So, the question was whether the Rhea would work with my intended cartridges with a noise level that was not bringing attention to itself. This issue was at least as important to me as the basic sound signature. I refused to live with a phono stage that was noisy especially since I already had the SP-11 which is silent and also very good.
To my great surprise, the Rhea proved itself to be adequate. I was and remain impressed. I kept the Rhea.
However, I know there are many audiophiles that use very loud volumes all the time. In these circumstances, I feel quite sure the Rhea noise would become audible and, perhaps, not acceptable.
HI Mep,
But the point is whether noise is objectionable to a particular listener. And you can not presume to answer that. That you try simply illustrates that you want to be recognized as a know it all. In fact, you don't. But you succeed to that unenviable image. Frankly, all I learn from you is nonsense.
Please refrain from answering any of my future posts. Server space is too valuable.
Sparky
HI Mep,
But the point is whether noise is objectionable to a particular listener. And you can not presume to answer that.
That you try simply illustrates that you want to be recognized as a know it all. In fact, you don't. But you succeed to that unenviable image. Frankly, all I learn from you is nonsense.
Please refrain from answering any of my future posts. Server space is too valuable.
Sparky, just to play devil's advocate--once you find a quiet phono section that sounds good, you do wonder why you put up with this noise for as long as you did But a good friend had the Aesthetix Io phono and it was pretty quiet with cartridges down to 0.4 mV in his system. And the problem is that there's something special about those very low output MCs--though the Clearaudios with around 0.8 mV seem to whet a lot of people's whistle.
Can anyone compare these two brands? House sound (if it exists), quality at given price points, absolute quality?
Own ARC and know it well, curious about Aesthetix but haven't heard.
ive compared both at my b&m local store and both are very good, both are really very good actually. i typically prefer the ARC sound because somehow they tend to get much sharper more realistic 3-d images on very good recordings and get vocals right, at least to me. aesthetix stuff is probably more accurate though. lots of things come into play when deciding but i don't think you can wrong with either ... they both have different sounds. best to try to listen if you can in your own system.
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