Tube or SS phono stage? Vote for your prefernce.
- Thread starter Peter Breuninger
- Start date
Lots of tubes everywhere else but phono is a heavily modified ss Pass Labs Xono. No noise, much better sounding than stock, but a little dangerous with the DC until it warms up....
SS
I have no dislike of the sound of tubes but I bought a SS Burmester 100 and I am glad I did . Tubes are good but can be a lot of trouble IMO
I gave tubes a lot of years I have gone to SS it is not likely I will try tube again.
I have no dislike of the sound of tubes but I bought a SS Burmester 100 and I am glad I did . Tubes are good but can be a lot of trouble IMO
I gave tubes a lot of years I have gone to SS it is not likely I will try tube again.
There are quite a few good option for tube and SS.
My favourites would be.
Solid State:
FM Acoustics Resolution Series 223
Constellation Audio Orion
Qualia Indigo Reference
Boulder Amplifiers Balanced Phono Amplifiers
Vitus Audio MP-P201
Lyra Connoisseur 4.2P SE
Tube:
LAMM Industries LP1 Signature
Aesthetix IO Eclipse w/double PSU
Ypsilon Electronics VPS-100
Audio Research Reference Phono 10
New Valve Order SP-II
Counterpoint SA-9
My favourites would be.
Solid State:
FM Acoustics Resolution Series 223
Constellation Audio Orion
Qualia Indigo Reference
Boulder Amplifiers Balanced Phono Amplifiers
Vitus Audio MP-P201
Lyra Connoisseur 4.2P SE
Tube:
LAMM Industries LP1 Signature
Aesthetix IO Eclipse w/double PSU
Ypsilon Electronics VPS-100
Audio Research Reference Phono 10
New Valve Order SP-II
Counterpoint SA-9
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I like both and find it depends on the system also, I would ad the Burmester 100 phono to the list for solid state. Amazing phono and VERY user friendly with changes on the fly, I have tried numerous phono's in my system. I have it paired up with my Vac Sig MK2a pre and 450 Statement mono blocks, has ended my search 
Well I was just wondering. I've heard lots of phono amps, but few in my own system. I find it so difficult to identify what one component is actually doing in an unfamiliar system, that it would be very difficult for me to come up with such a list. I'm impressed.
Today i heard the vd hul The Grail phono stage(whether normal or SB ? i think it was the balanced version SB ) on a Ikeda arm and ikeda element(or it might have been a jan allaerts? ) on octave / magico S 5 s , sounded great very transparent very good phonostage imo , i prefered the ikeda combo versus the Reed arm / ZYX cart
BTW i wouldnt trade my current speakers for the S 5 , my latest designs surely came a long way, altough they have quite a different overall presentation
PS i d go for solid state , less chance of noise if money was no issue it would be a no brainer probably , Boulder 2008, the vd hul costs around 13000 euros not cheap apparently it runs also on battery
BTW i wouldnt trade my current speakers for the S 5 , my latest designs surely came a long way, altough they have quite a different overall presentation
PS i d go for solid state , less chance of noise if money was no issue it would be a no brainer probably , Boulder 2008, the vd hul costs around 13000 euros not cheap apparently it runs also on battery
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I am very curious as to this aspect of the comparison - MICROPHONY - a purely valve problem - especially given the fact that most people keep Hi-Fi in the same room they play music in. This is even worse for a phono stage given the amount a phono amp amplifies a signal in the audio chain - it is the single biggest piece of amplification in the chain, so any microphony will be the worst too.
It's not purely a valve problem but SS devices are much less susceptible.
IME and measurements it is generally only an audible problem with a bad tube. Tubes were used in flight HW for decades, still are in many power stages, and seem to do OK despite the vibration...
IME and measurements it is generally only an audible problem with a bad tube. Tubes were used in flight HW for decades, still are in many power stages, and seem to do OK despite the vibration...
Is there a case that people go for phono amps that are engineered to sound tubey. I know that Tim de Pavaracini is of the view that there ought to be no difference - it's a matter of application. I have tested a Sugden phono stage and that was sweeter sounding than my old EAR 834P (which IMHO whilst modestly priced is one of the best phono stages for being musical and 3d sounding). I have pondered the re-introduction of an EAR 834p or another such similar phono amp - that said - rarely get the time to listen as muc has I can or want to.
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This Poll is very difficult as its the Implementation that matters most.
Cost no object then Tube probably winns, but in a real world scenario i would have to go for Solidstate.
Cost no object then Tube probably winns, but in a real world scenario i would have to go for Solidstate.
In my setup with SET amplification and horns ss design gives better result, phono stage has to be quite and it really is.
Tom Evans introduced some time ago a new Lithos 7.4 Local Regulator Circuit and he claims over 108 db of signal to noise ratio.
I have his Groove + SRX mk2 with a separate PSU for over one year and this is an outstanding device imo . Tom adjusted it for my cartridge but one can do it by himself thanks to installed switches.
More info at Tom's website:
http://audiodesign.co.uk/styled-2/index.html
Tom Evans introduced some time ago a new Lithos 7.4 Local Regulator Circuit and he claims over 108 db of signal to noise ratio.
I have his Groove + SRX mk2 with a separate PSU for over one year and this is an outstanding device imo . Tom adjusted it for my cartridge but one can do it by himself thanks to installed switches.
More info at Tom's website:
http://audiodesign.co.uk/styled-2/index.html
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Hi Marslo
I know that many people love 'the groove' but I, in my solid state system, found it a too in my face - that said that was a while back. Does the SRX add a little body to the Groove sound and calm it down whilst maintaining speed? In the same vein I heard a Groove with a Klimo Beltaine amp, and that was a very good combo - so it could well have been my system. My dealer, Les Wong, at Walrus systems said that if you use the groove with a fast high res amp like my lavardin it can be a bit overwhelming and too much - it was impressive but very tiring too.
thanks
Lohan
I know that many people love 'the groove' but I, in my solid state system, found it a too in my face - that said that was a while back. Does the SRX add a little body to the Groove sound and calm it down whilst maintaining speed? In the same vein I heard a Groove with a Klimo Beltaine amp, and that was a very good combo - so it could well have been my system. My dealer, Les Wong, at Walrus systems said that if you use the groove with a fast high res amp like my lavardin it can be a bit overwhelming and too much - it was impressive but very tiring too.
thanks
Lohan
Yes Lohan ,good integration of the setup is a key , I agree. I have not very much experience with other phono stages , TT is not my main source, digital is. The sound from vinyl compared to best files like dsd or hires pcm has more body an warmth , is more organic even with my Groove phono stage but as I said I have Ayon Crossfire , a SET amp. With Lavardin and other speakers it can be a bit different for sure.
Best
Mariusz
Best
Mariusz
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