Question Three phono stage, which one ?

[Entrigo]

Good morning TT lovers,
I am so lost in the wide offer I have decided to save 1K.
Several testings have been done at home and I grateful for my contacts met throughout forums for organizing test sessions at home. We are inviting each other : some snacks, some drinks, some LP…

I welcomed a mate Sunday afternoon with a phono rega MK5. No improvement compared to my optional phono board. Not a bad sound at all. Details, soundstage and so on but not better than the phono board.

We swapped cables (his own cables and mine) but the results were not night and day. Another color but not better.

I never tried a super high end phono preamp on my set up. For the moment I am enjoying music with a good saving in my pocket before end of the year celebrations.

That is the same result I got when I tested the Rega Fono MK5. Nice but not such a marked improvement over the Technics SL1500C built-in one.

The Simaudio Moon 110LP I landed on shortly after was better by quite some margin.

 

[Clarkey_71]

Any love for the E.A.T E-GLO Petit II?
I had a Mk I version and absolutely loved it.
Can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[BenWatts]

Can’t stop listening or reading things about phonostages.
Opportunities to get special offers on huge Phasemation EA-320 but super expensive by the way.
Another opportunity is Kora phono stage, another one is Yoshino…

No way to try it at home.

 

[Little village]

£25,000 tom evans phono stage , build quality is truly shocking

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There’s two sides to every story and Mend it Mark is not telling the whole truth.
In my opinion Tom makes as good a phono stage as any one and in the equivalent price brackets I would bet Toms would come out top.
I have the latest Mastergroove Mk4 SR and I can tell you partnered with the right equipment its truly magical, the most real/believable phono I have heard to date.
Just a thought if you had a 25k piece of Hifi equipment would you accept it back from repair with none matched electricals and glued together case work ? No neither would I.

 

[nopiano]

There’s two sides to every story and Mend it Mark is not telling the whole truth.

Welcome to the forum. What is the whole truth in this controversial matter exactly?

 

[Little village]

Welcome to the forum. What is the whole truth in this controversial matter exactly?

Hello it’s probably best left at that but I’m sure if you email Tom he will tell you his side ,you would have it first hand then.

 

[BenWatts]

And the chosen one is..

None of them.

An incredible opportunity : Audiomat Phono 1.7 mk II.
A handmade phono stage straight from the retired founder. Just to ditch the stock…


Option : black face. No silver face at home.




For all good opportunities, it has a drawback : I will have it in hand within a month. I received it at a relatives. But we will meet in a month not less.
I have the cable but …

To be continued



Found on Mutine:
MM sensitivity: 4,3 mV

• MM impedance: 47 k𝛀
• MM gain: 45 dB
• MC sensitivity: 0.18 mV
• MC impedance: 1 - 200 𝛀, self-adjusting; optimal range: 4 - 150 𝛀
• MC gain: 72,5 dB
• External power supply, low induction transformer 100VA
• Power consumption: 5 W
• Dimensions: 14 x 7 x 23 cm / 5-1/2 x 2-3/4 x 9"
• Weight: unit 1.6 kg / 3.5 lb; power supply 1.6 kg / 3,5 lb, packed 4.5 kg / 10 lb

Note: the Mk2 version was just released in 2023; the exterior and the power supply are unchanged.










BTW: see you by June to discuss about an MC low AT, Ortofon, Dynavector …?

 

[Integralista]

And the chosen one is..

None of them.

An incredible opportunity : Audiomat Phono 1.7 mk II.
A handmade phono stage straight from the retired founder. Just to ditch the stock…


Option : black face. No silver face at home.




For all good opportunities, it has a drawback : I will have it in hand within a month. I received it at a relatives. But we will meet in a month not less.
I have the cable but …

To be continued



Found on Mutine:
MM sensitivity: 4,3 mV

• MM impedance: 47 k𝛀
• MM gain: 45 dB
• MC sensitivity: 0.18 mV
• MC impedance: 1 - 200 𝛀, self-adjusting; optimal range: 4 - 150 𝛀
• MC gain: 72,5 dB
• External power supply, low induction transformer 100VA
• Power consumption: 5 W
• Dimensions: 14 x 7 x 23 cm / 5-1/2 x 2-3/4 x 9"
• Weight: unit 1.6 kg / 3.5 lb; power supply 1.6 kg / 3,5 lb, packed 4.5 kg / 10 lb

Note: the Mk2 version was just released in 2023; the exterior and the power supply are unchanged.










BTW: see you by June to discuss about an MC low AT, Ortofon, Dynavector …?

Hi, Audiomat makes great HiFi. I have used tube power amp Audiomat Duo for some years, before I switched to Copland vacuum tube power amp. They make also terrific DA converters and CD transport. Do you have already this Audiomat phono? How good is it? Pls. let us know. BR.

 

[BenWatts]

Please tell me it’s not that good: one month to wait.
Already paid and arrived at a relative’s but … we cannot meet before March 28th.

I am still not convinced it will be night and day with my current device.
I can’t afford an MC for the moment.
My strategy was to invest in a long term vision phono stage to add a solid cartridge when possible.

 

[Integralista]

Please tell me it’s not that good: one month to wait.
Already paid and arrived at a relative’s but … we cannot meet before March 28th.

I am still not convinced it will be night and day with my current device.
I can’t afford an MC for the moment.
My strategy was to invest in a long term vision phono stage to add a solid cartridge when possible.

And what is your current equipment?