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Stand out phono stages

This topic has been started before by others and myself as well, maybe too many times, but it is worth revisiting since the source is so very important!
So far I have had the pleasure to enjoy two worthy phono stages: the EAR 834p and the JLTI.
I have to admit they are spectacular. Obviously the record and all the equipment downstream play a role in the sound heard. In some cases I prefer the JLTI and in other cases the EAR. But neither out do the other dramatically.
What phono preamps outshine others by a big margin, those that can be considered the last phono preamp ever needed.
pedrillo

Showing 2 responses by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
The Essential is an exceptional phono/line stage. One of the best we've heard. But to say it's "simply the best" is an overstatement, since it could not match our Nick Doshi Alaap.

If the Essential 3150 we demoed had outplayed our Alaap Mk I we'd have bought one. But it didn't, so we didn't. ;-)

The Essential is now the 3160, apparently improved in areas where it fell short of the Alaap. The Alaap is now the Mk II, improved in areas where it couldn't quite match the Essential.

That these preamps easily outplay competitors costing several times as much is indeed expectation-busting. That the designers continue to find ways to improve them is even more amazing. Like yours, our preamp search is over, probably forever.

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
My system is a little on the dark side and I've used many tube phono stages and now I'm finding that a solid state phono stage is really better for me. Helps the overall balance.
A classic example of applying a band-aid instead of addressing the problem at its source. That's not the path to high fidelity IME, certainly not at the performance level this thread is about.

If a system is a little on the dark side don't paper over the problem, identify which components make it dark and correct or replace them. It's impossible to counterbalance the distortions of one component by introducing distortions in another. In a sufficiently revealing system all you'll hear are the competing distortions.

Make each component as neutral as possible. That's what the best preamps or the best anything seek to do.

Harrumph! ;)

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