Mike P
Trade: Pickwell Audio
I recently sold my integrated amp which had a nice built-in phono stage and moved to a Leak Stereo 20 which I use partnered with a TVC passive pre. I therefore need to get myself sorted with a new phono stage.
The rest of my system is as follows:
Thorens TD125 mk2 with SME 3009 (type 2 Imp.) and Ortofon M20FL Super
Glasshouse TVC passive pre
Leak Stereo 20
Tannoy Ardens (mk1)
The Ortofon M20FL Super is a nice vintage MM cartridge which is ideally suited to the SME3009 and I can't see myself changing it in the near future or moving to an MC cart. With that in mind, I only really need MM capability from the new phono stage.
I've previously owned:
Budget? - I can be pretty flexible here. I don't listen to vinyl much and tend to listen to CD 90% of the time so on one hand it might make sense to restrict myself to a budget phono stage. However, if I had a really good phono stage I might enjoy listening to vinyl more! I'm certainly open to spending more if something really special comes along that would represent an 'end game' purchase.
I'm fairly handy with a soldering iron so a DIY kit is certainly a possibility. Similarly, an old unit that needs a bit of TLC (e.g recapping) would be just fine, as would a budget model that can be modified to improve its performance.
I'm open to either valve or sold state.
So waddya think?
The rest of my system is as follows:
Thorens TD125 mk2 with SME 3009 (type 2 Imp.) and Ortofon M20FL Super
Glasshouse TVC passive pre
Leak Stereo 20
Tannoy Ardens (mk1)
The Ortofon M20FL Super is a nice vintage MM cartridge which is ideally suited to the SME3009 and I can't see myself changing it in the near future or moving to an MC cart. With that in mind, I only really need MM capability from the new phono stage.
I've previously owned:
- Cambridge Audio 640P - Can't grumble about the VFM but it didn't blow me away me sonically.
- Trichord Dino with decent PSU - A nice step up from the 640P and very versatile. I found the sound a bit cold and sterile and quite fancy trying something different and possibly a touch warmer.
- Yamaha AX-900 integrated amp - Nice clean sounding onboard phono stage.
- Sony TA-F770ES integrated amp - Really nice phono stage. I actually preferred it to the Dino.
Budget? - I can be pretty flexible here. I don't listen to vinyl much and tend to listen to CD 90% of the time so on one hand it might make sense to restrict myself to a budget phono stage. However, if I had a really good phono stage I might enjoy listening to vinyl more! I'm certainly open to spending more if something really special comes along that would represent an 'end game' purchase.
I'm fairly handy with a soldering iron so a DIY kit is certainly a possibility. Similarly, an old unit that needs a bit of TLC (e.g recapping) would be just fine, as would a budget model that can be modified to improve its performance.
I'm open to either valve or sold state.
So waddya think?