Stand out phono stages

Lew, Pat: In my view (and experience), the issue of cartridge loading primarily concerns what the phono stage can tolerate, and then as a lower priority what the cartridge would be most happy with. Put another way, what is commonly talked about as "cartridge loading" should probably more usefully thought of as "phono stage input termination."

To cut to the chase, the Connoisseur has been designed so that it is quite tolerant of loading across a broad range of cartridges - but the same is not necessarily true for other phono stages. With the Connoisseur, I happily run any of my own cartridge designs at 10kohm (used to be 47kohm) without feeling the slightest desire for heavier loading, but with most other phono stages, I find that something between 330~120ohms sounds better.

For a technical writeup as to why this can be so, please see Jim Hagerman's article at www.hagtech.com/loading.html. Some time back I wrote a much more detailed post on this same topic on Audiogon, and I wish that I could simply link to that, but I don't know how to find my own post! (^o^;)

cheers and hth, jonathan carr

Perhaps I was misunderstood.I personally never heard the Zanden.Some of my friends are high on this design,due to different selectable RIAA curves,that one can play with.
Supposedly "fantastic" if you have a large Columbia/Decca collection of vinyl,amongst other labels."They" have this LP wealth,so are very interested.One of them heard the demo,given by Hi Fi Plus(where the unit got a rave review some time ago)at RMAF,and was extremely impressed.The various RIAA curves were utilized,from what I was told(this is only second hand,mind you)and it appeared that the Zanden was "fantastic".Especially if you have a wealth of Decca,Columbia etc classical discs.
From the input I got,the "thinning" we hear on many Columbia lp's is "dramatically" improved through the Zanden.I trust the info,since these guys are quite reliable.
Bad news....Incredibly expensive!!! No surprise there.
Best.

Sirspeedy - on that note, if someone wants to experiment with a high-quality tubed phonostage with adjustable EQ (and more flexibility than the Zanden), have a look at the Sentec EQ-10.

I just got one of these and have been having a blast playing around with it. Many of the curve possibilites are applicable mainly to 78s of course, but many are for early mono LPs. And yes, it does transform early Columbias! We're talking EARLY Columbias though... the blue-label ones. By the time you get to six-eye, they were using RIAA.

I'm very curious about the small European labels though... early Discophiles Francais, Erato, Hispa Vox etc. There is very little info online about what curves these labels used. I'd be very interested if anyone here could fill me in.

Patrick,interesting,and thanks for the info.The Erato label,I believe,is the Euro RCA.Not too great,but I DO have a few which are quite good.
The really early Columbia stuff is not easy to find,I think.If it's not in the stereo era,I usually don't kill my back(most of the LP's are now on the floor sections,where I get my vinyl)looking for mono stuff,though I don't rule mono out.Of course "any" good jazz lp's in mono are very desirable to me.Just the classical mono stuff does not turn me on.
BTW,Hi Fi Plus,about a year ago,actually did a very complete comparison of phono stages,where the Zanden went head to head with the Lyra.BOTH came out as the two best Roy Gregory had stated(for what it's worth).
I Do know R.G. likes the Zanden,ALOT!!!
This is just "hobbyspeak",by me,for anyone interested in hashing around this kind of stuff.Other than my own,built in,re-built/extensively modded phonostage,and the few my friends have,I cannot give accurate input on this particular subject.I Do know tube rolling with top NOS tubes made a huge improvement in the stages I have access to.No new news there,I am sure.
What we all try to get,"whether we think so or not",is the "actual sound of our cartridge"!THE most important component in the system,to my way of thinking!All other componentry should just "get out of the way".To my way of thinking(only opinion)once we get really familiar with a well voiced system,which has been carefully considered,and lived with, you kind of get a REAL sensation that the sound you are hearing is "that" of the actual cartridge!!Assuming we know what neutral componentry is!
Of course,this is taking into account we know these LP's VERY well too,which can mean we bring them to other friend's homes,as well as dealer/show set-ups to gain interesting insight.Vinylistas really have too much fun,for one lifetime!! No?
Sorry for my typical rant.I'm working on "that".Not too successfully -:)
Best.

Sirspeedy,

I have the Zanden 1200 phonostage and yes , like Roy Gregory says it is one of the great phono stages I have owned. The manual has table to set appropriate RIAA curve selection for many labels. You can clearly listen the sound snap in place(tonally- Thin and excessively body becomes natural respectively)when a right curve is chosen. Like all the other Zanden components, this one is no exception: it performs at whole another unthinkable level.