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Phono Stage or TT upgrade

Ok gang, here is the current quandry. To upgrade my phono stage or my TT. System as of now

Dynavector D 17 MK II Karat ( love it and it will stay )
Rega P 25 w/ RB 600, VTA adjust and no other mods.
Dynavector P 75 MK I phono pre

Ayre K1Xe Line Stage
Ayre V3 w/ Rev 3 boards and Ayre Conditioner
Dunlavy SC-IV improved

I just sold a Tom Evans Groove + SRX and wish I had never tried it in the system. It was more explosive, coherent, deeper, faster and open than the Dynavector P-75.
I have a chance to do a change to a VPI Classic with the HXR center weight and keep using my D-17 MK II and P 75 MK I. Local sale and known seller. I love the Scout and Scoutmaster but have not spent any time with the classic.
The other option would be to upgrade the phono stage. I am not afraid of tubes but QUIET is an absolute necessity. I am just over chasing down a noisy 12AX7 or 6SN7 every few months.
Overall I am looking for more slam ,speed and dynamics than the current combo. My budget is in the $1500-2000 range and fairly strict at the upper limit.

Any ideas?
128x128meadowman
meadowman's avatar
meadowman OP
140 posts
 
Clio99: I have tried the P5Xe in my rig with the D 17 MK II and found it very noisy. As in almost a tube rush like sound that was audible from the listening position even over moderate volume playback. Ayre advised this was "normal" with super low output carts like the Dynavector.

I am on the trail of a matching Simaudio Moon lp5.3 plus power supply. Good hunting!
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
The best so far is Nottinham set-up mentioned in this discussion.
cod
2 posts
 
Meadowman, if it were me I would take a serious look at the Pass XOno here on Agon from Reno HiFi. Should have plenty of gain and dynamics, is in your $2k limit and they are oferring an in home trial / return... Or grab another Groove model... IMHO either should well out perform the Simaudio... I know a lot of people like their stuff and the build quality & company are great, but their gear always sounds like a stereo to me ~ I never "get pulled into the music" with their stuff... anyway, that's just my $0.002 and my ears... Happy listening
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