2. analog
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Stand out phono stages

This topic has been started before by others and myself as well, maybe too many times, but it is worth revisiting since the source is so very important!
So far I have had the pleasure to enjoy two worthy phono stages: the EAR 834p and the JLTI.
I have to admit they are spectacular. Obviously the record and all the equipment downstream play a role in the sound heard. In some cases I prefer the JLTI and in other cases the EAR. But neither out do the other dramatically.
What phono preamps outshine others by a big margin, those that can be considered the last phono preamp ever needed.
pedrillo
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Thefile you da' man!

Can we PLEASE dispense with the word "best?" It's so tiring, monotonic and uniformative. More inquiry, less advocacy.

Please?
istanbulu
291 posts
 
Ah... Stevecham... you wrote...

>>Can we PLEASE dispense with the word "best?" It's so tiring, monotonic and uniformative. More inquiry, less advocacy.<<

and I see by your profile you are registered as living in the USA, but you know not being a maximizer... not being partisan... not arguing "the best"... ah surely you know that's distinctly unAmerican... that it takes an intelligence that tolerates and appreciates the subtleties inherent in complexity rather than mere dualities of best and either-or ... that rich complexity which we as Americans are woefully intolerant of and impatient with... ah, if wishes were horses etc...

sigh... I agree with your point... let's make it so!

:) listening,

Ed
geor
37 posts
 
Well-said Ed!

George
fcrowder
191 posts
 
The real problem with athread like this is that other than a Michael fremer, most of us will never hear anywhere near the full range of phonostages available and the number that we will hear in our own systems is even fewer. Add to this the rarety and expense of some of the contenders and it becomes even more difficult. I have often thought that when we moved from integrated preamps which contained a phonostahe to separates we may well ahve lost something as there are clearly synergies involved. I intend to test that out later this year when I will have an Audionote M9/S9 in my home system for an extended period. The M9 is that rarest of beasts, a preamp with a phonostage designed to complement its functioning.
karelfd
476 posts
 
Fcrower nailed it. In defense of the original poster and many contributors, though, his line read "stand-out phono-stages" (not "best" and in plural)

Pedrillo, if we may also include integrated stages, then I have to add both Tidal Presencio and Tidal Preos whereby, to put the hierarchy right, to their designer phono actually comes first, they are not convenient add-ons and they do fulfill your original criterion:
... those that can be considered the last phono preamp ever needed.
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