YNWOAN
100% Analogue
FWIW the ones that I've noticed coming up consistently from this group were:
1) Arkless 640/651 Turbo or Turbo++. I realize there was at one point some bloodshed on this issue but people seemed to really love the product.
2) The Paradise which, if I'm not mistaken Simon built like 10 of. They are supposed to be great. Certainly some of the pictures would indicate a serious phono stage, again, never heard it.
My question to you guys with experiences on the above was what about the:
3) Firebottle
It something designed in a similar vein (not technically, but spiritually) as another DIY project somewhere else out there in the Ether-Sphere-Webs and I'm curious how it stacks up to these.
I can only speak for my own DV P-75 which, I think is quite good and having gone up to the Mk. 3 now they are really quite solid.
I've had all of the above in my system*.
The Arkless punches well above its weight and, in character, isn't dissimilar to the Dynavector (I've also heard a more ambitious 'scratch built' phonostage from Arkless that was really very good and significantly better than either the Dynavector or the modified 640/651). The Firebottle had enough gain for my 0.2mV cartridge but wasn't quiet enough. As a result dynamic was compromised and tonal shading/character was uneven. In short, it didn't work for me. However, someone used the same unit after me with a MM cartridge and really liked it so YMMV (not really suitable for very low output MCs I would say). The Paradise is a different thing to all three of the above and significantly better in every regard. You need to look at stages like the Vida for competition (I've also had that at home).
* Thinking about it, the Arkless wasn't the Turbo version I don't think.