Phono Stage - The great analog tragedy

The Sansui AU III is a commonly listened to by myself as an Amp used for driving Stacked Quads.

If I can say it has one advantage in comparisons to other same models that might have been heard by others. Which is where it has been fully overhauled where Components are concerned and Tube Rolled for across many Years. With the permutation for Tubes in use, it makes the option to Bi Amp with the spare AU III quite an expensive consideration.

The Phonostage on the AU III Model has been heard on different occasions with a range of SUT's or Head Amp's in front of it. Where during these occasions as a device for replaying LP's, it has proved as impressive a the Modern Day Design Phon's that have been loaned for use at the same arranged session.

Very experienced individuals with audio equipment, as a result of their listening to the Vintage Phon' have found criticism, only good appraisal has been shared.     

@lewm I agree I have not experienced too many vintage phonostages but I am trying to find good ones and the shortage of it is appalling. It is well known that they had lesser quality parts but if it was only that then just like the Mcintosh, Quad, Naim amps, we would have had phonostages from that era reissued with better parts. Where are they? I would love to find them actually. Marantz is one unit I am very intrigued and will try it. I still feel the innovation around phonostages is at its highest today which is quite opposite to the innovation around other audio components

in the 60’s, 70’s analog circuitry was quite common. It was usually discrete components, no IC’s.

Most of the experienced engineers had good knowledge on how to build an amplifier. There was no reference component (IC) that was used. Rather many different designs. The standard to follow were the riaa curves as you noted.

Now, there are many electrical engineers in the US (and likely other countries) that are not experienced in analog circuitry, as it simply isn’t common.

Arnieco, your thesis is the opposite of Pani's.

Any phono stage requires lots of gain, more than any other audio component, and a filter that conforms to the RIAA standard de-emphasis curve.  Except for tubes, today's parts (discrete transistors, ICs, capacitors, resistors, inductors, diodes, etc) are simply superior to even the very best available 50 years ago. Furthermore, the RIAA standard has not changed since the 50s, and there are only so many ways you can build that filter into a phono gain stage. In fact, there are on line calculators that would allow anyone to build an RIAA network any of several ways. The designer does not even have to be a genius. So it stands to reason that today's electronics can be superior to anything available 50 years ago, if the manufacturer cares enough.  But likewise I think the old gear can be modernized using the superior parts now available. So there is no real issue or certainly no tragedy.

I'm not sure whether it qualifies as a "reference" component or technology (and who is even qualified to make that judgement), but I will forever be a fan of my strain gauge setup. The strain gauge cartridge does not use or require an RIAA playback filter and represents a radical departure from the standard MM/MC setups.  It's magic to my ears and I wish there were more modern options for them, but I suppose I'm fine as long as my old equipment keeps on trucking.  Cheers!