Best cost no object tube phono


Hi Agoners,


just upgraded everything to SS Accuphase, loving it and have no intention to go back to tube pre/power. However, I have to admit that I miss a bit of tube sweetness particularly on mid. What is the best cost no object tube phono stage?

Thanks in advance for any advices
uwiikz
You said you miss the mid range sweetness.   Know one so far has address that.  Do your self a favor and have Dave Slagle  build you a LCR all tube phono.  I had accuphase integraded  100 watt amp for 25 years.  Not even close to my All DHT 4 stage all interstaged transformer push pull 845 amps.

Enjoy the ride
Tom
lewm8,595 posts02-14-2021 11:42amTeo, nice piece of writing. You realize it’s all assertions on your part, I’m sure.




Tell us what you really think lewm :-)

Implementation is everything and it is very easy to measure these claimed distortions. At these signal levels, wide open loop bandwidths with SS provide more than enough gain to cancel out distortion.  Remember tubes and the listed SS devices are only linear because of inherent feedback. 
A couple people who live on your side of the planet have this unit. I have not heard it, it is quite expensive, and but as Ferris Bueller said, "if you have the means...": http://emt-international.ch/e/jpa66.php 
@uwiikz, you want quiet? Check out the Channel D Seta L20. If you have money to burn this is the one. It is the quietest phono stage on the market and gives you a choice of current or voltage modes.
If you have to have a tube unit go for one that has at most 56 dB of gain and add a SUT. With the right tubes this kind of set up can be very quiet.