I picked up a Soundsmith Aida II not too long ago and have been using it off and on with my Technics SL 1200 MK2 and Pass Labs XP-15. Sounds great, very quiet, dynamic, detailed, and a big soundstage.
Icon Audio PS1.2 MC with NOS Telefunken tubes - sounds great with the Tele tubes and Hana ML series cart @ 200 ohm load. With the NOS Tele tubes (not new anymore) running $400 - $500 each now I thought I'd try a Hagerman Trumpet MC. It's still burning in but starting to blossom. I upgraded the power supply with SBooster and installed gold lion gold pin tubes. The goal is to get this phono stage sounding as good or better than the icon audio/Telefunken combo and it's almost there. I'm not sure why the IA/Tele/Hanna ML combo sounds so good but it does. As we know...it's all about getting the right match of components that work well with each other and I just got lucky with that combo. Another highly knowledgeable friend of mine recommended the Trumpet MC. He's had his a while now and loves it. It comes highly regarded as probably the best value in a phono stage right now.
I am UK based and this reflects in my equipment selection. Current TT is Rega Planar 8 with Rega Apheta 3 MC cartridge and Longdog Audio MC J3 phono stage. The MC J3 is interesting as it combines solid state and tubes. It's the best I have had to date, previous phono stages were from NVA & Tom Evans. I thought both were good but lacked the wow factor of the MC J3. I have a broken Rega Apheta 2 MC that I am going to get Peter to repair with a new cantilever and tip when he hopefully recovers from his latest C19 infection. Even though I have never heard a Soundsmith cartridge my gut feel is I am going to enjoy it.
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