Best phono stage?

[Atmasphere]

Please, I have 61,100 LPs, CDs, "78s" and R2R tapes. I have a dedicated VPI 19-4 with Ultracraft 4 arm and Grado cartridge/multiple styluses to play my "78s." I'm 69 and began collecting records since I was 3. Do you believe that I don't know how to play a record? I'm also an archivist for two composers and compiled from multiple source material for 11 CDs for the 2005 Erich Zeisl Vienna Centennial. My late friends included Thomas Chandler (1.5 million records) Music Man Murray (900,000 records maybe), Michael Lane (250,000 records, mostly "78s" who had about 35 stylii, co-invented noise suppression devices possibly the Packburn and also built superb sounding electronics) and a half dozen current remastering engineers. Using 35 different styli would permit the greatest reduction in groove noise (also Ward Marston does the same) but I am too busy (lazy) to be like Michael. I do use a Kirmuss ultrasonic cleaner now for "78s", A Sugarcube would be a benefit without hassle.

My surmise that you already knew that was correct then

 

[gleeds]

I know it’s not optimal but magazines and reviewers needs to make a living. Usually you pay them to get an opinion and magazines usually it’s more about advertising so not always is straight forward. Usually reviewers deny when they are not a believers of a product to avoid writing something negative. There are some reviewers that are more objective than others, I do believe Fremer and Jay Audio Lab are the most objective without trashing products but it is also important to consider that they also have personal preferences and that maybe not be yours.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I Nagra doesn’t pay for reviews like CH does, so you won’t see Fremer or others publish reviews.

Hi,

What is your evidence that CH pays for reviews?

 

[gleeds]

I recently received our first phono stage from Trafomatic. The Luna is a two-chassis, Class A, SE tube-driven phono preamplifier. We recently used the Luna in a room that Ron Resnick and I hosted at The California Audio Show. The room featured Westminsterlab electronics and Clarysis speakers. The turntable was a rare 1970s-era Denon DD broadcast model.

As much as my other Trafomatic offerings have exceeded expectations for SQ and value, the Luna has done so by the most significant margin. Accepting up to three single-ended and one balanced inputs. Offering up to 70db of gain and very low noise, the Luna exhibits the mellifluous sound signature Trafomatic is known for, while also offering a wealth of detail and dynamics. This is undoubtedly a function of the circuit and aided overbuilt, separate power supply. In my admittedly biased worldview, while not inexpensive at $21,000, the Luna merits inclusion here, albeit at a price far below that of many of today's top offerings.

The red model with gold accents, shown below, is a beauty; however, our standard offering is an elegant, soft-touch black with a high-gloss white finish.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I've had tube phono stages and pre-amps such as the EAR 864 and 912 where the phono stages were excellent and a subminiature tube phono stage as well. I purchased the EAR 324 phono stage cheap in 2006 and didn't like it until I moved up to an entirely new system. Now, it sounds GREAT, neutral but full bodied as an EAR 912 (for phono only).

It certainly isn't in the same category as the CH Precision or Nagra, neither of which I've heard.

Hi Leo,

I'm confused by this. If you haven't heard the CH or the Nagra , how do you know EAR is not in the same category, unless the only category in question is price?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I recently received our first phono stage from Trafomatic. The Luna is a two-chassis, Class A, SE tube-driven phono preamplifier. We recently used the Luna in a room that Ron Resnick and I hosted at The California Audio Show. The room featured Westminsterlab electronics and Clarysis speakers. The turntable was a rare 1970s-era Denon DD broadcast model.

As much as my other Trafomatic offerings have exceeded expectations for SQ and value, the Luna has done so by the most significant margin. Accepting up to three single-ended and one balanced inputs. Offering up to 70db of gain and very low noise, the Luna exhibits the mellifluous sound signature Trafomatic is known for, while also offering a wealth of detail and dynamics. This is undoubtedly a function of the circuit and aided overbuilt, separate power supply. In my admittedly biased worldview, while not inexpensive at $21,000, the Luna merits inclusion here, albeit at a price far below that of many of today's top offerings.

The red model with gold accents, shown below, is a beauty; however, our standard offering is an elegant, soft-touch black with a high-gloss white finish.


View attachment 155019View attachment 155020

The Luna was wonderful in our room at the T.H.E. Show!

 

[thekong]

I recently received our first phono stage from Trafomatic. The Luna is a two-chassis, Class A, SE tube-driven phono preamplifier. We recently used the Luna in a room that Ron Resnick and I hosted at The California Audio Show. The room featured Westminsterlab electronics and Clarysis speakers. The turntable was a rare 1970s-era Denon DD broadcast model.

As much as my other Trafomatic offerings have exceeded expectations for SQ and value, the Luna has done so by the most significant margin. Accepting up to three single-ended and one balanced inputs. Offering up to 70db of gain and very low noise, the Luna exhibits the mellifluous sound signature Trafomatic is known for, while also offering a wealth of detail and dynamics. This is undoubtedly a function of the circuit and aided overbuilt, separate power supply. In my admittedly biased worldview, while not inexpensive at $21,000, the Luna merits inclusion here, albeit at a price far below that of many of today's top offerings.

The red model with gold accents, shown below, is a beauty; however, our standard offering is an elegant, soft-touch black with a high-gloss white finish.


View attachment 155019View attachment 155020

May I ask which Denon DD was that? Was it the DP100, or DN308? Thanks