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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 1 response by salectric

salectric
747 posts
 
You may want to try the lower-gain Artemis PH-1 (52 db) instead of the PL-1 (72 db). The PL-1 is simply the PH-1 with a builtin Sowter 10:1 transformer that provides an additional 20 db gain. The PH-1 would allow you to choose your own MC transformer, and you may even find the 52 db gain is adequate for a medium-output cartridge without a transformer.

I have been using the PH-1 for over a month now with outboard Jensen 10:1 transformers. The resulting 72 db gain is more than my system needs for a low output Benz L2 (.25 mv). But if I bypass the transformers, the 52 db gain is not enough; there is audible tube rush. With your .5 mv cartridge, you may find that you can run it straight in and have adequate gain without any transformers.

If you do audition an Artemis, make sure it has been well broken in with actual signal. I believe the mfr runs them in with signal for a few hours before they get shipped out, but it isn't nearly enough since the sound quality changes rather dramatically over several weeks of use. After two weeks, I was ready to return my unit since it didn't provide the inner detail and microdynamics of my DIY phono stages. However, after another week the Artemis was superior, so I kept it. Unfortunately, it's hard to log these hours of actual use with a phono stage. You need to play a lot of records.

Good luck.

Dave
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