Best phono stage?
- Thread starter awsmone
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The H10000 is an amazing phono stage to be sure. Amazing scale, dynamics, and resolution, but what it gets more right than, and seemingly elusive in most phono preamps, the resolution and weight in the mid-bass region. One of the couple I have experienced that get that part right. The other is the Sutherland Dos Locos. A lot of music lives in this area, and once I heard it delivered properly, it is hard to be without. Definitely components of the transcendent variety that offer a world class experience.
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I also exchanged the knobs regarding volume control and switching inputs regarding the JPA 66
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Grandinote Celio is an excellent phono stage, also the Tom Evans Groove 20th Anniversary Mk.II. Great value for the money. But there are still better ones on the top of course...
long ago when i started on this path of no return, i tried the microgroove.
it was an impressive experience.
although i eventually decided to opt for a pass labs aleph ono (because of brand name & loading flexibility) i was quite smitten with the tom evans sound, i have never forgotten my favourable experience with it.
these days i never fail to remove the top metal panel of the pass labs ono when i listen to it.
having just gotten a new minimal-metal turntable and cartridge, perhaps it's time for me to check out their famed, non metallic-bodied phonostages again....
i'm also contemplating the wonder audio lab p1 deluxe which offers balanced xlr inputs, various eq curves and tons of adjustable loading options on the front panel.
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I have for many years The Groove + SRX mk2 . It is really a very good phono stage for money. Unfortunately last year I noticed a strange noise in the right channel . After the Brexit the shipment to Wales is quite complicated . I tried to fix the issue with a polish serviceman of Ayon gear but he did not succeed.
Could you pls suggest any reliable service of Tom's gear within EU ?
@jeromelang
Before The Groove + I had Microgroove which has probably one of best relations price/SQ in today's hifi.
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I did not have the opportunity to compare them in my system.
My experience with phono stages auditioned at home is limited to TEAD, my main source of music are files and cd/sacds. I listen to vinyls mainly on weekends.
Pls see the test by The-ear.net , I hope it helps
Tom Evans Audio Design Groove+ SRX MkII | The Ear
It’s almost miraculous that the MP3 generation has brought about a revival in the fortunes of vinyl, of all the people to grab hold of a format that has long
the-ear.net
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Audioquattr had the XP27 many years ago with many carts. He replaced with Thomas Mayer copper model and Thrax phono, both were quite better.
Tomorrow will receive for audition the new phono stage by Circle Labs - V1000, a completely new design with built in , proprietary SUT
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Unless Tom has authorised a service centre in the EU it will need to go back to Wales. He guards his designs by removing values for caps and the like.
On the plus side the SRX and SRX 2 are excellent for the money
I’d love to see a dual input plus trans-impedance input phono pre that betters the Pass XP-27 for about the same price. Unrealistic maybe, but I can hope.
I would suggest taking a look at the Sutherland Dos Locos. I think you will be very pleased with its performance and what it is beating would surprise you I believe. It is at a price that some may find too affordable to take serious, but the performance is out of this world. I have other phono preamps I sell, and at much higher prices, but this is the one I listen to that checks all my boxes at a level much greater than any I have had or have.
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Thanks Paul. I have great respect for Ron Sutherland and his work. Plus he’s always been the kindest fellow when I’ve seen him at shows over the years. But the Dos Locos is too limiting for the range of carts I have and use. I’d otherwise love to try it.
I have run into issues with Sutherland transimpedance phone stages. Lost a friend over it. They are very very noisy in some houses. One customer in particular I liked and lives near me went around town telling everyone I didn't know what I was doing. This was after brought scopes, RF readers, isolation transformers and 2 phono stages to his house to prove it wasn't the electrical infrastructure. Eventually his dealer convinced him the Sutherland Big Loco was the problem and sold him something else he loved even more, and was dead quiet. I would avoid the Loco line until Ron decides to address this issue. Or make sure you can return it. They sound very nice. But be warned.
Pretty rare instance. Not really fair to say this is a widespread issue when it is not. The only instance I am aware of was someone who lived next door to a radio station. The issue then was the cart on the tonearm picking up and injecting the RFI when it happened, not the unit. Unplug the phono cable, noise gone. Pretty difficult to point blame at the preamp when that is the case. Also, so many turntables are not grounded properly. Rega is a fine example, as are others.
May I ask why you remove the top plate on your Aleph Ono? Is this to adjust the loading or?
I own one (and I think it is underrated due to some early reviews....)
PS
My phono preamps are Aleph Ono, Parks Audio Waxwing, Michael Fidler MC Pro, Accuphase AD-50 and Accuphase C-36. At some point I'll get around to using the phono pre in the Wiim Ultra.
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I know of 3.
If you can swap 2 other phono stages in and both are dead quiet, I say its the phono stage.
Yes carts and cable pick up noise. But its very common for a phono stage to do the same. The Sutherland Loco line is a very good sounding phono. Just have the option to return it of you have issue.
I found it interesting that in the $3500 or so phono stage lineup, the best units were noisy. The extremely quiet ones were more mheeee. Nothing special. The Channel D walks the line well. There were others I liked better but hum buckets or AM radio out the speakers.
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