Phono stage upgrade from Xono

[martin778]

Klyne, FM Acoustics or anything like ML vintage is sadly out of the question, mainly because of unobtainable, custom modules/parts. A case of 'been there, done that' sadly.

Accuphase C-47 might be an interesting one, still also thinking about that Gryphon, would need a few months of saving though.

 

[martin778]

Anyone heard the Moon 610LP?
I find it so weird that it looks almost identical (good 95%) to the much more expensive 810LP, both can take the 820S power supply as well. The main PCB is almost identical, yet the 810LP seems to have 4 more PSU(?) stages at the bottom.

 

[Jackl3y]

Anyone heard the Moon 610LP?
I find it so weird that it looks almost identical (good 95%) to the much more expensive 810LP, both can take the 820S power supply as well. The main PCB is almost identical, yet the 810LP seems to have 4 more PSU(?) stages at the bottom.

I too, have been interested in the 610. For me the killer is the dip switches on the bottom. I can’t fathom why they would be put there. I feel like when you get to that price category, controls on the front seem almost mandatory. I haven’t heard the 610 mind you, just a thought I get when reading about it.

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

I too, have been interested in the 610. For me the killer is the dip switches on the bottom. I can’t fathom why they would be put there. I feel like when you get to that price category, controls on the front seem almost mandatory. I haven’t heard the 610 mind you, just a thought I get when reading about it.

Dip switches bottom of the unit for shortest wiring routing and hence theoretically a shorter signal path !

 

[martin778]

Well, in the Xono they are on the inside so even worse

 

[Gregm]

Anyone heard the Moon 610LP?
I find it so weird that it looks almost identical (good 95%) to the much more expensive 810LP, both can take the 820S power supply as well. The main PCB is almost identical, yet the 810LP seems to have 4 more PSU(?) stages at the bottom.

No, I haven't heard the 610, but I have heard the 810 with the 820 PS. It was exceptionally good. Subjectively however, it didn't match the dynamics of the little FM Acoustics.
Another excellent phono is the top EAR Yoshino; excellent resolution with few rough edges (i.e. harsh highs, sibilance, etc)

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

Hi 'martin778',
I am also seriously considering updating my current Rega Aura (Rega's ref phono not the Aria) phono stage for my headphone system (Hifiman EF1000 with Susvara) for my hifi system in the UK and have been doing a lot of research with online review and forums reading.

Even though my Rega Aura sounds great (with my 'My Sonic Lab Eminent EX' cartridge - it either equals or trounces on my digital source), I hear some hum from the Aura with my EF1000 (when volume knob is around 50% - required for the Susvara to sound amazing) even though my EF1000 is dead silent when switching over to my Chord Blu (MK1 upgraded to MK2 with inbuilt M Scaler) & DAVE. I also hear quite a bit record surface noise on some records (even though they have been thoroughly cleaned twice with my Keith Monks Classic RCM).

Note that; Playing music with my EF1000 through my book shelf speakers (Focal Electra 1008 Be's) at normal listening levels (30% on the volume knob) I don't hear any phono stage hum nor record surface noise. I have to turn the volume knob up on my EF1000 to 80+% (with no music playing) to hear any phono stage hum which in practical terms would never happen as the music would be deafening !.

Therefore as well as the phono stage sounding amazing (and much better than my current Rega Aura) it must be ultra quiet / black background i.e. no hum and hopefully a reduction in background record surface noise when used with my Susvara headphones.

As my EF1000 is a hybrid design (i.e. it has a tube pre-amp section and SS power amp), it is slightly on the warm side of neutral (comparing with my Chord Choral SS system (Prima Pre-Amp & Mezzo 140 Power Amp which is neutral)) I am not currently considering a tube phono stage (this is me assuming that a tube phono will add additional warmth to the sound).

As my EX is a low impedance cartridge, I am been kindly informed by some WBF members and also read reviews and other forum threads, that a 'current / trans-impedance' phono stage is the way to go. As my EX has quite low internal impedance (1.0 Ohms), it will give a good gain value from such a phono stage. It also seems that such 'current / trans-impedance' phono stages are ultra quiet regarding hum etc.

Therefore I am currently looking at (and hoping to audition demo as many as possible - although this may be impossible in the UK for some of them unless there are WBF members in the UK that own one) the following phono stages (in no particular order);
- Channel D Lino C3.3 (made to order in the US - may be difficult to find one in the UK to demo and therefore buying blind)
- Channel D Seta L (ditto)
- Van Den Hul The Grail (hopefully can audition all three models i.e. the basic, SB & SE - can also do high input impedance & MM cartridges)
- Sutherland Little Loco (same as for the Channel D Phono Stages)
- Sutherland Loco (same as for the Channel D Phono Stages)
- BMC MCCI Signature ULN (MC current input only i.e. no MM facility or facilities to change settings etc.)
- CH Precision P1 (end game phono stage that can also do MC high impedance cartridges & MM or MC with SUT into MC/MM input cartridges)

The CH Precision P1 is currently way beyond my current finance plans. If I bought one ASAP, I would have to sell my Chord Choral UK system first (along with my Rega P10 & Aura which I am planning to sell my Rega gear anyway) in order to help finance it.
However this most probably be my last and end game phono stage as it can also do MC high impedance cartridges & MM or MC with SUT into MC/MM input cartridges - If I bought this I would also have to think about changing my other Chord Choral hifi components both for my systems in the UK and in my home in Spain and buy other CH Precision components further down the line so that by the time I retire at 70 (now 60 this December) I would have a full CH Precision hifi system in Spain).

Joined the CH Precision club with buying today a used one owner 2021 CH P1 to replace my Rega Aura that I sold this week.

Hope to receive it hopefully by next weekend via a courier express service as it is coming from overseas to the UK and will need to go through UK custom clearance etc.

 

[Thomas 911]

i made my journey with pass only ...
xono first,.. then xp 25
now xp 27 , if you like the fingerprint of pass, stay with it! most value for money IMO

the delta from xono to 25 is simply spoken, hugh.
but the xp 25 was not "dead", at least in my case... i put them of top of each other
some small hum occur on left channel.
after claiming,... and executed modifaction afterwards, done by german distributor..all was ok , ...

till the xp 27 stepped in the door...

,.. was a further improvment,..everything a little better ...but smaller delta in comparison from xono to xp 25 , but this issue was expected..
with my mc airtight supreme 1,it is a marvelous combination, especially for jazz and classic lovers, my 2 columns of repertoire.
,
...in the pic below you can see the "team", positioned below the turnable .

best regards
thomas

 

[Serenade]

I went from Xono to the battery powered ASR Basis exclusive, then to a pair of Whest MC Ref V. The ASR is quieter and livelier than the Xono. The Whest Ref wipes the floor with both the Xono and ASR sound wise.

The Whest is a PIA to change impedence and gain. The dip switches are at the bottom, and there is only one input. Great if you are a single TT/single cartridge guy, like me. Otherwise give it a miss.

Audio Research phono is a good compromise between sound and convenience as can switch on the fly using the remote. Change the 6550 power tube to a better one and there will be an instant upgrade.

 

[martin778]

I've finally bought a Manley Steelhead 2 for now but haven't been able to hook it up yet. The wide spacing of the input terminals is a PITA, almost no tonearm cables fit and so I had to sell my AQ Leopards already.