OPINIONS PLEASE - Phonostage for new Rega P8/Apheta 2 - Sutherland 20/20 or Allnic 1201
OPINIONS PLEASE - Phonostage for new Rega P8/Apheta 2 - Down to Sutherland 20/20 or Allnic 1201 phonostages. Can anyone tell me anything about either? Would consider other in this price new/used but these seem pretty good.
I have got down to these two mainly for price (under $2k) and where my simple research has led.
I am big into Digital and want to play around with some decent vinyl.
Nothing crazy but good enough that my Bricasti MISE w/Built in Ethernet Media Player doesn't blow it away so I am trying to put together a decent enough vinyl front end that will sound good enough that I want to use it.
I recently ordered new speakers that should be in a few weeks. Time for me to set up my vinyl front end to prepare for them. I am trading my Magico S5 for S5 MK II.
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Room is 12 x 23 w/Cathedral Ceilings - 15 Foot a peak - Set on long wall
Music: Assorted Music no metal or loud hard rock anymore really - not much Large Scale classical either but everything else.
Likes: Transparency- Delicate-linear-Dynamic-Fast - high resolution-microscope but not sterile not etched or lifeless - I know there is a fine Line here but I'm looking to walk it and come out on the right side - but real see through into the music with some sheen and dabs of warmth - transparent to the source because I love my DAC - image and sound stage lover - tight bass - hate flab - like speed and transparency as my selection choices might speak to
> AC Power: - Conditioning: PS Audio Noise Harvesters (6) - Outlets: Furutech GTX (R), Oyaide R1 Beryllium (2), - Surge / Spike Protection: Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula - Power Strip: PS Audio Juice Bar MK II
> Audio Network Server / Hardware / Software: - Servers: Small Green Computer SonicTransporter, - Storage:WD My Cloud 12v 2TB NAS, - PC: Qotom 190S Dual-Port - Baytrail J1900 12v Micro-PC - Network Switch: The Linear Solution OCXO Audiophile Switch, - Audio Software:
Sonic Orbiter, ROON 1.4
> Cables: - Interconnect Cables: Kubala-Sosna Research Emotion XLR 2.0M, Kubala-Sosna Research Emotion XLR 1.5M, Darwin Ascension RCA 0.5M, - Speaker Cables: Kubala-Sosna Research Emotion 2.5M Spades, - AC Cables : Kubala-Sosna Emotion AC 2.0M (2) Kubala-Sosna Elation AC 1.5M, Zu Event MK I AC 1.5M (3) - DC Cables: Gent Audio Custom DC Cables (Canare/Oyaide) (6), Upton Audio DC Cable 1M - USB: Audiocadabra Ultimus3 Double-Head Silver USB Cable, Curious Regen link, Uptone Audio USPCB A/B USB - Digital:Black Cat Silverstar 75 BNC/RCA 1.0M, MIT Terminator-3 RCA 1.0M, DH Labs Silver Sonic D-75 RCA 1.0M (2), Tara Labs Prism 100dx-1 Tosilink 1M. - HDMI: AudioQuest Chocolate 1.0M, AudioQuest Forest 3.0M, - Ethernet:AudioQuest Vodka RJ/E 1.0M, Cardas Clear RJ/E 0.5M, The Linear Solution Custom RJ/E 1.5M.
> Sundries / Accessories: - Audio Racks:Solid Tech Hybrid 3+3 Shelves Audio Rack w/White Shelves and Silver Pillars, Solid Tech Rack of Silence Amplifier Stand - Isolation Devices: SRA Ohio Class Isolation Platform, Symposium Acoustics Svelte Plus Isolation Platform, Isoacoustic Iso-pucks (8), Red Dragon Audio Ceramic Cable Elevators (4), EdenSound Brass Vibration Weights (8), Bright Star IsoNode Footers, - Re-clock/Tester: DROK USB Multi-meter/Tester, Wyred 4 Sound Remedy Femto.
Thanks for this info. I will order one of these right now just too have one if I need it.
Today I ordered the Audio Additives - Digital Stylus Force Gauge at the recommendation of another member. He said I should own this Stylus Gauge which made sense to me.
I am a full blown vinyl newbie. Pretty knowledgeable on the digital/ethernet/server side but know so little about mounting carts and setting up tables. That is why I bought a Rega to avoid all of it.
I could not get my VPI table to sound right and dumped it for that very reason and it was a nicer table than this one.
This link you provided is pretty cool and seems simple enough. Thanks
I assume I don't need to worry about any of this stuff with Rega carts right?
Are there any other carts other than Rega carts that are know to "work well" with Rega tables that are more plug in play or just align and mount that don't need to worry about shims with or is that really only with just Rega carts?
I guess my only simple upgrade path for my Rega would be the Rega Aphelion?
Wish it wasn't so darn expensive but there are no other Rega carts between the Apheta 2 and the Aphelion? This thing is more than the table/arm and current cart together?
fsmithjack, Since the P8 dust cover doesn’t cover the arm, there is no interference problem with the counterweight and dustcover when the arm base is shimmed. Get a shim kit made for your table and loosen 3 screws. Grab a clear block type alignment tool: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hi-Fi-Tonearm-VTA-Cartridge-Azimuth-Alignment-Ruler-Headshell-Alignment-Blo... If the arm is tipped up in front, shim the arm base until the top edge of the cartridge is level. If the arm is tipped down in front, shim the cartridge.
Thanks - yes I checked out that Gold Note ph10 and it look great. I never looked into them before. Very nice stuff. I went with a Sutherland Duo because I found such a great deal right in my price range.
Thanks
So you own and like the Decca London Super Gold Phono Cartridge?
That is great to hear. A audio friend of mine is selling one and the only cart I will own is the Apheta so thought this might be cool to try. I think it is a MM is it not? Or more like moving iron or something? I don't know much about it? What did you set your phonostage at? 47K? Thanks
+the gold note ph10 and add the power supply when you can. I bought one after having a chinook in my system both excellent but I think the gold note fits your requirements better. The gold note also has much easier to use controls with huge flexibility
I read Rega arm/base doesn't have all the adjustments other tables have and I would not want to get into shims and all that stuff. Do you guys know if this might work? From what I heard they sound amazing?
My Amp, Dac and Preamp all sound 1,000 times better just plugged into the Wall.
I do not mean a little better either.
Ask Pass Labs, Vitus, Simaudio or Krell? They will all tell you to plug into the wall!
Sure buy an awesome power cable and upgrade your outlet as well and if you can defiantly go for the discated 20 amp circuit and the above as well.
I can highly recommend the Oxiyde R1. It’s 95% the performance of the super expensive Furutech outlets at 1/5 the price. It’s a little smoother also which is nice. The Furutech can be a little harsh.
I have tried many conditioners and will keep trying more and more until I find one I like.
Once I settle on one I use it for a few weeks or month or two and then for heck of it I try the wall and then I’m like WTF and the conditioner goes on Audiogon.
Unless your home is a city apartment with horrible power and even then I bet it will be better then most conditioners.
Last night I just bought the Audioquest Niagra 1000 and matching Audioquest Tornado HC AC Power Cable.
AQ claims that their new cable line is designed to work with their Niagra line of conditioners so we will see.
Here is what I settled on buying the last couple weeks to fill out my new analog front end.
Rega P8 Turntable Rega Apheta 2 Cart Sutherland Duo Phonostage (2) Audience Au24se AC Cables - (phonostage takes 2 AC Cable) Audioquest Fire 1M Interconnect - (RCA for phonostage to preamp) Audioquest Niagara 1000 AC unit Audioquest Tornado AC Cable
Hope my anologue front end can compete with my digital.
I’ve ordered the Herron for my Rega RP10 and Apheta 2 combo. I’ll post up a first impression when it arrives, compared to my well broken in ARC PH7, and maybe a follow up in a few months when the Herron has stabilized.
Hi there, I just received the Herron VTPH-2A yesterday and installed it in my rig with a Bob's Device SKY 30 SUT, Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP Integrated, Technics SL-1200G with a Kiseki Blue NS MC cartridge and it sounds phenomenal. I have also owned the Manley Chinook Upscale Audio Special Edition and a Sutherland 20/20. I am definitely a tube phonostage fan. The Herron is extracting some sweet articulation out of the few slabs of reference vinyl that I played last night. I just plugged the Herron into my Monster power conditioner so today I an going to run it directly into a wall receptacle. I have installed a few of those gray audiophile receptacles but the brand slips my cabesa. I am going to try the wall outlet due to what I read from someone's comment above.
The Cary has been out for sometime. I haven't personally heard it. There are reviews/threads which seem favorable.
Based on this, and Cary's reputation, I wouldn't worry about it undeserving your Rega. Especially since it's the latest iteration w/ additional upgraded parts.
tablejockey Thanks - no one has ever mentioned this Cary phono to me? Is it in the same league as the Allnic 1201, Sutherland Duo or the venerable and universally loved
Herron VTPH-2A? Thanks
Oh yes I agree. It was an $8,000ish table / arm and a $11,500 pre/phono set up and it sounded like a alarm clock radio of sorts.
Not that bad I'm kidding but nothing even close to my digital.
The analogue guru was amazed when he heard my digital. Said is was the best he ever heard with any source but he is more of an old school vintage audio system kind of guy.
Awesome guy that spent hours trying to help me out. Would not take a dollar at end of night as I assumed he would all along which stunk because I could not ask him to come back after I bought another cart so now I was back to square one.
I would only invite him to hang and listen but not work on my system because I felt bad and that would be wrong.
Such a nice guy that I didn't even know and only met he read one of my posts and offered to come over to help as he was local to me. He was really cool and knowledgeable so at lease we had fun listening to music.
He told me his 20 year vintage table sounded 1000 times better and something was wrong with the set up. He was thinking cart/phono match maybe.
I then bough the step up after thinking it might help but the 326s is a decent unit and known more for the pre but it has mc ability and still nothing.
I was going to buy another cart then I don't know how to mount and reading about it only makes things worse to a newbie. Needless to say table sat for weeks and I said "see yea" and dumped it all. Got most my money back and just spent time and focus on my beloved digital..
Now I am back and went the Rega - premounted cart rout and hope it sounds nice and works well.
your previous rig unquestionably was up to the task. Something was amiss there.
Being a VPI owner, can't recall ever reading feedback from other VPI owners with the DL S1. It is a known great cart, but being a very low gain, it does require extra attention to details. Did the supposed "guru" suggest a different cart. That could have been the game changer. A higher gain model and loose the step up?
Doesn't matter, you have a great table. It's supposed to be nicer than the RP8
This is the "BEST" phonostage based on price/performance at the moment
fossda Thanks so much for the kind comments. My table is a little different as it is the P8. I am not sure if it sounds any better than the RP8 but I like the cool to me looks of the new model :)
Actually, my goal of buying was to choose a good quality table that is the simplest to set up and the closest to plug and play while hopefully still being good enough. Also, a cart made to go with the table and already mounted and set up and ready to go to keep me from messing it up..
My other foray into vinyl went no where. I bought what I found hard to set up and fine tune set up (for me at least and never got it to sound good). Never heard any of that magic everyone writes about. My Bricasti was so much better and I just dumped the vinyl system.
This is some decent gear but never could get it set up right. Had a vinyl guru come over and work on it for hours. So frustrated I thought I would try again with a much simpler system that hopefully sounds nice.
I don't know if my new set up will be better than my digital but my hope is that it is good enough to make me want to listen.
Honestly, I think something was definitely wrong with my last try at vinyl.
The last time on a scale of 1 through 10 it went like this.
My Bricasti Digital System 8/10
Analogue 2/10
My digital system is good but not that good. I have heard really good vinyl at dealers and thought my system sounds nothing like that.
I heard a Rega RP6 with Exact 2 at a dealer that was a 1,000 time better than my set up above. I said then ok let me try some decent Rega gear that is made so someone like me can't mess it up.
Heck, if my system sounded like that RP6/Exact 2 then I would be psyched and why not? I bought better gear so this time i hope I can get some decent sound. I am really looking forward to it.
liamowen Thanks for the info. It's funny as one Pass Labs XP-15 showed up for sale on Audiogon last night. I was thinking long and hard about this one! Love the build quality and simple and clean industrial design. It works for me that is for sure...
I don't just like Pass Labs. I LOVE them! I have owned probably close to a dozen of their products over the years. I have got to speak and write with Nelson over the years on n many occasions and honestly I don't think there is a nicer and/or more knowledgeable person on the planet.
He is such a kind person that shares his time with anyone, any time.
I remember I needed XLR jumpers for my X350.5 amp and he mailed them to me himself and of course no charge. His handwriting with a just a regular stamp. It's not the money but he is busy like most of us. You know he get's and envelope, stamp and drops off and Its the time and consideration. Some may say bid deal. To me the little things matter.
I use to love and own Rethm Saadhana V3 Speakers which are 103db efficient and his First Watt amps sounded better than anything, anywhere and I had some seriously expensive, 5 digit DHT 2A3, 300B amps and one of his FW $1500 used amps blew their doors off.
I could on and on about Nelson. Wayne Colburn I think does most of his pre's and his pre's are great and IMO some of the best in each price range. That said just not quite up the standards set by the amps IMO. The like Pass amps better and they can go to toe to toe in their price range with anything anywhere.
Sure his $10,000 amp is not going to outperform another companies $30,000 amp but put his $10k amp vs other $10k amp and his $30k amps vs other $30k amps and I will go with Nelson any day.
That said I bet that XP-15 sound mighty fine in my rig :)
@fsmithjack The Colorado's commit no sins of omission or commission. All you hear is what your components bring to the party. They are as neutral as any IC's I have ever used. Feel free to look at my Virtual System to lend context to what I am saying here. Those cables ain't goin' nowhere!
Love your system. I got back into vinyl several yrs ago and love it. I am using an Allnic h-3000 and know you would be very pleased with the Allnic product. I like the blend of tubes an s.s particularly with preamp and phonostage. A close friend has the Sutherland product and is very happy. I also have an Allnic l-3000 pre that I switch out with my edge sig 1.1 pre. Best wishes
If you like your Pass Labs component now, I think you would like the XP15 (now discontinued) or the XP17 (its successor). You can find used XP15's on Audiogon for $2,500 periodically.
Best decision I made was the Pass Labs XP15. It far outclassed the Rega RP6. When I finally made the decision to be in/out of vinyl, I went for the RP10 with the Apheta 2, and it's a great match for the XP15. I think the RP8 is close to the RP10 in sound, and the cartridge you are proposing is exactly the same as the one I have. Sounds great-- but only on well recorded music.
edwyun Thanks - yes it has a couple op amps but I am more worried about the best sound per buck. I would prefer discrete but fear this level of performance with all discrete will cost much more.
It is my first "Real Concerted" foray into vinyl so learning as I go.
I know my Bricasti / Simaudio / Pass / Kubala / Magico combo sounds amazing so I was hoping to get a Table/Cart/Phono/IC/AC cable set up to be compelling enough to get up and load another record vs just flipping the input on the remote and grabbing the Iphone/Roon to my way to another to another track instead.
hifiman5 How are those
AQ Colorado? Are they real good? Thats a great price if the performance is strong enough that would be amazing.
@fsmithjack Fantastic deal on really fine AQ interconnects NEW with 72 volt DBS system.
MusicDirect has the AQ Colorado 1meter RCAs for $360/meter pair. That's ½ their original selling price! Colorado uses PSC+ copper with FEP (Teflon) air tube dielectric. I have my entire system wired with them. They aren't going anywhere.
Thanks guys - I reached out the Keith the proprietor of Herron.
Very nice person. He doesn't even have any in stock. He sells them as quick as he makes them.
He told me he is getting in a used VTPH-1MC he could work something out with me in the next couple weeks but wants to get it in and check it out and stuff like that. I thanked him and was going to email him a week or two.
Then later in the day another unique opportunity presented itself which has ended my search.
A Sutherland Duo in my price range from an Authorized dealer with full warranty.It's a demo and I have heard the Duo at Fidelis in NH on a Palmer table and it was amazing.
What do you guys think? It usually cost a lot more but he is giving me a really good price on it.
Stereophile named it joint analogue product of the year for 2017. I know that only means so much but the cool thing is I actually have heard this one. Not in my system of course but I am pretty excited out it.
Bad new? I need 2 more power cables :(
He is offering me a really good deal in a pair of Audience AU24SE Power Cables which I would not have looked for as my entire system is Kubala-Sosna Emotion but I can not come close to a Kubala price wise and I have heard these are pretty competent power cables so might take him up on that offer. Its a good one.
More bad news? I need a pair of RCA IC's. Mine are all Kubala Emotion XLR Cables.
No idea what to get other than trying to find another Emotion RCA cable but there are none out there used and these are a ton new?
He offered me a great deal on Audioquest Fire RCA 1M. Man these are expensive. It what he used and says it sounds amazing and is a quit and perfect match?
Any thoughts? Thanks guys
At least I have found my phono. I hope it sounds great. No just need to tether via some proper cables... ouch.
Yes that is true (about added cost with an SUT and interconnects). Another potential issue is the risk of hum due to the additional component and interconnects needed. One plus with VTPH2A is it employs Star grounding.
Have to agree with @edwyun that using a step-up in front of a tube phono stage is the way to go but this adds a lot of $$$ to the equation not only for the SUT but another cable as well.
Call Keith Herron to see if he has any on trade. Great guy to deal with.
The VTPH2A is a fantastic unit. Very lively and organic in my setup. FWIW, for my Dynavector XX2, I do notice a difference (some would say an improvement) between using an SUT into the VTPH2A’s MM tube stage as opposed to using the VTPH2A’s MC FET stage and tube stage. The Allnic uses transformers (eg SUTs) before its tube stage. I am of the view that, for very LoMCs, a SUT into a tube stage is the way to go. YMMV.
@fsmithjack have you researched the Gold Note PH10? Look at Positive Feedback online they did 3 consecutive reviews they loved it that much. Also many, many other reviews. Search these forums as well.
What do you guys think about this new offer I just had offered to me?
Simaudio Moon 310LP for $1,500.00
This is much more involved as to why I am considering this one.
Now normally I wouldn't have considered this pre but because it is made to use a Simaudio external power supply and I have the Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8 that comes with an outstanding separate external power supply, the 820s which is an $8,000 power supply that I already own as it comes with my Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8.
Because I already own this it also means I would not need to buy another $2,500 Kubala-Sosna Emotion AC Power Cable either. So I can leverage $10k worth of already owned equipment toward this phono set.
That said I want the best sound and don't know if this will offer that but what do you think. I would buy from a Simaudio dealer with warranty as a demo for $1,500?
I mean who cares about the stuff I already own if it doesn't sound better but thinking this might be a good idea?
My brain says yes but my gut says no? What do you guys think?
Want to choose soon? Could use help because not sure. Thank you so much!
If those are the prices you have to work with, I'd say the Allnic is an absolute no-brainer. Again, it and the Herron are equally good in my book and which you prefer, pricing aside, will come down to subjective preference. To obtain something noticeably better you'd need to look at Manley Steelhead, Luxman EQ-500, Aestetix Callisto and the like, at rather different prices.
Thanks - I actually had a chance to buy the Aria for $650 which I thought was a great deal but everyone told me is was just ok and the Manley, Allnic, Sutherland blew its doors off.
Im looking for best sound I can get for about $2000
I beg to differ and think the Allnic is on par with the Herron in terms of sound quality. I find the Herron a touch more neutral with the stock tubes, but that entirely a subjective matter, and it is of course more flexible in that if offers an infinite variety of loading options. That said, the Allnic is certainly flexible enough for my needs and with 70dB gain it works wonderfully, and silently, with my Benz Ebony TR @ 0.12mV.
So if you don't need the infinite flexibility of the Herron, the Allnic is certainly just as good in terms of detailing, scale, three-dimensionality and whatever else one might mention. In my book the Chinook is not in the same league, nor is the 20/20 despite it being an excellent phono stage. Technically the latter is no doubt excellent and dead silent, but I find it lacking in emotion and involvement in comparison. I also prefer my H-1202 over the EAR 324 and Luxman EQ-250.
I’ve owned a half dozen of their components. The SE I think is around $3K today. Trying to stay around $2k but if there was a used one for $2k id sure consider it.
I paid a couple of months ago less than $2200 shipped. Give Upscale Audio a call and tell them it's your first time buying something from them and they will take care of you. This was out of my price as well I was wanted to be in the $1000 range but I am glad I bought it because it is so such a great phono preamp the only down side for me trying to run two TT's with it can get quite frustrating but as long as the Cartridge uses the same load setting your okay other than the cable swap is my only grip..
I’ve owned a half dozen of their components. The SE I think is around $3K today. Trying to stay around $2k but if there was a used one for $2k id sure consider it.
I think the Manley 40 mono blocks that were the precursor to the Mahi monos was my first really great impression of tubes.
I had Martin Logan Spires, Ayre QX9 DAC, CAT SL1 MKIII preamp and added them 40’s from a Prima Luna Dialogue Intergrated. Loved it so much I jumped up to the Snappers but the EL34’s don’t have the incredibly transparent sound of the EL84’s. I picked up NOS Tele’s and loved those little monos. Not really enough amp for the Spires but they were great. I found the Shrimpy Pre to be just average and I guess that was sort of my worry about their phono. If it is like their Shimpy don’t think I’d like it much. People say more like the Steelhead though which is would be cool.
Still not sure what phono but need to chose soon I think. Table will be in this week and speakers not much later. I guts to get off the dime!
Sounds like you all ready made up your mind and I understand this is way below your budget but I am running a Rega RP8 with a Dynavector 17D3 with a Manley Chinook Special Edition from Upscale Audio which retails for $2500. I recently just moved to a Technics SL1200G / Art9 cart and both sound very nice with the Manley "DEAD SILENT" with plenty of GAIN to have at 60db and can bump another 5 if needed for MC carts. With that price range have you considered the LUXMAN EQ-500? Very well built and can be paired with many TT options.
waltersalas thanks - the 1201 has the uplift gain trannys but they say they are good ones used in the more expensive ones. I prefer a discrete gain but for me sound is the most important.
i love the Sutherland because there is no need for expensive power cable or power conditioner as I plug rest of my rig into that wall.
Ive had a bunch of conditioners over the years and some really good ones and when I plug straight to the wall there is that little metallic hash I would love to get rid of but overall I much prefer to plug into the wall as the conditioners just take too much away.
The Sutherland makes it not needed but in the end if the 1201 sounds better then that’s what I want.
GREAT system! Have you considered the Gold Note PH10 it's very versatile and can be bought new for under $1300. It also has an optional external power supply although I've not heard that unit myself.
I have been using the Allnic 1201 for many years and am still very pleased with it. Sorry to say I have not heard the Sutherland 20/20. I can say the 1201 is dead quiet in my system and does all I want it to.
I was kicking around the
Whest PS.30RDT Special Edition for that very reason as it has discrete bipolar transistor stage but it is $750 more than I want to spend and I care more about sound. Today opamps are so good in many cases can sound great but I agree would prefer a discrete setup.
lol. yeah I just copy and past from my Virtual system.
I keep track of all my dizzying changes over there as I go and just update each cable, power supply or tweak as I go. It’s cool to look back and see how much things change. A agon buddy of mine taught me that. Heck I have forgot so many of the changes but for that..
No Herron phono’s out there used and I like Rogue gear, owned the 180’s years ago but not big fan of their pre’s. I am told both and read both of pre’s are much better than the Chinook or SE. I like Manly gear also. I owned the 40’s, Snappers and a couple Shrimpies. One with remote and one without.
I hear the Chinook is a little chill, not into Chill.laidback anymore. I am fine with tubes but its got to be as transparent as I can get. Allnic is pretty clear for tubes. I was kicking around Whest, Ear, JC3 but thinking the Sutherland 20/20 and Allnic 1201 for under $2k is pretty strong. I love the Sutherland because don’t need to spend a $800 on a power cable which doesn’t hurt at all. All my IC’s are XLR so will need a set RCA’s and even if I go cheap those are $600 - $700 so kind of trying to finish this up for as reasonable money as I can. There is Plinus Koru that had balanced out save me some doe on IC’s but don’t know enough about it. Well reviewed though...
I can’t decide what one to get Sutherland 20/20 and Allnic 1201
I should have know this thread is to specialized for 2 not super popular items so thanks for the reply.
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