Best phono stage?
- Thread starter awsmone
- Start date
If we are talking tubes for use in a phono section:
6H30s have microphonic problems and have to be hand-picked. Even then its a problem. 6922s are from the same family of frame-grid triodes.
12AX7s OTOH have trouble making bandwidth, due to their higher impedance, but being designed for audio, microphonics are not so much an issue. I prefer 12AT7s as you get most of the gain but a lot more bandwidth.
6H30s have microphonic problems and have to be hand-picked. Even then its a problem. 6922s are from the same family of frame-grid triodes.
12AX7s OTOH have trouble making bandwidth, due to their higher impedance, but being designed for audio, microphonics are not so much an issue. I prefer 12AT7s as you get most of the gain but a lot more bandwidth.
My vote goes to the Nagra VPS. After all these years I still have not heard a better phono stage. I listened to the Allnic but preferred the Nagra. I will be demo the Thoress in a few weeks and report back. My suspicion is that the Thoress is king but have to listen first: http://www.whetstoneaudio.com/?p=7979
From my research I suspect that Thoress helped design the TW phono. In the end though, it will take a great deal to better the Nagra.....
From my research I suspect that Thoress helped design the TW phono. In the end though, it will take a great deal to better the Nagra.....
Very interesting indeed....
The new Thoress phono enhancer seems to be a completely different unit than the early collaborative effort with TW - very excited to hear both but but I'll be hearing the Thoress first in a few weeks. Regarding the Allnic, it's that detail you describe that I did not like. However, I can understand why many would like the Allnic. But I found it's detail and lit up sound distracting whereas the Nagra had the better flow and musical message intact. The Nagra just sounds more refined to me with less information overload. All a matter of taste!
The new Thoress phono enhancer seems to be a completely different unit than the early collaborative effort with TW - very excited to hear both but but I'll be hearing the Thoress first in a few weeks. Regarding the Allnic, it's that detail you describe that I did not like. However, I can understand why many would like the Allnic. But I found it's detail and lit up sound distracting whereas the Nagra had the better flow and musical message intact. The Nagra just sounds more refined to me with less information overload. All a matter of taste!
i had the Thoress Phono Enhancer in-house for a few weeks last year. beautiful inside and out. lots of inputs and the RIAA adjustments. if it works in your system and super good value. should sell for twice the price.
better to my ears than what i recall of the Yipsalon from shows. however; the Thoress is quite system dependent in terms of noise. i owned the Allnic H3000 with the newer transformers a few years back....which is not in that league at all. don't know about the Allnic H5000dht. my current darTZeel phono is very good too....maybe the Thoress a little better but again, noise can be an issue.
i think the new darTZeel phono in the new dart preamp is the best i have heard. this new one not yet shipping, maybe next month.
+++1
I have had the Nagra VPS for almost 8 years and every component change, whether cart,cable, tube or tonearm has been clearly discernible. IMHO, the VPS rarely gets the kudos it deserves.
Hi There ! Im a new member and just want to share that i just tried the TW PHONO RPS 100 and it matched well with my System.
Cheers !
Cheers !
Hi Dreamaudio, welcome, this is a great forum, I am hoping you'll enjoy it as much as I do. Now you HAVE to say more about the TW Phono stage ! What phono stage did you have to compare it to? What's the rest of your system? You may have been the first on this forum to try this phono stage...I'm very curious !!
TW PHONO RPS 100 matched well with my system :
TW BLACK NIGHT TT w Air Tight PC 1 Supreme Cart , BURMESTER B100 Speaker , Burmester 011 pre & 911 amp , Oracle MAX Rev 2 Cables Phono Cable , Oracle MAX Rev 2 Interconnects and Oracle MAX Speaker Wire , Transparent Audio Reference MM2 Power Chords , MIT Z Bar Power Conditioning.
Compared to my recent Phono Stage which is EAT Phono & Rega IOS Reference Phono , the TW RPS 100 was a way lot better in all aspect of musicality BASED on my system
so far.
TW BLACK NIGHT TT w Air Tight PC 1 Supreme Cart , BURMESTER B100 Speaker , Burmester 011 pre & 911 amp , Oracle MAX Rev 2 Cables Phono Cable , Oracle MAX Rev 2 Interconnects and Oracle MAX Speaker Wire , Transparent Audio Reference MM2 Power Chords , MIT Z Bar Power Conditioning.
Compared to my recent Phono Stage which is EAT Phono & Rega IOS Reference Phono , the TW RPS 100 was a way lot better in all aspect of musicality BASED on my system
so far.
Just got some Lamm LP2.1Ds in today. Burn in time 
I'm looking forward to checking out Vladimir's latest handy work. The review is in the new TAS but I only skimmed it.
I'm looking forward to checking out Vladimir's latest handy work. The review is in the new TAS but I only skimmed it.
Just got some Lamm LP2.1Ds in today. Burn in time
I'm looking forward to checking out Vladimir's latest handy work. The review is in the new TAS but I only skimmed it.
Curious to hear your outcome. TAS seemed almost to prefer the pass...
Apparently the Pass edges it in dynamics and the Lamm edges the Pass in dimensionality according to the reviewer. Too bad I have neither the funds nor the rack space for an LP1 Signature. Next year is going to be an expensive one for me so I have to pull the reins pretty hard on audio hardware. As far as software goes….over my dead body! LOL!
I believe I'll be happy with "trickle down" from the flagship for now. Not that I have a choice really.
I believe I'll be happy with "trickle down" from the flagship for now. Not that I have a choice really.
So far this is what I've got. The LP2.1 knocks the socks off the LP2. More dynamic, even better sense of space (where the LP2 shone) and better inner detail. Now officially lusting for the LP1 Signature. C'mon Santa, do me a SOLID this season! LOL!
Interesting to hear comments on the Lamm Lp 2.1. I was lucky enough to run a back to back Lp 2.1 vs AudiaFlight in my system a week or 2 ago. For me it was no contest, while the LP 2.1 was exceptional, it just didn't have the speed and dynamics of the Audia .... well that's just my take on it. I guess it is similar to my take on the Lyra Atlas vs Olympos. I suspect it is a personal choice as to the type of sound one prefers.
Congrats but why no Burmester 100 phono - it's a amazing phono and seems that it would be a perfect match in your system. I did hear the TW100 at the RMAF show but in a unfamiliar system, set-up was sounding very musical even though everything was shrunk. I have never heard a full Burmester set-up and due to your TW table may offer some nice synergy - enjoy!
Should post some pics
TW RPS Phono 100
-- i hope the warranty of RPS Phono 100 covers damages due to DC out problems it cause.
-- i hope the warranty of RPS Phono 100 covers damages due to DC out problems it cause.
