Technics 1200G phono recommendations


I plan to purchase a Technics 1200G turntable. Need recommendations for a phono stage. Budget under under 3k, used ok. I do not want to exceed the quality of the turntable, if that makes sense. Would also appreciate recommendations on Ortofon cartridge to match the level of TT. 
Will pair it with Mastersound 845 tube amp and Diapason adamantes III speakers. 

How much difference  does a tube phono make? Is it safe to assume that SS phono will be just as good as tube phono? I'd like to have a totally analog system, including a tube phono, but not sure how much SS phono will take away from analog sound. 
ei001h

Showing 4 responses by chakster

Phono stage is for cartridge, not for turntable (the type or brand of turntable is irrelevant for the phono stage).

You can use almost any cartridge on Technics tonearm, except for a very low compliance or very high compliance. But even a compliance mismatch can be tuned with headshells of different mass. 

Mid compliance cartridge is ideal.
If you are looking for modern cartridges just don’t buy low compliance MC. 

Most of the modern carts are mid compliance.


Cartridge most likely Ortofon MC Cadenza blue. Does that change anything?

It is, you need a phono stage with optional gain and optional loading for MC. 

Gold Note PH-10 is excellent
With the RS, you can set a very low compliance (100) and it works with MC carts too.

What? 
I have no idea why people mention turntable type or brand when they are talking about phono stage?

What’s the reason for that?

Your phono stage connected to phono cable and this cable connected to the cartridge pins.

What is matter:
CARTRIDGE type, cartridge output, cartridge impedance.

For MM cartridge: phono cable capacitance is important too.

But turbtable is irrelevant for the phono stage!

People, wake up !?