Earlier this year I bought a Luxman EQ500 phonostage which I upgraded with Telefunken Nos valves.
Not a success. The sound quality was very good, but just not enough gain for my system.
It was a choice of adding a step up transformer or trying something new and I opted for the latter.
So about six months go I auditioned a Gold Note PH 1000. Very well reviewed, versatile and good build quality. It proved a big improvement on the Luxman and was quickly added to my system. Well reviewed by Michael Fremer for Stereophile whose conclusions match my own experience.
Last week I got the opportunity to try the matching power supply which has now been in the system for the last few days and has prompted me to play a lot of discs which I have not played for a while.
From the word go the improvements were clearly audible. Greater delicacy to the sound, better bass, dynamics and timing with greater separation of the different instruments within the sound stage. Background which was already very quiet is even more silent.
I have had a long session this evening with mainly classical music including Murray Perahai's Columbia recording of Chopin's Nocturnes 2 & 3 and Narciso Yepes DG recording of Bach, Scarlatti et al classical guitar recordings. A real treat!
There is an excellent synergy with the Vitus SIA 030, Sikora TT and the YG speakers which give me a genuinely neutral sound. The cartridge is
the Gold Note Machiavelli Gold Mk II which has a touch of warmth, but no more than that and balances the sound ideall for my tastes.
In short ,the PSU will be staying in my system and I can confidently recommend this combination of the phonostage and PSU.
The retail price of the phonostage here in theUK is just under £10k and the matching PSU adds another £6k so not a cheap option, but very good value IMHO.
Not a success. The sound quality was very good, but just not enough gain for my system.
It was a choice of adding a step up transformer or trying something new and I opted for the latter.
So about six months go I auditioned a Gold Note PH 1000. Very well reviewed, versatile and good build quality. It proved a big improvement on the Luxman and was quickly added to my system. Well reviewed by Michael Fremer for Stereophile whose conclusions match my own experience.
Last week I got the opportunity to try the matching power supply which has now been in the system for the last few days and has prompted me to play a lot of discs which I have not played for a while.
From the word go the improvements were clearly audible. Greater delicacy to the sound, better bass, dynamics and timing with greater separation of the different instruments within the sound stage. Background which was already very quiet is even more silent.
I have had a long session this evening with mainly classical music including Murray Perahai's Columbia recording of Chopin's Nocturnes 2 & 3 and Narciso Yepes DG recording of Bach, Scarlatti et al classical guitar recordings. A real treat!
There is an excellent synergy with the Vitus SIA 030, Sikora TT and the YG speakers which give me a genuinely neutral sound. The cartridge is
the Gold Note Machiavelli Gold Mk II which has a touch of warmth, but no more than that and balances the sound ideall for my tastes.
In short ,the PSU will be staying in my system and I can confidently recommend this combination of the phonostage and PSU.
The retail price of the phonostage here in theUK is just under £10k and the matching PSU adds another £6k so not a cheap option, but very good value IMHO.