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Tube Phono Stage Help

I have a Whest TWO that I am auditioning with a 30 trial period. My ultimate goal was a Fosgate but I decided to order a Spectron amp and that cut my funds short.

I like the Whest and compared to my entry level Vincent it is a vast improvement. Deeper tighter base, open soundstage and tonally accurate. Sounds a little lean on some recordings-maybe I am too critical?

Is there a tube phono stage for around $1200 new or used that can be recommended to "warm" up the sound on some of these lean rock albums? The rest of my setup: Rega Planar 2, Ortofon Blue 2M, Cary SLP03 Preampo, B&W 802D powered by a Cary Cinema amp.
stl114_nj
thorman
1,262 posts
 
There is a Bottlehead Seduction on this site now..Better grab it before its gone.......
frogman
7,370 posts
 
EAR 834P for $900-$1000 more or less, used, is wonderful. A little on the juicy side (particularly in stock form), with very good PRAT. Will definitely warm things up.
scotthobby
60 posts
 
I also recommend the EAR 834P. They occasionally show up for less than $1,000 which is a tremendous bargain. Mine matches up with my ModWright SWP9.0SE line stage preamp beautifully.
grinnell
1,077 posts
 
I second the Seduction, it is a sweet sounding stage
lewm
12,543 posts
 
With all due respect to Bottlehead, wouldn't you guys expect the Whest to be superior to the Seduction? The Bottlehead Eros might be a better alternative, I would think. And to the OP, what system is giving you a lean sound? You say you are trying out the Whest and you own a Spectron amp, but in your last sentence you say you have a Cary preamp and amplifier. Compared to those latter two, the Spectron would surely be lean sounding. Perhaps the dominant sonic signature, if you've switched from the Cary amp to the Spectron amp. Or maybe you have not yet received the Spectron. By all accounts, the Whest is a very good piece.
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