Help me deciede on new phonostage

[Gopher]

I am curious as to what stages you guys might recommend for the following system:

VPI Scout w/ JMW-9
Dynavector 20X-H
Unison Unico
Von Schweikert speakers (assortment)
All Grover SR silver cabling.

I've got a PH-1 to hold me over for the time being, but want to know what else I should be looking at. I suppose my budget is ~$600, possibly stretchable within reason.

I know a lot of you guys recommend the XR-2 and I really enjoyed it from the listening sessions I had with it, btu what else do you guys reco? I'm thinking I might want to try some tubes, but don't want to loose out too much in terms of resolution.

 

[kartik]

I have a very similar vinyl rig, why are you moving away from the PH-1? How about the Ray Samuels Phono stage? If you really want a really great value though, I'd consider the Audio Experience reference phono amp for about 800. It is supposed to rival seriously great amps.

 

[kartik]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1090224903

It may look a little cheesy in the ad, but when I actually saw one of their preamps I found they were beautifully finished and rather heavy. My brother uses these products and says that they have a wonderful rich sound. Consider it.

 

[Gopher]

I would love Ray's XR-2, but my understanding is that those aren't getting discounted at all--free shipping seems to be the most that can be done there. I'd be all over a used one if the opportunity presented itself, but I've never seen one go used.

That Audioexperience looks very interesting. I don't think it looks cheesy at all, and will do some serious looking into it. My only reservation with that particular one is that even though it appears to be offered at a substantial discount, it's located in Hong Kong. Just the same I'll look into them.

 

[Gopher]

Oh and I'm moving away from the PH-1 because I'm change my cart from my Grado Platinum. I got an excellent deal on a used (but current model) scout with a dynavector cart and intend to sell my virtually new one (two months with very low hours) and put the money I make from the sale into a new phonostage.

It's slightly complicated and there are a lot of ways for me to get screwed over in this, but ideally I'll be looking at a nice little upgrade at no additional out of pocket expense (and if the upgrade isn't what I'm lead to believe it will be, atleast I'll have a really good tracker).

 

[Gopher]

Oh and I'm moving away from the PH-1 because I'm change my cart from my Grado Platinum. I got an excellent deal on a used (but current model) scout with a dynavector cart and intend to sell my virtually new one (two months with very low hours) and put the money I make from the sale into a new phonostage.

It's slightly complicated and there are a lot of ways for me to get screwed over in this, but ideally I'll be looking at a nice little upgrade at no additional out of pocket expense (and if the upgrade isn't what I'm lead to believe it will be, atleast I'll have a really good tracker).

 

[braillediver]

Has anyone experience with the EAR 834 (?) tube phono stage?

They come up occasionally on Audiogon near your budget.


Mitch

 

[kartik]

Althought the guy is in Hong Kong, apparently he's really a great guy to deal with even for service issues. Kind of like a Chinese version of Norh. My brother bought a Symphonies + linestage from him. When it arrived there were some major issues of damage in transfer. The guy paid for both the return shipping as well as the shipping for a new amp by express delivery. Which is more than can be said for several dealers in the US, even in New York City. Look hard at this amp. If it turns out to be good, I'll probably get one too!

 

[kartik]

This is some guys feedback on audioweb.

http://www.audioweb.com/Review/Revie...reviewid=19504

 

[NeilPeart]

I once owned a very similar vinyl rig, and I even used the XR-2 for a while. However, after some time I became curious about all things tube and my dad let me borrow his Conrad-Johnson CJ-EV1. The XR-2 is a really good phono stage, and it is a bargain at the used price point. However, the CJ-EV1 is simply in another league (sadly this correlates to the price as well) and really allowed me to enjoy my Scout. If it weren't for my nomadic lifestyle, Grado PS-1 and becoming fed up with the finicky nature of vinyl, that old Scout rig would still be in my home.

For reference, my (now-sold) analog rig:

VPI Aries Scout/JMW-9/Dynavector DV-20XL/Conrad-Johnson EV-1->Unison Research Unico Integrated Amplifier->Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures

 

[kartik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilPeart I once owned a very similar vinyl rig, and I even used the XR-2 for a while. However, after some time I became curious about all things tube and my dad let me borrow his Conrad-Johnson CJ-EV1. The XR-2 is a really good phono stage, and it is a bargain at the used price point. However, the CJ-EV1 is simply in another league (sadly this correlates to the price as well) and really allowed me to enjoy my Scout. If it weren't for my nomadic lifestyle, Grado PS-1 and becoming fed up with the finicky nature of vinyl, that old Scout rig would still be in my home. For reference, my (now-sold) analog rig: VPI Aries Scout/JMW-9/Dynavector DV-20XL/Conrad-Johnson EV-1->Unison Research Unico Integrated Amplifier->Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures

How is the PS-1 a reason to sell your scout? I would have thought it would be an even stronger reason to keep it!

 

[NeilPeart]

The main reason I sold the vinyl/speaker system is the fact that I am not home enough to appreciate it and I simply don't have a permanent address, which prevents me from building a nice room to enjoy my music. I just don't have the time or place to enjoy a nice speaker rig, and the picky/anal ritual of records just outweighs the sound quality improvements most of the time IMO. I love the sound of vinyl, but I don't find it so superior that I am willing to hamper my lifestyle just to enjoy it - I am quite satisfied with my PC source, and an external DAC will only enhance my contentment. The PS-1 Pro was just that last piece of motivation I needed to sell my rig. I can justify the purchase of the PS-1 with the extra funds I gained rather than use my credit card once again. Perhaps when I find the time and space for a nice speaker system I will again fall in love with the magical sound of vinyl, but digital is the answer for me at this point in time.

 

[tom hankins]

Gopher I have a friend that used an older model Audio research preamp with a phono stage in it just for the phono stage. He paid about 800.00 used for it. He just sold it and now uses the Audio research Reference phono. Oh My God!! How sweet is it!
Anyway, you might want to keep an eye out on audiogon for used Audio reseach phonos and preamps with phonos. You can research them through the net and might get alot more for your money. Just a thought.

 

[Gopher]

THanks for the heads up Tom. A quick search on audiogon revealed however that that particular product (and everything else listed by them) is uber expensive ($4500 +).

Just for clarification, were you saying the preamp w/ phono could compete with the reference phono?

 

[tom hankins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gopher THanks for the heads up Tom. A quick search on audiogon revealed however that that particular product (and everything else listed by them) is uber expensive ($4500 +). Just for clarification, were you saying the preamp w/ phono could compete with the reference phono?

I'm saying some of the older pre's had phono sections that were very good. No it cant compete with the reference phono. It did however sound great with the table he has until he got the reference. I'll get the model# from my buddy for you. I know the Reference is out of your range right now. he uses it with a SME 10 table and SME 309 arm with sumiko celebration cartridge. its all sitting on a relaxa floating base. He also used the phono with a Rega P25 table with the 600 arm and it was really nice. In both systems the music never felt lacking in any way.
Of course with the addition of the SME and the Reference things have changed considerably.