Current “Best Bet” SOTA Phono

[Verdier]

I have used it for a couple of years

and now?

 

[Maril555]

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.

The wait time for Thomas Mayer gear is not outrageous, he seems to be very busy nowadays and the lead time is about 4 months.
He is an absolute pleasure to deal with, very responsive and accommodating. Thomas is specialising in custom projects, meaning all of his designs can be customised according to one’s specific needs.
I bought monoblock amplifires from him recently and he made them in the kind of chassis that had not been featured in his lineup initially, my sample was the first.
i have just commissioned a line stage from him and the same thing again- we customised it with the specific gain structure, number and type of inputs and outputs, etc.
The quality of construction is exemplary.

 

[bonzo75]

The wait time for Thomas Mayer gear is not outrageous, he seems to be very busy nowadays and the lead time is about 4 months.
He is an absolute pleasure to deal with, very responsive and accommodating. Thomas is specialising in custom projects, meaning all of his designs can be customised according to one’s specific needs.
I bought monoblock amplifires from him recently and he made them in the kind of chassis that had not been featured in his lineup initially, my sample was the first.
i have just commissioned a line stage from him and the same thing again- we customised it with the specific gain structure, number and type of inputs and outputs, etc.
The quality of construction is exemplary.

His D3a phono and the 10y preamp are brilliant, the preamp is definitely my favorite valve preamp

 

[howiebrou]

and now?

Still using it......

 

[howiebrou]

The wait time for Thomas Mayer gear is not outrageous, he seems to be very busy nowadays and the lead time is about 4 months.
He is an absolute pleasure to deal with, very responsive and accommodating. Thomas is specialising in custom projects, meaning all of his designs can be customised according to one’s specific needs.
I bought monoblock amplifires from him recently and he made them in the kind of chassis that had not been featured in his lineup initially, my sample was the first.
i have just commissioned a line stage from him and the same thing again- we customised it with the specific gain structure, number and type of inputs and outputs, etc.
The quality of construction is exemplary.

Would love to see what he did for you!

 

[Uwiik]

Custom Thomas Mayer with exotic wood, brushed stainless and a dash of real gold would look sick….damn so many choices…

 

[VinylSavor]

The wait time for Thomas Mayer gear is not outrageous, he seems to be very busy nowadays and the lead time is about 4 months.

Thanks for the kind words. For your new project it is still the 4 month I quoted to you but I received several other orders in the meantime so the lead time is now 6 months for new orders.

Thomas

 

[VinylSavor]

as

Would love to see what he did for you!

https://vinylsavor.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-new-6cb5a-amplifiers.html

 

[Atmasphere]

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?

I don't understand something! When you are looking at this end of the market, why is are SUTs tolerated? Its very easy to hear how much more transparent running direct is.

I do know one reason SUTs might be preferred but I want to hear your reason.

What I know is that SUTs block RFI since they just don't have the bandwidth. All LOMC cartridges generate Radio Frequency Interference since they are a high Q inductor (the high Q inductor is literally the moving coil) in parallel with the capacitance of the phono cable. This forms a tuned RF circuit and it can be set into oscillation by the energy of the cartridge even though the cartridge can't come anywhere near the frequency of this electrical resonance.

Normally people detune the resonance by using a 'cartridge loading' resistor. This gets rid of the brightness that can occur if the phono section is unhappy with the RFI. But an SUT blocks the RFI which can easily be 1 or 2 MHz. So people might think SUTs are more relaxed?

If the designer of the phono section is aware- if he is thinking of the fact that RFI is injecting into the input of the phono section as a matter of course, then he will see to it that the phono section isn't perturbed by that. The result, IMO can be a more transparent phono section with no need for an SUT and every bit as relaxed (but with more detail).

But like I said, I'm interested to know why you might think an SUT is a good idea.

 

[Uwiik]

I don't understand something! When you are looking at this end of the market, why is are SUTs tolerated? Its very easy to hear how much more transparent running direct is.

I do know one reason SUTs might be preferred but I want to hear your reason.

What I know is that SUTs block RFI since they just don't have the bandwidth. All LOMC cartridges generate Radio Frequency Interference since they are a high Q inductor (the high Q inductor is literally the moving coil) in parallel with the capacitance of the phono cable. This forms a tuned RF circuit and it can be set into oscillation by the energy of the cartridge even though the cartridge can't come anywhere near the frequency of this electrical resonance.

Normally people detune the resonance by using a 'cartridge loading' resistor. This gets rid of the brightness that can occur if the phono section is unhappy with the RFI. But an SUT blocks the RFI which can easily be 1 or 2 MHz. So people might think SUTs are more relaxed?

If the designer of the phono section is aware- if he is thinking of the fact that RFI is injecting into the input of the phono section as a matter of course, then he will see to it that the phono section isn't perturbed by that. The result, IMO can be a more transparent phono section with no need for an SUT and every bit as relaxed (but with more detail).

But like I said, I'm interested to know why you might think an SUT is a good idea.

I have asked similar question before as I also think less is more but folks advised me not to be afraid with SUT. If I can get away with stock gain off course I prefer not to buy SUT

 

[Uwiik]

I have narrowed down my choices:
- HSE Ref dealer insists this is the best in the world and he guarantee my satisfaction
- Thomas Mayer, I like to be able to have custom look and quality seems ro be impeccable according to many
- Kondo M7 KSL + SFZ SUT
- CS Port, inexpensive and folks said it can hang with the big boys, tube and Japanese, very interesting

can we narrow down the discussion between these 4?
Thanks

 

[Cableman]

This actually broke my heart. My first high end encounter was when I was still 13 years old in my friend’s house. His dad has a huge room with all Jadis gears that shook my head and heart. Can’t forget that moment. Yes it is a disgrace now…

Don’t even start me on the clowns running the Jadis show now…

 

[TDX]

Probably just get a CH phono.

 

[Solypsa]

the HSE is the only one sans SUT so factor SUT costs into it for the others...

is your Silvercore Pro SUT silver or silver alloy version?

 

[Uwiik]

I just finished Norah Jones - Come Away With Me, the whole album. We all know that album can be crazy ear bleeding bright. I cranked my volume to average 105 db max 115 db and I could’t hear even a slightest hint of harshness…..The bi-amp sinergy between ATM-2211 and Kondo Ongaku is made in heaven, TBH I don’t even know where I can improve my SQ on my existing syatem, WVL Berlin is just too good to be true, I am just too happy. Perhaps I should just not worry about buying Kondo Kagura and spend all the budget on top of the top God level phono?……… what do you guys think? What Phono is way above and beyond level like in the 150-200K range and sound truly heavenly? Or perhaps I should just buy the HSE?

 

[Uwiik]

Just for laugh I just made this programable Arduino DIY stepper motor volume control. The best thing ever happened in my life

 

[Uwiik]

the HSE is the only one sans SUT so factor SUT costs into it for the others...

is your Silvercore Pro SUT silver or silver alloy version?

Silver and yes on HSE

 

[Uwiik]

One more off topic question LOL sorry. Kuzma XL DC or Bergmann Gold Limited Edition? Please no other suggestions, just between those two

 

[Uwiik]

I just finished Norah Jones - Come Away With Me, the whole album. We all know that album can be crazy ear bleeding bright. I cranked my volume to average 105 db max 115 db and I could’t hear even a slightest hint of harshness…..The bi-amp sinergy between ATM-2211 and Kondo Ongaku is made in heaven, TBH I don’t even know where I can improve my SQ on my existing syatem, WVL Berlin is just too good to be true, I am just too happy. Perhaps I should just not worry about buying Kondo Kagura and spend all the budget on top of the top God level phono?……… what do you guys think? What Phono is way above and beyond level like in the 150-200K range and sound truly heavenly? Or perhaps I should just buy the HSE?

Tried EDM music at 120-130 db and still not to harsh but coherency suffers greatly, can’t undertands the singer. What’s the fix?

 

[Addicted to hifi]

View attachment 85213
Just for laugh I just made this programable Arduino DIY stepper motor volume control. The best thing ever happened in my li

View attachment 85213
Just for laugh I just made this programable Arduino DIY stepper motor volume control. The best thing ever happened in my life

Very nice.smart idea.