Current “Best Bet” SOTA Phono

[Uwiik]

Tobian also looking mighty high end, any idea on price?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

So?…… HSE or Kondo M7+SFZ SUT?? Please don’t leave me hanging here…LOL

can't help you myself, but many here can. i can tell you a CS Port phono does play in a high league with a good SUT. Studer A-820 tape league. you could ask this guy about it. he has had them all. he is member CY108 here. he likes the CS Port plenty. and has had pretty much every turntable. he's had Kondo, and AN UK.

A Visit with Mik Bhavnani of Unique Audio UK - Positive Feedback

A Visit with Mik Bhavnani of Unique Audio UK

positive-feedback.com

 

[Solypsa]

If this is the case then I would be stuck with HSE Reference. I learn that with SOTA level components, buying blind is actually not that risky because you just don’t get bad sound with SOTA level components hence the reason for this thread, I am willing to buy blind/deaf if I am confident enough with the product suggestions from the great folks here. When I get advice for a component at the price level of 10.000-20.000 I tend to cast it aside although it’s claimed as SOTA, not because I have money to burn because I am not, far from it. It is because I found out that at 10.000-20.000 level you still carry heavy risk when buying blind, on the contrary, at 40.000-100.000 level you just do not get a bad sounding components even though buying blind, yes system synergy is extremely important, but again with more expensive equipment synergy seems to be much more common. In my book, this is a safer bet. Living in Indonesia, I don’t have the luxury of auditioning so many different brands. I wish I could just fly and audition overseas but mandatory full on quarantine for incoming passengers to Indonesia is a big no no for me so I choose to stay in the country until things get back to some sort of normalcy. I already consider myself extremely lucky to be able to home demo HSE but that’s about it.

I understand about travel contraints and personal limits! Also it seems you are redoing a fairly recent system so are wanting it to really be finished this time ...

Mike is giving great advice ( I have heard his CS Port ) and your preamp list is full of wonderful options at any rate .

Have you spoken with Dave or Jeffrey behind Emia? At this price point either they or Mayer could do you something really custom, lots of silver etc. Btw I have a client that went from Mayer phono to three box Aesthetix Io eclipse so there is always room for personal taste

 

[Uwiik]

can't help you myself, but many here can. i can tell you a CS Port phono does play in a high league with a good SUT. Studer A-820 tape league. you could ask this guy about it. he has had them all. he is member CY108 here. he likes the CS Port plenty. and has had pretty much every turntable. he's had Kondo, and AN UK.

A Visit with Mik Bhavnani of Unique Audio UK - Positive Feedback

A Visit with Mik Bhavnani of Unique Audio UK

positive-feedback.com

I just called my dealer to ask about M7 KSL + SFZ SUT but now you really caught my attention, if you speak highly of CS Port off course I would listen to you although it is categorized on the lower end of the price spectrum. What is a good SUT that is known to play well with CS Port? Silvercore Pro MC which I already own, Kondo SFZ, MSL to name a few?

 

[Uwiik]

I understand about travel contraints and personal limits! Also it seems you are redoing a fairly recent system so are wanting it to really be finished this time ...

Mike is giving great advice ( I have heard his CS Port ) and your preamp list is full of wonderful options at any rate .

Have you spoken with Dave or Jeffrey behind Emia? At this price point either they or Mayer could do you something really custom, lots of silver etc. Btw I have a client that went from Mayer phono to three box Aesthetix Io eclipse so there is always room for personal taste

Yes, my last system which is still fairly recent are Accuphase based, namely A250 and C3900 with FS Ktema speaker. It is still very very good but I must crank up volume to get the full effect, it sounded no better than my portable Bose when listening at very low volume, contrary to my current system, low level listening is so powerful, full of bliss with all micro details and nuances fully exposed at whisper level volume. I am in heaven… I am just still kicking myself for not going all out at the very beginning, foolishly thinking that I would be satisfied, now I am about to absorb heavy loss on my previous system, still sitting around collecting dust.

Both you and Mike made me strongly considering CS Port. How would you describe CS Port compared to other you are familiar with?

I am also interested on the Mayer Phono, the highest end one is priced almost exactly the same as HSE Ref but Mayer’s is tube which I prefer.

 

[howiebrou]

Don't forget the Zanden Jinpu. Amadeus can tell you more about that one.

 

[Uwiik]

Don't forget the Zanden Jinpu. Amadeus can tell you more about that one.

@howiebrou I always look forward to your contribution on my thread. Funny though that I couldn’t find any info about who sells or if it’s even still available as I cannot find the info even on Zanden website

After a bit of browsing Zanden Jinpu actually caught my attention, looks like over the top component and I like it. I just cannot find any info, where to buy, price, specs, etc. misterious I’d say.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Both you and Mike made me strongly considering CS Port. How would you describe CS Port compared to other you are familiar with?

i've owned the CS Port for 2 years now. for years my phono was the internal darTZeel phono's, then i got the CS Port. at the moment i also have the 3 box Aesthetix Io Eclipse; had that for a few months and am in the beginning stages of tube rolling. over the years at shows i've heard quite a number of good/great phonos. honestly my reference is my RTR tape with Studer's.

the CS Port has a tubed output, but does use a SMPS (switch mode power supply) and is battery powered. but it's important to note that the owner/designer of CS Port was the CEO and research director for an international power supply company before he retired to open CS Port. this guy has forgotten more about power supplies than the high end knows. and you hear that in the super low noise floor, and grainless delicacy of it's presentation. it's not the last word in dynamics; but it has solid bass with plenty of weight and really nice bass textures. it reveals the differences in presentation between my string drive/air bearing/linear tracking CS Port tt, and the Saskia idler; equally optimizing the strengths of both. it can be a space machine, and portray wonderful tonal density and focus.

the CS Port has three inputs; a 63db of gain MC input, and two MM inputs; i consider the SUT approach with these inputs as outstanding.

 

[Verdier]

I would strongly consider CS Port as it is mentioned by both you and @Bobvin, if only it’s tube driven the allure would be much stronger for me.

On the other hand, Thomas Mayer seriously piqued my interest and I am keen, care to elaborate about the “require much patience” part? I am fine with waiting for a long time, I am very very patient in that matter, I just can’t stand manufacturer who ignore or doesn’t respect their customer, doesn’t matter if they are indisputable world best.

You read a lot of good things about CS Port. But I talked to the guys - they didn't see any way to make the phonostage a bit louder.

Thomas Mayer should tell you what it's like.

Anyway, with Aries Cerat Talos, the amplification is very high: more than 80 db. I imagine that something like that could be very helpful in your system. Regarding the technical quality, you should read the report in the current issue of image hifi. I think Aries Cerat has set the bar very, very high.

 

[howiebrou]

@howiebrou I always look forward to your contribution on my thread. Funny though that I couldn’t find any info about who sells or if it’s even still available as I cannot find the info even on Zanden website

After a bit of browsing Zanden Jinpu actually caught my attention, looks like over the top component and I like it. I just cannot find any info, where to buy, price, specs, etc. misterious I’d say.

PM Amadeus. He is a dealer in the Netherlands and I believe he sells the Jinpu. I have used it for a couple of years and really like the sound. More than my former EMT JPA66 I think.

 

[djsina2]

looks like over the top component and I like it.

Over the top? How about the 126kg mono block Audio Tekne TEA-9501 phono? It must be powered off the TFA-9501 pre amp.

 

[kodomo]

I think Channel D Seta L20 can be on the list of sota phono preamps. I think it would be the best measuring device on this list as well;

CHANNEL D - Seta

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Over the top? How about the 126kg mono block Audio Tekne TEA-9501 phono? It must be powered off the TFA-9501 pre amp.

View attachment 85171

View attachment 85172

Wow it’s stunning.

 

[DasguteOhr]

or the lowest noise phono I know, you can hear details that cannot be heard with other phono.

810LP Phono Preamp | Best Turntable Preamplifier | MOON - Simaudio

A true purist design that is destined to become the new reference for analog playback. Astonishing analog reproduction combined with unsurpassed flexibility

simaudio.com

Extern power supply

820S Power Supply Audio Amplifier | Audiophile Amp | MOON - Simaudio

In order to constantly push the limits of sound purity, the power supply MOON 820S was created through painstaking R&D and a passion for perfection.

simaudio.com

 

[Addicted to hifi]

or the lowest noise phono I know, you can hear details that cannot be heard with other phono.

810LP Phono Preamp | Best Turntable Preamplifier | MOON - Simaudio

A true purist design that is destined to become the new reference for analog playback. Astonishing analog reproduction combined with unsurpassed flexibility

simaudio.com

Extern power supply

820S Power Supply Audio Amplifier | Audiophile Amp | MOON - Simaudio

In order to constantly push the limits of sound purity, the power supply MOON 820S was created through painstaking R&D and a passion for perfection.

simaudio.com

The moon stuff is all excellent.every time I have heard there components has being nothing but exceptional.

 

[DasguteOhr]

The moon stuff is all excellent.every time I have heard there components has being nothing but exceptional.

You can read a test

Simaudio Moon 810LP Phono Preamplifier - The Absolute Sound

Simaudio Moon 810LP Phono Preamplifier -

www.theabsolutesound.com

 

[Addicted to hifi]

The

You can read a test

Simaudio Moon 810LP Phono Preamplifier - The Absolute Sound

Simaudio Moon 810LP Phono Preamplifier -

www.theabsolutesound.com

moon products always get excellent reviews.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

I

You can read a test

Simaudio Moon 810LP Phono Preamplifier - The Absolute Sound

Simaudio Moon 810LP Phono Preamplifier -

www.theabsolutesound.com

if I didn’t love mcintosh so much I would own moon components,but I’m a Mac owner for life.

 

[iaxel]

Ch P1 and Allnic DHT8000 actually crossed my mind, especially Allnic as although not absolute I tend to lean to the tube camp. Any further insight into Allnic? I noticed you have Allnic 7000 with Kondo SUT and the rest of your gear are SOTA too, would love to hear what you think.

The Allnic 7000 is wonderful, and works in perfect synergy with the Kondo SUT and the IO-M cartridge.
Don’t know how the 8000 compares to the 7000, but expect higher S/N ratio from a DHT.

The CH P1 is an endgame phono, it is versatile in a way no other phono is. It is dead quiet, has the wonderful clear and refined CH sound.
It will certainly be on my horizon someday.
Right now highly enjoying the Allnic with the Kondo.

 

[bonzo75]

Allnic 8000 will be brilliant, having compared the 5000 and 3000 to other phonos. The rectifier does need to be changed though. The DHT has more flow and musicality and is much more expensive. It also has some tough to replace valves.

Albert Porter's group at that time during their shootouts ranked Allnic 3000, ypsilon, and then aesthetix io eclipse.