In search of quality mc Phono stage


Hello all

My system

Audio Note Voyd TT with Audio Nite An arm 3

Koetsu Black MC cart

 vintage Tube Mac pre and amp

 various speakers. AN E to AR LST to Tannoy MG’s

 budget is 1500 USD on the used market. 
Music taste is rock or blues or Jazz
 

I  know nothing about phono stage.  What makes them good what makes them bad. Should I go with tube or should I go with solid-state. All suggestions are welcome. I think 50 to 60% of new retail price is adequate on the used market.

 Thanks for any help

 PK

128x128pkvintage

I just saw your preamp is C22. You said Vintage, I presume

http://akdatabase.org/AKview/albums/userpics/10004/C22-CE%20Owners%20Manual.pdf

I got momentarily confused, The new one, same model number has built in MM and MC inputs and several loading options. See face plate options here:

owners manual

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/-/media/Files/mcintoshlabs/DocumentMaster/us/c22d-om01.pdf?rev=1a15df7bb36f4a2a97dacfe5a9f8a622&revision=1a15df7b-b36f-4a2a-97da-cfe5a9f8a622

That's what some external SUT's do, single setting; a few options; lots of optional settings.

 

I haven’t got through all the information in replies yet, but I will add this. My C 22 is an original C 22. I used to have a Audio AN S2 L step up transformer but I got so tired with grounding issues with the vintage gear that I just sold it And decided to go MC phono stage. I have a digital meridian set up coming soon that I will need a phono-stage for anyways. The Audio Note / Koetsu will end up with the Meridian and my TD 124 with a Grace MM F9 will end up with the C 22 and Mac gear.

I am using a cheap little project phono box with MC to make it work at the moment

I gave it 2 month, tried 4 different ones, at half your price range. I didn't try the Manley Chinook or Hegel V10 but those would be my end game phono stages. There are lots of options, pros and cons, I wouldn't overthink it, my 2 cents is that they are like good cables, transport the signal and not create it. I read great things about Sutherland, but as a general rule, I wouldn't spend more than a third of the other components' prices on the phono stage.