Phono/preamp/amp chain. One of them tube the others SS. Which one?

I'm in similar situation. I have a great TT, arm, & MC. Feeds into Mc SS preamp then to Atlas eclipse hybrid amp. Love the tube richness & quietness of the SS preamp/MC phono section. I am leaning toward SS phono preamp for total silence on cartridge output and tube line stage for the sound I prefer further enhanced by my amp. So IMO the absolute silence of a high end SS phono stage trumps the induced bloom of a tubed phono stage, even though I love the tube sound. 

Theo, I've been doing some serious thinking about what you said in regard to the phono stage, and it seems 3K, or in that price range, is what a tube phono which would be similar to yours might cost.

There is no free lunch in "High End audio", and quite often, anything cheaper turns out to be a waste of money.

Could you comment on good tube phono stages?


Enjoy the music.

Orpheus10, you are right, and I would think of at least $4k or a little more. That would get you in used Lamm, VAC, Atma-Shere, CAT territory.Many really like their Herrons. That is if you are thinking tube phono stage.

When I got into "high end", there were two high end salons within driving distance. I spent so much time in these places that my wife swore I was seeing another woman; "There is no way you're going to come home late every evening listening to some dumb stereo equipment", she stated when I walked in the door.

My purpose was twofold; one was to verify the validity of the "Stereophile" rating system, the other was of course to hear equipment I could not afford. I discovered the "Stereophile" ratings were quite valid.

Now there is no way I can audition expensive equipment; I have to rely on you and what I read.

Upon examination, I see my rig has a component no one else has "A computer interface"; it does whatever it does, and has an adjustment for level in. SS phono, and computer interface do 100% of nothing in regard to improvement or detraction of audio.

High end computer interfaces were not available at that time; I rebuilt, using expensive capacitors to such an extent that I had to design another cabinet, that one wasn't big enough.

It would cost in the vicinity of 3K for an unknown that I can not audition; therefore it's not in the cards anytime soon.


Enjoy the music.

@orpheus10, my Allnic H-3000 phono and HA-3000 head amp retail for more than $3k, but the units inna mentions are good options in that price range. Another that might be worth a try is the Aurorasound VIDA.

If the discussion is still open, where would a hybrid phono stage fit in the equation?  The phono stage is prob my next move and I have SS pre running into a hybrid amp. Could one expect clean lows with tube warmth?