Mayer is quite superior to Kondo, but given your amp choice you like the Kondo sound and should be happy with it. Can't comment on the other two and few who would have heard all.
Current “Best Bet” SOTA Phono
- Thread starter Uwiik
- Start date
Mayer is quite superior to Kondo, but given your amp choice you like the Kondo sound and should be happy with it. Can't comment on the other two and few who would have heard all.
Heavily leaning towards HSE now. My dealer called just now said if I buy the HSE I can pay the Kagura in instalment. What pre amp?? Stick with G70 or go for G1000i? And my G70 is less than 6 months old…. My goodnes…
Kondo M7 :46dB
Kondo GE-1 : 34dB
Kondo GE-10: 38dB
if you're going to use G-70 preamp consider getting GE-1 or GE-10. it's better using Kondo M7 without a preamp.
See what it sounds like at 200 dB, might be hitting a flat spot.
A transformer has the following advantage: Since it has a relatively low wire resistance, its noise is far lower than that of a preamplifier. The technical effort to get a preamplifier low-noise is quite large and ultimately costs the same as a transformer.
Disadvantage:
He is sensitive to hum. But that depends a lot on the structure. Usually it comes in a metal case that shields magnetic fields. Small, bare transformers cannot be used. And you don't have to put the transformer on a power cord or close to an electronic device. But with the right grounding, there is no problem that cannot be solved.
I own several Silvercore transformers, the Pro in pure copper, the small ones in pure silver. the bandwidth is excellent 5hz -200khz*shouldn't be a disadvantage in an audio circuit.
*Christof Kraus Silvercore
you soon forget the price of the HSE , when in your system
I think this is the end of this thread. I have decided on HSE Ref. It’s not tube but dealer gives 100% satisfaction guarantee, I can home audition as long as I want like 1-3 months and plus if I buy HSE from him I would be entitled to pay for the Kagura in installment…. No brainer I think.
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LOL!! But seriously, what is causing coherency problem at super loud volume? Underpowered?
open baffle woofers running below 100hz... sound great but not the topology for clubbing 
If you really want to crank it with that speaker topology I would think you need at least double amount of woofers.
not to mention more power
If you really want to crank it with that speaker topology I would think you need at least double amount of woofers.
not to mention more power
Kondo amplifiers unfold naturally through synergies. Here someone has combined his KONDO OUVERTURE amplifier with the AS Phonolab phono amplifier. A great sound synergy through musicality, low noise and the RECOMPIZER. This is a stepless dynamic extension, unique in the world of phono amplifiers. Costs under 10 thousand dollars, but I find that forgivable
groovemaster
groovemaster
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I know that it is the opinion of many, that in order to have a high gain phono amp that it must have to be a Solid State or FET design or else there will be just too much noise. For those people I would suggest the Wavestream Kinetics Deluxe Phono Amp. I have admired Scott Frankland’s audio design work (phono, preamps, amplifiers) for decades but was never in a financial position to afford them. However, over the last couple of years, I have suffered 5 unexplained strokes and have recently been diagnosed with two cancerous tumors. I have come to realize that we may not get any mulligan’s in this game of life.
So, on last Feb 17, I placed a deposit with Scott for his most recent Wavestream Kinetic Level 5.1 Reference phono amp. His phono amp has always been on my "bucket list". It is an all tube design currently using (2 x 12AX7, 4 x 6DJ8); with extremely low noise ( I believe with the external power supply, noise is below 1uV (one-millionth of a volt ) competing with the best of the solid state phonos; providing 3 front panel selectable inputs = two MC at 62 dB of gain (without the use of SUT’s or FETS) with a useful cartridge range of 0.2mV to 1.2mV and one MM output at 42dB (you are able to choose your MM gain or you can have 3 MC ); having both balanced and RCA inputs and outputs; adjustable loading available on the back panel via custom loading plugs; and an essentially flat RIAA EQ curve within one tenth of a dB (.1dB) from 3 Hz to 40 Khz. *** The above specs are from the best of my recollection - if you have interest, please consult with Scott Frankland to confirm. He is wonderful to communicate with. ***
It is very dynamic, both in the micro and macro sense, throughout the entire frequency range. It produces rich harmonics that are exhilarating when listening to violin/cello/acoustic bass, both reed and brass instruments, vocals, etc... all without sounding syrupy. It is extremely quiet, plenty of gain and very pure sounding with excellent details ... due to not having to use any FET or Solid State devices, and with no need to use Step Up Transformers and their extra set of interconnects and connections or having to fight with hum issues.
It is extremely solidly built with excellent case work, excellent attention to details and a very well thought out design, by an extremely talented designer and a true gentleman who is absolutely fantastic to deal with, Mr Scott Frankland. ( Having a designer that provides excellent support, timely communications and accessibility is just as important to me as finding a SOTA phono amp ). I feel very blessed to be able to have this piece in my system. At $9K new, I feel it is an absolute steal. Certainly priced well below what many people here would even consider to be an ultra high-end piece.... but sadly you would be missing out dearly by passing this one by. Once in a very great while, you might see one come up for sale on the used market, but not very often. I consider this to be a true testament to the greatness of this phono amp as people who own it, hang on to it. It is not a "flavor of the month" type piece, but rather something that you cherish and would like to pass on to your children.
In any case, just another excellent option to be considered and it is tubed, which O.P. stated he liked
I will try and attach some images of it (forgive me, I'm somewhat technically challenged)
Best wishes to all for great health, love and happiness this holiday season
Don
So, on last Feb 17, I placed a deposit with Scott for his most recent Wavestream Kinetic Level 5.1 Reference phono amp. His phono amp has always been on my "bucket list". It is an all tube design currently using (2 x 12AX7, 4 x 6DJ8); with extremely low noise ( I believe with the external power supply, noise is below 1uV (one-millionth of a volt ) competing with the best of the solid state phonos; providing 3 front panel selectable inputs = two MC at 62 dB of gain (without the use of SUT’s or FETS) with a useful cartridge range of 0.2mV to 1.2mV and one MM output at 42dB (you are able to choose your MM gain or you can have 3 MC ); having both balanced and RCA inputs and outputs; adjustable loading available on the back panel via custom loading plugs; and an essentially flat RIAA EQ curve within one tenth of a dB (.1dB) from 3 Hz to 40 Khz. *** The above specs are from the best of my recollection - if you have interest, please consult with Scott Frankland to confirm. He is wonderful to communicate with. ***
It is very dynamic, both in the micro and macro sense, throughout the entire frequency range. It produces rich harmonics that are exhilarating when listening to violin/cello/acoustic bass, both reed and brass instruments, vocals, etc... all without sounding syrupy. It is extremely quiet, plenty of gain and very pure sounding with excellent details ... due to not having to use any FET or Solid State devices, and with no need to use Step Up Transformers and their extra set of interconnects and connections or having to fight with hum issues.
It is extremely solidly built with excellent case work, excellent attention to details and a very well thought out design, by an extremely talented designer and a true gentleman who is absolutely fantastic to deal with, Mr Scott Frankland. ( Having a designer that provides excellent support, timely communications and accessibility is just as important to me as finding a SOTA phono amp ). I feel very blessed to be able to have this piece in my system. At $9K new, I feel it is an absolute steal. Certainly priced well below what many people here would even consider to be an ultra high-end piece.... but sadly you would be missing out dearly by passing this one by. Once in a very great while, you might see one come up for sale on the used market, but not very often. I consider this to be a true testament to the greatness of this phono amp as people who own it, hang on to it. It is not a "flavor of the month" type piece, but rather something that you cherish and would like to pass on to your children.
In any case, just another excellent option to be considered and it is tubed, which O.P. stated he liked
I will try and attach some images of it (forgive me, I'm somewhat technically challenged)
Best wishes to all for great health, love and happiness this holiday season
Don
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REL subs are considered. The last week I just listen to EDM, Trance and Dance music….LOL…. Not much audiophile music.open baffle woofers running below 100hz... sound great but not the topology for clubbing
If you really want to crank it with that speaker topology I would think you need at least double amount of woofers.
not to mention more power
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