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What phono stage candidates should I consider?

I will be taking delivery of a new linestage, the Emotive Audio Epifania (tube-based), which will be replacing a Mark Levinson Ref. No. 32 that has a built-in phono stage. I am therefore in the market for a new phono stage. My cartridge is a Lyra Titan, which is mounted on a Basis Vector arm/Basis Debut (vacuum) table combination.

I can, realistically, only review a small number of candidate linestages in my own system, so I need to determine which stages to consider. If I find one that I like, I will go with it and I do not plan on driving myself crazy chasing after the "best."

Some of the relevant details about the Titan are as follows: It is rated at .5mV output and has an internal impedance of 5.5 ohms. Lyra specifies loading of 10 ohms to 47k ohm (they recommend the higher end of the range, i.e, unloaded). If mated to a step up transformer, they recommend 4-6 ohms, not exceeding 10 ohms.

One of the candidates I am looking at is the Artemis PL-1 phono stage. It is a tube-base unit that utilizes a transformer to step up the voltage. I don't know which model of transformer they use, but the brand is a Sowter (my guess is the 1:20 model specified for cartridges with a 3-15 internal impedance).

I can also get in for audition a Ray Samuels Emmeline. I will also be borrowing a friend's phono stage that is made locally, in the Washington D.C. area, by Deja Vu Audio (tube based/Jensen transformer or a more expensive model with Audionote trannies).

I am looking for any comments as to which candidates to consider and any helpful detail of experience mating the Titan with a good phono stage. I do hope to keep cost under $8,000 or so, if that is possible.

Thanks.
larryi

Showing 2 responses by ferrari

ferrari
617 posts
 
Heres the ones I have used in the past with great success.
Klyne is no doubt the best of the group. Threshold FET 10PC, and a Conrad Johnson EF1. But have to agree with another respondent and have a phono stage installed in the Levinso 32 you have now.Other worthy contenders if you can find them is the Pass Labs XONO. But seeing what your doing I would just call Stan Klyne or Nelson Pass and have them builf you want you really need.
ferrari
617 posts
 
If you can afford the FM Acoustic phono preamp, that will put you in very elite company. Their client list is a virtual whos, who of the music industry. If you can get the serial number, you may find who it was made for. All FM Acoustic pieces are custom made one at a time for the specific client. This is the creme de la creme of all audio gear. While I was at a major record label, we had a few of those. Nothing and I mean nothing is better, it stands alone as the pinnacle of all audio gear.
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