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Phono amp recommendations

I am thinking of upgrading my phono amp and would like recommendations in a sub $2000 phono stage. I don't even have an "A" list yet and will build it off of others recommendations and some listening of course. I have a Nottingham Spacedeck with the New AceSpace arm, shelter 501 II, Belles Auricap 21A pre and ref. 150A poweramp. Dynaudio Special 25 speaker with Shunyata Gemini speaker and Aries interconnects. I love acoustic music, look a bit more towards warmth than detail. I listen to about 65%vinyl, 34% CDP and 1% wondering what I am going to listen to next. I listen to a wide variety of music, strong leaning to jazz, bluegrass, blues, acoustic rock and popular music, some classical pieces as well. Thanks for your input. Oh, I currently use a Dynavector P75 which is a great little amp, I am just thinking my other equipment could give me a little more with a nicer phono stage.
davt

Showing 3 responses by 4yanx

4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Funny, I've tried both on mine to little or no effect. The dampers may have helped some, but I'm not so sure. :-) The sweep did NADA, at least in my system.
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Suggest the K&K phono stage (kandkaudio.com). Call Kevin, who used to design for VAC and was the designer of the Art Audio Vinyl Reference before starting his own biz. It WILL best anything shy of $5K, including (from personal testing experience) 3 of the 5 mentioned above (other two not compared). Within your budget, too.
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Yes, the K&K. I posted this many moon ago, but a bunch of us auditioned the K&K against SEVERAL units both SS and tube some time ago (and that was before the uprgaded K&K) at a local audio haunt, most of the units mentioned above not excpeted. It outperformed everything short of an IO Signature (on the order of 5x the cost). It got to the point where the haunt owner half-jokingly said, "tell very few about this piece and none locally."

I have yet to hear ANYONE say anything bad about this piece (if they've actually heard one), and that might be the loudest testimonial of all.
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