Phono Stage upgrade to complement Dohmann Helix One Mk 2

@pani never knew that about the low gain - I guess you are then forced to get a full FM amplification chain £££$$$€€€ 😂 

@drbond i have heard some CH precision at a show and found the set up a tad cold

The constellation is probably voiced like my Vendetta SCP2A and that is (to my ears at least) kind of dark chocolatey in that it is warm but not not fuzzy. It’s got a knack of making you listen and draws you in.

Many say the Mares/Connoisseur @jcarr is incredible but they are no longer manufactured 

@drbond I envy your dilemma - lovely turntable 

I heard the FM in a Vertere FM chain and it was compared to live music and I couldn’t tell the difference - astonishingly good 👍 

I was also deeply impressed with a Constellation. I was not as impressed with a Zanden set up nor the KSL set up - I found both a bit syrupy and soft.

I heard the previous Whest reference and it is exceptional at hanging things in space and time. A new one is coming out this year - speak to James Henriot who makes them. It’s some way off ur price ceiling - around £10k but I’m sure you’ll go for performance so it’s worth a whirl. 
i would hope that with your demands dealers will happily lend you a component for a few weeks to decide properly - I hope you get a good one .

Please let us know which one you got and how it sounds because whilst I can’t afford your kinda high end I guess as the saying goes ‘a cat 🐈 can look at a king 🤴!’ 😆 

@drbond 

funny you say that about @rauliruegas  - i always find my discussions with him to be very productive. It might just be he is not a fan of Ypsilon - I've never them. Please remember we all have our own natural prejudices - me I am not a fan of KSL/Kondo - Zanden and Dartzeel - all well loved brands and I'm sure to many ears are mana from heaven - I find them either mushy or too coloured. 

Many a reviewer has very specific loves/prejudices - Martin Colloms loves Naim and Linn - Roy Gregory anything stocked by Audiofreaks (he had to answer letters about this in hi fi plus) - Michael Fremer (anything new and stupendously expensive) 

@drbond 

@lewm ​​​​@rauliruegas are always disagreeing over something or other - lol

if you must by tube try a Tron. Supremely musical. Graham Tricker makes some very fine valve gear (and i don't like valves). I think they have 2 inputs. I dont think they have adjustable curves though.

@drbond for a man that says he knows little about turntables - I commend your choice in the Dohmann Helix.

I've heard three vinyl front ends that have stuck with me. One had the FM Acoustics phono stage in a live v recorded demo and nothing i've heard comes close to reproducing with such accuracy. The Constellation was wonderful too the kind of sound one can live with forever - powerful and fast but musical too. Finally one by a British Designer Graham Tricker called Tron - just very very musical. I've sadly never heard the Mares Connoisseur nor the Boulder. I use a Vendetta (voiced like Connoisseur) and a Whest. I envy your task in choosing - but like @rauliruegas - if it were my money? FM Acoustics - versatile and just plain brilliant.