Ralph's phono is supposed to be exceptional(ive never heard one but trust those who say so). I have tried a rhea signature with a Jim mcshane premuim tube set and was completely underwhelmed. It also had some tube noise so probably that is common to the unit. I tried it the same time as the zesto and the Herron and those 2 really outclassed it. The zesto had a bit of a mid hall presentation with the Herron putting you up in the front row. The rhea was very dark sounding without the same level of inner detail. The other 2 were dead quiet.
I ended up buying the Herron and have never looked at photos since. |
Hey Handymann,
I too run fully balanced cabling, although I actually had AJ Conti, (owner of
Basis Audio), terminate my Vector's tonearm cables with XLRs, so I run
balanced from my cartridge, to my phono preamplifier, then to my line
stage preamp, and finally into my monoblock amplifiers, (Lamm M2.1s). It
is an extremely quiet system.
FYI, the ASR Basis exclusive is actually two phono preamps in one chasis.
If you have the money, the Atma-Sphere MP-1, (3.2 version), full function
preamp would be good way to go, especially now that it comes with a
remote control. (You can have Ralph configure it precisely the way you
want it. I spoke to Ralph about his unit many times, (as I was considering
buying a used one, as I could not afford a new one), and he was very
generous with his time.)
Good Luck with your search! |
There are tube preamps that accept the phono cartridge as a balanced source using XLR connections.
A nice advantage of that is the cable no longer plays a sonic role in the sound of the system. That's what the balanced line system is for after all... |
Thanks for all those who took the time to respond. I think I may have over exaggerated my tube rush noise. It's really quite low, but still wondered about quality solid state preamps. I've yet to connect my Rhea to my Theta, but may do so today(too many irons in the fire) I wouldn't mind trying a Manley, but I use mainly XLR cables, with exception of my TT cables and I noticed Manley uses only single end connectors. I guess I need to "clean up" my cable runs, but I have so much equipment with cables running here and there, it's hard not to cross them. Using XLR connectors/cables, I have no AC hum at all and am free to criss cross over and over. We all like experimenting with different equipment from time to time, but after adjusting here and there, I think I'm well satisfied with the equipment I mentioned. I neglected to mention I have a couple Krell 600's that I absolutely love. I can pump as much as I want into my Wilson's without hearing any harshness or strain. It literally took me years to understand-you can't have a power amp that's too big. |
I like Manley phono stages. Currenly using a cj TEA2MAX that is also a hybrid and is dead quiet too. |
The Manley phono stages have a semiconductor input and are not true all-tube phono sections. |
Manley tube stages are dead quiet; I've owned both a chinook and now a steelhead, absolutely no tube rush, just music |
A tube phono section can be just as quiet as a solid state phono section if a stepup transformer is used.
The advantage of a good tube phono section is that you can have a lot less ticks and pops if it is properly designed (this is a function of high frequency stability in the phono section design; if unstable it can exacerbate ticks and pops that you would otherwise not hear, and has nothing to do with bandwidth). |
I have a XV1S on Graham/Clearaudio innovation Into Rhea Sig/ML 326S/ML334/Wilson Sasha. No tube noise at 62dB. I did change to NOS Mazda/RadioTechnique/Telefunken 12ax7 and Matsushita 6922.
I tried a few ss phono incl. the ML internal phono and the VTL 6.5 phono stage. The VTL produce the best sound but I need 2 inputs as I have Goldfinger on another graham arm so settle with Rhea. Tubes phono stage sounds best in my system for rock, jazz, vocal and classical. |
All of the Aesthetic phonostages I've heard were on the noisier side. I suppose that this is, in part, because they use only active gainstages and don't use a step up transformer. There are many tube phonostages with step up transformers that are dead quiet. I have a Viva fono which is actually MUCH quieter than a friend's Boulder solid state phonostage.
With tube phonostages that are a bit noisy, it is important to hunt down tubes that are quieter. Even with the same type/brand of tubes, some willl be quieter than others.
I have not heard many solid state phonostages in my system that are in your price range. At a dealership, I did hear a nice system that employed the $7500 Zanden phonostage. This is a particularly flexible phonostage that offers different equaliztion curves--RIAA, Decca, Columbia, EMI and Teldec (DG), if I recall properly. I was surprised how many fairly recently pressed records sounded better on an alternative equalization curve even though they were pressed long after RIAA was supposed to be universal. The Zanden also offered a phase inversion switch. |
Hey Handymann,
You might want to try posting your question on Audio Asylum, (in either the preamp/amp asylum or the vinyl asylum). Sometimes you get different, (and/or more), answers there.
Good luck! |
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Now look at what you've done. He's crying!. Are you happy now? Unbelievable. |
Im incorrect I'm now in the corner crying. |
07-04-15: Ebm
Both are good tubes are warmer solid state when done right can be more accurate.
that is absolutely an innorrect statement. It comes down to the design.
any preamp can be modified to become more quiet. Add a filter choke set-up in the power supply. |
Both are good tubes are warmer solid state when done right can be more accurate. |
Well, if you don't mind a hybrid line stage preamp, (which is dead quiet, btw), I would recommend what I use, which is the VTL TL-6.5 Signature, (with only two 12AU7 tubes.). The phono stage is a battery powered, solid state, ASR Basis Exclusive, (2010 model with the gold boards). I paid $4K and $3K respectively, (bought used of course).
FYI: I use a Dynavector XV-1S on my Basis 2500, with a Vector M3 tonearm. The system is indeed dead quiet, and that is how I like it. |
Before you do anything, try turning the gain down on the Rhea. Wilson's are pretty efficient speakers, and its common to get some noise if you have too much gain on the front end. I had the same problem with my Wilsons. |
