I am cautious to bring this up but given the caliber of your table and arm, have you ever listened to the DS Audio. I had a dps turntable with Schroder arm, and an Ortofon MA 90 with a Tom Evans Groove SRX +, until I heard the DS Audio. I was stunned. So much so that I got out of moving coil and now have Grand Master and Emm labs DS-EQ1. The two would be the price of many hi end phono stages. I realize you have a lot invested, and it won't lend itself to 2 arms but if you ever get the chance do listen. I, in no way, am trying to suggest the other choices aren't great. Best of luck
Phono Stage upgrade to complement Dohmann Helix One Mk 2
Thanks to the recommendations from many users on this Audiogon blog, I think I was able to make a more informed purchase of a turntable, the Dohmann Helix One Mk 2. I've really been enjoying the turntable for the past month!
The next phase of my system now needs attention: the phono stage. Currently, I'm using a Manley Steelhead v2 running into an Ypsilon PST-100 Mk2 SE pre-amplifier (into Ypsilon Hyperion monoblocks, into Sound Lab M745PX electrostatic speakers).
I've been told that I could really improve my system by upgrading the phono stage from the Manley Steelhead (although I've also been told that the Manley Steelhead is one of the best phono stages ever made).
Interestingly, two of the top phono stages that I'm considering require a step-up transformer (SUT). I'm not fully informed about any inherent advantages or disadvantages of using an SUT versus connecting directly to the phono stage itself.
I suppose my current top two considerations for a phono stage are the Ypsilon VPS-100 and the EM/IA LR Phono Corrector, both of which utilize an SUT. I don't have a particular price range, but I find it hard to spend $100k on stereo components, so I'm probably looking in the $15k - $70k price range.
Thanks.