Tube or solid state phono stage?


I have a high end all tube system (AR 750 SEL amps, AR Ref 6 preamp, SF Aida speakers) and am now adding a turntable with a Benz cartridge.. Should I stick with buying a tube phono stage or go with solid state? I’d like to keep my system all tube but I’m worried a tube phono stage may make the vinyl too warm sounding and not dynamic enough.

thanks in advance for any help!

stewartgr

Showing 1 response by larryi

As a very general observation:  if your tube system is in danger of lacking good dynamics, something is wrong.  At moderate to low volume levels, I expect tube gear to sound considerably more dynamic and alive than solid state.  As a more specific observation, your particular tube electronics is on the leaner side, not the warmer side, of tube electronics; for my taste, I would want a quite warm sounding phono stage in that setup.

I have heard, and liked phono stages from Lector (Italian, tube) and Audio Note (requires SUT for MC, very expensive), Allnic and Zanden.  I own the Italian Viva Fono myself.