I suspect that I may be "unusual" in that I have heard, at length, 3 different phono stages, three different SUTs and 2 different head amp's using the same cart' into the same pre' etc. All pre-pre's at under the £1k mark, used/second-hand.
For me, the level of detail and more especially bass detail increases stage-SUT-head amp'. Within any one type of pre-pre, the different brands change the flavour, but do not reinvent the wheel.
SUTs - downside is really how susceptible or not they are to picking up noise. I use screened twin IC's so it really is the SUT and they vary from immune (Carver), to far from immune.
Head amp's - next to no background noise of any description.
All based on things here. (FWIW - delos, Hadcock/Schroder, hyperspace, Croft pre', Avondale mono's, 15 inch Tannoys.)
What say you?
For me, the level of detail and more especially bass detail increases stage-SUT-head amp'. Within any one type of pre-pre, the different brands change the flavour, but do not reinvent the wheel.
SUTs - downside is really how susceptible or not they are to picking up noise. I use screened twin IC's so it really is the SUT and they vary from immune (Carver), to far from immune.
Head amp's - next to no background noise of any description.
All based on things here. (FWIW - delos, Hadcock/Schroder, hyperspace, Croft pre', Avondale mono's, 15 inch Tannoys.)
What say you?