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Tube Phono with Tube Integrated Amp?

what are the drawbacks (if any) of this setup?  

i recently acquired a VPI Prime (amazing) with a Soundsmith Zephyr MKIII.   using a ProJect Tube Box S (which was a phenomenal upgrade for my previous ProJect Carbon table).  right now, running this through a vintage Kenwood KA-9100, powering Elac UniFi's bookshelf speakers. 

i'm looking to build a 2 channel system that i can grow with, so please disregard the amp/speakers for now.  I've read great things about the Manley Chinook and the Allnic H1201.   in the event that i upgrade to a tube integrated amp in the future, is there any downside?
i've read on this forum that a tube phono is better paired with a solid state amp.  



mjb87062017

Showing 2 responses by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
There is no real downside to owning too many pieces of tube equipment, unless you consider tube maintenance/experimentation to be a bad thing.

Probably those that have said that a tubed phono preamp is better paired with a SS amp feel that way due to their speakers. Some speakers just mate better with SS amps.

I'm running a H1201 with my VPI Prime, and it works very nicely. The Chinook is also nice, as is the Zesto listed above, and don't forget about Herron.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Check me out on the specs for the Chinook and the H1201 to be sure in fact that both do offer at least one high level input. I use a Manley Steelhead, which does have that feature.

Neither the Allnic H1201 nor the Manley Chinook offer any high level inputs. Both are strictly phono stages.

Also, check out the new Atma-sphere phono.

I see no information about this on the Atma-Sphere website. Must be too new!
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