”And the old Audio Research PH2 has a fair amount of hiss”… That was released in 1992… thirty years ago.
My ARC PH8 had no hiss as does my REF 3.
Solid State Phono Stages
I used to be an all-tube guy, but I’ve now ventured into the realm of high-end solid state with T+A and no longer have any itch to go back heavily into tubes. Now, the only tubes I have left in my system are in my Modwright PH9.0X phono, and from what I’ve demoed against it, it seems to be a giant killer. I do love it, but I’m curious to try a higher end solid state phono stage to see what more noise and more music might sound like. Unfortunately T+A does not have a standalone phono stage, so I’m looking at other manufacturers and open to other opinions.
I currently have a Clearaudio Innovation Wood table and Air Tight PC-1s cartridge. i listen to a wide range of music, from Zeppelin to Vivaldi to Beck to Coltrane to Yello. The stage would ideally have between 65-74db of gain, maybe adjustable to 60db at minimum, and have variable impedance values. A balanced output stage would be ideal. I don’t ever really plan to have a second arm, but most stages that retail over $7K tend to have multiple inputs anyways.
My budget would be at tops ~$8K for a used unit. The unit that is sticking out to me from what I’m reading about is the Simaudio Moon 810LP. Another high on the list is the Esoteric E-02. I’ve also come across the Pass XP-27, the Gold Note PH-1000.
I’m looking for a stage with some personality in its character, not one that is overly refined. I’d love for it to be dynamic and bold when it should be, and also gentle and refined when it should be.
The only solid state stages I’ve ever owned and tried were the Pass Labs Xono, which was clean sounding but a little noisy and brittle sounding compared to a PS Audio Stellar Phono. I’ve liked all my tube phono stages better than both of those units.
I’ve also considered going further up the tube stage route, looking at Doshi 3.0, Aesthetix IO Eclipse, but I’m hesitant unless I can hear those in place.
What solid stage phono stages have you loved, and what have you compared them to?
Showing 6 responses by ghdprentice
OP…”I think my listening preferences have changed to be a bit more analytical, so the Ref 3 phono does interest me.” Ok, the REF 3 should not interest you. From what you are saying you really are moving in the opposite direction. If you look from a high level in the changes in audiophile equipment over the last 40 or 50 years. Tube was musical, really warm and a bit rolled off at high and low frequencies. SS was fast but with copious quantities of high frequency hash and really distorted treble. They have been converging from these opposite sides. As an example Audio Research leading the way (admittedly floundering a bit un the late 90’s ėarly 2000… but killing it after that) Pass has step by step worked from high output detailed… calming down the distortion and getting more musical. The devide still exists… but it is so much smaller… but important for those of us that have really great systems. ARC is high resolution (as opposed to MAC, for instance) very natural. And musical… not a bit of analytical. The ARC Ref 3 Phonostage is beautiful… but not remotely analytical… don’t give it another thought. You should think Boulder, Mark Levinson, Pass, SIm… I am sure there are a couple more.
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@thiefoflight …”But I am in the camp that believes that a component can be analytical and be incredibly musical and enjoyable.”
ok, we definitely are talking about definitions.. Maybe it is just because I am an old fart, but analytical to me means overly detailed… achieved by less midrange and bass bloom… causing a highlighting of detail… which always comes at a loss of warmth and generally musicality. It is like slam which is increased by reducing midrange and upper bass… the contrast highlights the fast transient bass (something ss is good at). But the downside is you loose bass resolution. To me you are talking about wanting a detailed musical system… the thing ARC is known for. Analytical has bad connotations to me. |
I hope you will report back as to what you do and find. My journey has been in the opposite direction… I found Audio Research for phono stages decades ago and once I got to ARC tube phonostages… there was no going back… I now own a ARC Reference 3. Next same with preamps… now Reference 6SE… then DAC and amp… Ref160s… After decades with the wonderful Pass ss amps I can’t even begin to think of going back.
So, I would be really interested to hear your impressions when you get your new Phonostage. |