What is the best phono preamp you have heard?

Threshold fet-10/PC with e power supply.

The Graham Slee Era Gold MK V

The amount of separation between instruments, the dynamics and the speed with which it replicates the sounds breaths new life into recordings. The increased depth and width of the soundstage is mesmerizing and it is really something special to listen to.
It can be less than forgiving however for a recording that steps too far outside the bounds. It won't smooth that over.

The Robert Koda K 10 is now the best I have ever heard, but one must provide the best power cord (HFC Ultimate Reference Rhodium)and the best isolation (Star Sound Tech Apprentics platform on a good base.

I haven't heard a lot of different phono stages, but IMO, the Herron VTPH-2 seems to be the most uncolored unit. It is also very detailed and has excellent timing / transient coherence. Nice and natural dynamic snap. No stridency. I can find nothing wrong with it.

For the money, the Linn Uphorik MM/MC phone pre-amp.

It's extremely flexible & quiet and I'm using one in a non-Linn system with the EMT TSD15 SFL MC cart mounted on a Brinkmann Bardo / Origin Live Encounter anal;og setup.

I agree with Fremer, the BMC MCCI ($3890) is the best at any price. You ought to hear it with the HFC power cords.

Tbg, 5-15-14: "The Robert Koda K 10 is now the best I have ever heard"

Tbg, 5-16-14: "I agree with Fremer, the BMC MCCI ($3890) is the best at any price"

Ok, so in one day the "best" got bested. And I need to pay $13k for a power cord to truly appreciate this phono stage? Now that's pretty sad.

Jafox, the Koda is a line stage and the MCCI is a phono stage. I have always thought the BMC MCCI was their best piece. It may have been a coincidence that the Koda blosomed just when I put the HFC URR on it, but I'm not taking it off to check this out.

Based on the quote below from Michael Fremer's review of the BMC MCCI he does not think it is the best, and it is not compatible with some MC cartridges.

"I'm not suggesting the MCCI is in the same league as the Ypsilon VPS-100, Boulder 2008, or other top phono preamplifiers that I've heard. It skimps somewhat on instrumental textures and timbres; and the bass, while very well extended, doesn't exhibit the control and stability those manage."

Jperry, although the comment about compatibity for some MC cartridges was in the original review, the rest was not. Unbeatable at any price was.

Tbg,

What do you mean certain parts were not in the original review?

I have used numerous phono preamps over the past 20 years. But the internal phono board in my Classe CP-500 preamp sounds the best. Possibly because it is not outboard? I don't know. But very nice sounding.

Figured I might as well contribute to a 10 year old thread.

Americanflag, the quoted portion in my response to Jperry was not in the original review.

My Allnic H 1201 takes the cake for me. Its everything I looking for.

What a blast from the past....