Your Ultimate Phono Preamp: Which One Would You Choose?

Darren Myers now works as a V.P. for Parasound.

I am currently using an Accuphase C-47  phono preamplifier. Quiet and powerful. I like it.

I have a vinyl-only system and I'm lucky enough to own a Tom Evans Audio Design

Master groove SR mark 11 phono stage.

This was Tom Evan's absolute top phono stage but has now been superseded

by the Mastergroove SR mark 111 which Is slightly better than the already fabulous-sounding mark 11.

(OK, so I'm a TEAD dealer but I listen to and enjoy what I sell!)

My cartridges alternate between an Audio Note IO Gold (used with a custom 1:3 SUT) Ikeda Kai. Rebuilt Denon DL103 with shabita stylus and an

Ortofon SPU GM 11 e (for playing early digital vinyl!).

Aries cerat talos 

Paradox Phono Signature 70 Models can be found for as little as $1800 if buying used is being considered. A search carried out will find such sale price offers.

If prudent spending is being considered, this might be one model worth learning much more about.

In recent searches I have found US produced Phon's produced that were close to $15K when new, that are offered for sale or sold recently close to $3K as used items.

I will make a large Wager, these Older released models as basic will stand ground well against modern $15K Phon's.

If the used Older released model was to have some minor mod's, where exchanges to the circuit was carried out, using state of the art Components, there is the possibility, the race will look very different, as to who is out in front. 

One thing for sure, $1000's will remain in ones coffers.  

Aesthetix Rhea Eclipse. I've had it for 6 years. Adding this was the biggest one time improvement in my analog playback system.