A suggestion, and another candidate for a nice phono stage, and one I had gotten myself used recently, but in absolute mint condition from another A-Gon member here, is the Sutherland PHD. I acquired this Phono Stage for exactly $2,000.
This Stereophile Class A rated Unit delivers beautiful, dead quiet performance, listening is smooth, very detailed, defined with my VPI 19 MK-IV-Glider Combo, is battery operated by 16 D-Cell batteries, and has virtually unlimited possibilities for Load, and Gain with boards that are user adjustable, and that also custom values can be configured-gotten for the unusual requirement of a special loading resistance.
My own personal freind of 10 years, Thomas M. Back, an Optical Designer, and Amateur Astronomer par excellence also owns the Sutherland PHD, and give a short review-commentary on the Acoustic Sounds Website about this Unit.
I believe Tom is using a Clearaudio Master Reference Turntable, top of the line Clearaudio Tonearm, and Lyra Titan Cartridge. Tom's biggest problem with other costly Phono Stages he's owned-auditioned, was living very close to many Radio Station's Antennas, and the consequent RFI problems he was having. He gets absolutely none with the Sutherland.
I've found the Sutherland to be very dynamic, and with the dead silent noise floor, Many LP's begin to take on an almost "CD" level of slam, bass solidity, and another nice quality I note is great separation-individuality of individual instruments-voices.
I was looking for a great sounding Phono Stage that offered good versatility with the ability for no compromise loading, and gain features, and the Sutherland provides this perfectly.
My other choices where the Aesthetix Rhea, and the PS Audio GCPH. Looking back, I'm sort of glad of not going with a Tube Driven Stage, and the headaches that can be caused by tube issues like hum, tube rush, bad tubes, tube rolling, and being at the mercy of sellers with their NOS boutique tubes running into the hundreds of dollars alone.
Wish you the best in finding what you desire, and hope this helps you. Mark
This Stereophile Class A rated Unit delivers beautiful, dead quiet performance, listening is smooth, very detailed, defined with my VPI 19 MK-IV-Glider Combo, is battery operated by 16 D-Cell batteries, and has virtually unlimited possibilities for Load, and Gain with boards that are user adjustable, and that also custom values can be configured-gotten for the unusual requirement of a special loading resistance.
My own personal freind of 10 years, Thomas M. Back, an Optical Designer, and Amateur Astronomer par excellence also owns the Sutherland PHD, and give a short review-commentary on the Acoustic Sounds Website about this Unit.
I believe Tom is using a Clearaudio Master Reference Turntable, top of the line Clearaudio Tonearm, and Lyra Titan Cartridge. Tom's biggest problem with other costly Phono Stages he's owned-auditioned, was living very close to many Radio Station's Antennas, and the consequent RFI problems he was having. He gets absolutely none with the Sutherland.
I've found the Sutherland to be very dynamic, and with the dead silent noise floor, Many LP's begin to take on an almost "CD" level of slam, bass solidity, and another nice quality I note is great separation-individuality of individual instruments-voices.
I was looking for a great sounding Phono Stage that offered good versatility with the ability for no compromise loading, and gain features, and the Sutherland provides this perfectly.
My other choices where the Aesthetix Rhea, and the PS Audio GCPH. Looking back, I'm sort of glad of not going with a Tube Driven Stage, and the headaches that can be caused by tube issues like hum, tube rush, bad tubes, tube rolling, and being at the mercy of sellers with their NOS boutique tubes running into the hundreds of dollars alone.
Wish you the best in finding what you desire, and hope this helps you. Mark