Phono Preamp suggestions between either Gold Note PH-10 or Whest TWO.2

I had the Hana SL and now the Umami Red. I looked at Gold Note, Moon etc. I wound up being extremely happy with the SPL Phonos. Has the ability to work with many cartridges and is dead quiet. I am extremely satisfied with the results. Super and worth every penny. Not too well known but amazing build and reliability.

@audiosaurusrex.. Thanks for the suggestion on the SPL Phonos. I hadn't heard of SPL and it looks like a nice preamp and within my price range. One of my concerns is that the Hana SL specifies a load of >400 Ohms and I see the SPL has a setting for 470 Ohms. A lot of the phono preamps I've looked at like Black Ice have settings for 200 or 300 Ohms and then jump up to 1000 Ohms which is a concern without actually trying. 

I use Gold Note PH-10 with PSU-10 with many different LOMC cartridges, this is the most flexible MC phono stage, if you want to try different gain and different loading “on the fly” from 22 ohm to 47 000 Ohm get the Gold Note.

I have 3 more MC phono stages, but they are all discontinued, some of them are better than Gold Note, but does not have optional gain and optional loading.

You can always buy Gold Note used for much lower price!

@chakster.. How was the performance of the PH-10 without the PSU-10? If I decide on the Gold Note I'd like to try it out initally without the PSU-10. Thanks.

It’s great without PSU, but for the price I paid directly from Italy without VAT in the price for PSU it was a steal :) 

Also use the PH10, initially without PSU then added one 8 months later. The PH10 is just so flexible and great sonics as well. There can be had good deals on new ones if you do some research. 

@tgilbI have had a few cartridges running through the Phonos with amazing results. Currently using the ATArt9xa which is a ultra low compliance cartridge the SPL is flawless and dead quiet. 
I think a few owners have posted results on Agon. You might be able to find a dealer for a demo. Either way hope you find your bliss.

Currently using the ATArt9xa which is a ultra low compliance cartridge... 

probably you tried to say it’s low output

http://https//www.haglabs.com/collections/phono-preamps/products/trumpet-mc-vacuum-tube-phonostage

That will accommodate all of your carts... 

Why not try QHW "The Vinyl" phono pre, Mikey Fremer says its a awesome phono pre for the money. $775. Says it competes with 5k to 6k pre's from others.

Michael Fremer said this, Michael Fremer said that ... 
The OP asked for Gold Note versus WHEST phono stages. 

Thank you for all of the suggestions. The Gold Note was initially my top choice but since I am not familiar with a lot of the Phono Preamp companies out there I’m ok with other suggestions. SPL has now picked up my interest but I hope to receive more information from the folks with experience on Gold Note and Whest. Thanks.

Search audiogon, one of our members became a whest fan after gold note, the whest is more expensive. The goal of Gold Note is usability (one rotary knob to control everything on a display) and flexibility (so many different settings). Also two independent inputs that can me MM + MM, MM + MC, MC + MC. The phono stage will remember your settings for each input (type, gain, loading, curves ...). 

@chakster  I really appreciate the information on the actual experience that you have given me with the Gold Note PH-10 and that is exactly what I was hoping for when I started this thread. The Gold Note has three features that I like. Front panel control as you stated, the 470 Ohm impedance selection that a number of other phono preamps don't have, and the balanced outputs are a plus. Most of all is the SQ that can be produced through the preamp and that is what I can only get from the people that post on the thread. Audiogon is a great resource for getting actual user information. 

Agree the GN is so flexible that if and when you change cartridges it will be able to match just about anything out there. And yes the SQ is great not as fine as a NVO I use as well but the NVO is much more $$$$
 

Obviously, Chakster you didn't read the entire opening thread of the OP. BESIDES the Gold Note and Whest, he said he was open to suggestions on other phono preamps too. Maybe you should pull out all your recommendations on ancient outdated cartridges for the OP also....

Sorry guys. I should have been more clear by adding a note to the title that I was open to other suggestions instead of burying it in the text. My fault. 

OP you should just go buy a PH10, can find them for around 1250 new and if you really don't like it, although hard to believe, then you can sell it for not much of a loss.

Maybe you should pull out all your recommendations on ancient outdated cartridges for the OP also....

@mr_m where do you see any recommendations for any cartridges from me in this thread ?

Do you own and use what you recommended in this thread or you can only read reviews from M.F. ?

Gold Note is one of the greatest affordable phono stages with amazing features, I believe this is why OP put this phono stage in the title of his topic. Michael Fremer may never tried this, I’m not sure, do you need his approval?

Chakster,
Once again, READ the thread closely. OP said he was open to other phono preamps even though he had a particular interest in the two brands he specified.

Your snarky response to my first reply was rather arrogant on your part. And no, I don't need Fremer's approval to buy a product. I only use reviews as a "heads up" to check a product out and see if it is worthy of a closer look.

Yes, I own a QHW "The Vinyl" phono pre. Yes, doing my research tells me it is better in my system than the Gold Note. The QHW uses extremely high quality parts, can handle both MM and MC, and has a plethora of adjustments for both. And last but not least it sounds great and doesn't break the bank to own. Maybe you should check it out.

Any questions?......

No questions, I have different phono stages, some are better than Gold Note, but not for every cartridge. I don’t like all those micro switches on the back, I remember iPhono 2 with similar options. JLTi mk4 and mk5 is nice little box with optional RCA-plug load resistors on the back.

I think the Gold Note solved the issue better than others with their display and one rotary knob for all settings, this is amazing feature. XLR output also very important for people who need a long run of cables to the phono stage. 

But, If I ever buy another it will be AuroraSound VIDA

I don`t know the other one, but I have the PH-10 and I am satisfied. If I would upgrade in the future I would ask first the manufacturer. Some says it`s silly, coz everybody in the industry using the RIAA curve, but I could find many Decca/London or Columbia/America LP-s which benefited from the options of PH-10. I am using 100Ohm with my 0.2mV Ikeda 9TT cart.  

@korakotta.. Thanks for your info on the PH-10. I've read a number of the prior Agon posts on the recording industry equalization curves and it is interesting information. 

I know this thread is old but how about the Hegel V10 phono stage? 

@tgilb did you ever purchase a phono stage and if so which one?

@rsf507  I haven’t purchased the phono stage just yet but when the time comes I am leaning towards the Gold Note PH-10.

I had an opportunity to pick up a Simaudio Moon CD transport with their on board DAC and had a change in focus.

The phono stage is on deck.

Sorry I couldn’t help.

@chakster which GN dealer in Italy if I may ask? thank you.

Did you know Gold Note has increased prices on just about everything including PH-10

Brand new $1499.00 if you search around 2 minutes max . I own the gold note with a Audio Technica Art 9 xSH. The gold note sounds great nice being able to change loading while playing if you have a good enough vinyl system you won't be disappointed

I did go ahead with purchasing a Gold Note PH-10 earlier this year after initially upgrading my phono cartridge to a Hana Microline low output cart. With the spec's on the cartridge stating a greater than 100 ohm load impedance I liked that the Gold Note had a wide range of load settings and a 220 ohm setting that was closer to what I needed than on my current phono stage. 

I don't change cartridges often so don't necessarily need the easy user access to changing settings and don't need the different EQ curves but what I have used ocationally is the enhanced setting in the RIAA curve. I will use the enhanced settings on a small percentage of my albums that aren't quite as dynamic as they should be most likely due to a poor mastering or pressing and the enhanced setting does improve the sound of those albums and the easy access to changing that setting is appreciated. 

With all of that said I am vey pleased with the heavy build and sound quality of the PH-10 with the rest of my system and glad that I pulled the plug on the purchase. 

 

@relayer101 
I know the Gold Note has many positive reviews, don’t know about Weiss.

Parasound JC3+ or PS Audio Stellar Phono are excellent buys near your price point. Plenty of very positive reviews.