There are some very good phono stages out there without doubt.
Sooner or later you have to choose it based on your own priorities.
Counting brands only is useless, you have to know what they can and what not.
- excellent sound ( + enough gain )
- reliability
- flexible in settings
- insensitive to microphonics or hum
maybe there are a few more, but these 4 are the most important ones and when all 4 are on the priority list, then there are not so much out there.....
( some like to play around with tubes or whatever, some are less interested it that, their priority is that is has to work the way it should when activated, and everyone has his own dream of course....)
One of the definetly best phono stages is the Stan Klyne 7 PX 3.5, it beats the ARC PH 3 easily.
Personally I am very careful about all the hype, most is written in magazines and is pushed by dealers to make some new money, and most is too optimistic, by far.
The next step above a Klyne is the CTC Blowtorch.
Cheers
Sooner or later you have to choose it based on your own priorities.
Counting brands only is useless, you have to know what they can and what not.
- excellent sound ( + enough gain )
- reliability
- flexible in settings
- insensitive to microphonics or hum
maybe there are a few more, but these 4 are the most important ones and when all 4 are on the priority list, then there are not so much out there.....
( some like to play around with tubes or whatever, some are less interested it that, their priority is that is has to work the way it should when activated, and everyone has his own dream of course....)
One of the definetly best phono stages is the Stan Klyne 7 PX 3.5, it beats the ARC PH 3 easily.
Personally I am very careful about all the hype, most is written in magazines and is pushed by dealers to make some new money, and most is too optimistic, by far.
The next step above a Klyne is the CTC Blowtorch.
Cheers