-2015-07-17-preamplifiers-48103-ann-arbor-mi). At this level of quality it's most likely personal preference that rules, but to my ears, you cannot go wrong with the Doshi. There is also an Io for sale right now that I think is in your price range. I've never heard one.
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