2. analog
  3. 1271521797

Steelhead vs LP2 etc with Revel Krell and Sota

Hey guys,

So I'm in the market for a new phono preamp. Here is my current system:

Sota Sapphire with Vacuum just refurbished at factory
SME IV.VI new
Denon DL-160 Cartridge (temp cart waiting on a mysterious lyra kleos!)
PS Audio GCPH phono preamp
Placette passive linestage
Krell 400cx
Revel Gems (new in box about 8 months ago)
Revel B15

So I'm not sure if it shows but i've pieced this system together from amaizng deals/free of being in the industry. The synergy of the system could be improved. The Krell and the Revels are great at what they do but seem out of place in the vinyl tube relm. That said I don't really know if i'm ready to swap speakers and amp at this stage.

I'd like to get a phono preamp that is very flexible and will last me several different cartridge changes and hopefully i'll stick with the SME arm. I'd like to mount that to an SME table one day.

I'm thinking of using the volume control on the Steelhead and running it directly to my amp and sub. I'm gonna sell a Levinson 30.5 DAC, the PS Audio GCPH and the placcette linestage. I've thought about the Aesthetix IO with volume control. Maybe the Lamm LP2 going into the Placette.

I'd like to say "hey I'll just get a demo and try it out in my system". But I don't think the cartridge I have now would allow me to really see a defining difference.

Anyone have thoughts?

Thanks,
Russ
rhohense

Showing 1 response by rauliruegas

rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Rhohense: As you point out that Denon can't show you very high quality performance you need a better cartridge, either LOMC or MM/MI, before you think in a new phonolinepreamp. IMHO the most important link in an analog system is the source and this means: the cartridge.

Now, you talk about your Revel rig ( that I know very well. ) and you think that maybe you need a change here too.
I don't know which kind of room you have and which kind of room treatment are using but Gem's/B-15's are great combination with very high quality performance.
I read you have only one B-15 and your pictures on the B-15 room place seems/means to me: problems ( room interaction. ) that could preclude better system performance. I can't be sure because I don't know how performs your system so maybe I'm wrong.

Anyway please read here some interesting information about:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1117893153&openflup&27&4#27

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
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