REFERENCE COMPONENTS-PHONO STAGES

I am unsatisfied with the "selection" of separate phono stages listed below. In the current market, the consumer appears generally to have a choice of either low-quality models that are very cheap, or high-quality (not state-of-the-art) units that are usually overpriced.

There are also a few interesting designs that are not in either of the above categories, but I haven't had the opportunity to audition them, yet. The published "reviews" of these particular models are not trustworthy either, in my opinion.

Accordingly, I have decided to mainly focus on the used preamplifiers from the 1980's and early 1990's. Some of these models had excellent (for their time) phono stages.

I am not giving up though, and I will keep searching for new and innovative units that are fairly priced. The two finest (stock) models were both made in the last few years though, which is definitely encouraging.

For me, the "Ideal Phono Stage" would be totally self-sufficient, which means it could drive, by itself, an entire audio system dedicated to a phono front-end source, without any need for further pre-amplification (a line-stage). My own (modified) preamplifier is, in effect, the end result of my unsuccessful effort to find such an ideal model in the audio market place.

It is our experience that no separate phono stage ever made, and at any price, equals the performance of the internal phono stages that are already within the two Class A Preamplifiers. Until I find a model that is equal or superior to them, they will have to suffice as the "References" for both component categories.

This current situation isn't really that surprising to me, considering that both of the Class A models are simply "all-out" phono stages with either a passive line-stage or a simple, zero-gain cathode-follower circuit. Their additional selector-switch (for extra line-level sources) is what officially turns them into "Preamplifiers".

The day that I can place a model within this Class, that actually matches my "ideal" described above, will be a day to celebrate.

One of my associates has informed me that this new phono stage is probably one of the finest of its type ever made, and that includes all of the models already within this class. (However, it still does not equal the phono stages of the Class A Preamplifiers or the Counterpoint SA-9 after modifications.)

It is important to note that this same audiophile has actually lived with all the different models mentioned below, and he also has a very revealing system. The Steelhead is expensive, but it is well built.

More details to come. The descriptions of the below units will probably have to be re-written because of changed circumstances.

This is (potentially) the finest separate phono stage ever made. It also has unusual versatility. It can be an entire preamp in a dedicated phono system since it even has an output attenuator that can be used as a volume control (though it doesn't provide small changes in volume).

It can (and should) be improved with modifications and is compatible with any cartridge, from very low to very high output. It was noticeably well built and has a huge separate power supply. Replacement tubes for the power supply are inexpensive. This was a true bargain in its day. (Just compare this model to the more expensive Audio Research SP-11 and SP-15 to discover true value.)

Counterpoint is now out of business, but its previous owner/designer, Michael Elliott, is still around to repair and/or update virtually all their different models, including the SA-9. Counterpoint came out with their own update of the SA-9 just before they went bankrupt. It was called the Magnum Opus. It is virtually the same unit, but with updated passive parts and esthetics. It is very rare and even more desirable. There is a link to Michael Elliott in the Links section.

Further- This unit has top Class B performance with low-output cartridges only with the Expressive Technologies Transformer as a step-up. Its own FET MC stage, while very clean and quiet, is "only" very good and reduces the overall performance of the unit to just above the Sakura, and slightly below the performance of the stock Aesthetix LO with acoustical music.

Caveat- While the SA-9 has proven to be generally reliable, I have recently discovered that some of their separate power supplies are developing a problem. Fortunately, this problem can be easily rectified with the simple addition of a (well placed) resistor. The details for this desirable fix can be found by contacting the Counterpoint website.

Further- I learned something more about the history of the SA-9 phono stage directly from "the horse's mouth", Michael Elliott. After some editing...

Counterpoint had just released the SA-11 line stage, a really large, "all-out", full tube, remote-control linestage and Elliott had started on the SA-9. This was about 1987. The marketing department, seeing how expensive the linestage was, urged Elliott to keep control over the cost of the SA-9. This was because CDs were coming on strong and vinyl looked to be obsolete in the near future. For political reasons, Elliott never expressed his reservations about CD sound quality (Counterpoint had a huge market in Japan where CDs were popular, being heavily reviewed and promoted by the big magazines, the big dealers and the big reviewers, so he was asked to keep silent). So Elliott ended up holding back the design. Where he had intended to use octal tube rectifiers, as in the SA-11, he used solid-state. Instead of using a big 41-position volume control, he installed a 6-position attenuator. Other areas also needed to be trimmed to fit the budget.

Of course, vinyl did go through some years of diminished sales and interest, but it rebounded. Elliott's happy that he has the opportunity to re-visit the SA-9 and he even claims he can make it sound better than his original design, before it was compromised by budget cuts. (8/03)

This is one of the three finest phono stages manufactured today, and one of the two finest phono stage ever made in stock form. It excels in the areas of liquidity and immediacy, and has a very natural midrange, which is to be expected in an all-out tube unit. However, it is not as good as the Sakura in purity, the frequency extremes, "soundstaging" and openness. In other words, there was a "split decision" in favor of the Aesthetix, using the sonic priorities of the editor of this list.

It also has 22 tubes, of which 6 (all 12AX7's) are in the signal path. These signal path tubes may get noisy within a short period of time. It is at its best with acoustical music. Despite all the hype concerning this unit, it is not quite the equal of the Counterpoints (with a few, simple modifications and the addition of the Expressive Technology Transformer. The Class A (phono) preamplifiers are even more noticeably superior.)

The regular model, at $ 5,000, is an excellent value considering its parts. The model with volume pots costs an extra $ 2,000, which appears excessive at first, but the added pots are the finest that money can buy and they also allow the user to bypass the line stage, which will both improve the ultimate sonics and cost less overall.

ALERT: I have read that this phono stage may have reliability problems and may also goes through tubes very quickly. Make sure you have some "protection" before purchasing it. You can find more up-to-date information from users and owners of this model within these two websites: Audiogon and Audio (Vinyl) Asylum.

The Sakura is an entirely solid-state unit with adjustable (only at the factory) gain. No additional step-up is needed for low-output moving coils.

In the sonic arena, the Sakura almost equals the stock SA-9 in transparency, immediacy and dynamic qualities. This makes it a (solid-state) breakthrough, just like their power amplifier. Sadly, it has no volume controls, so a passive or an active line stage is still necessary.

The price of this unit has gone up to $ 3,900, and the Aesthetix is still superior, with acoustical music, in the sonic areas I feel are most important, but the Sakura has a number of sonic advantages over the Aesthetix, plus no problems with noisy tubes or "warm-up", since it can be left on all the time. This is a tough choice. However,...

While the Sakura has excellent sonics, I can't say that it is "good value", considering the retail price and the estimated cost to manufacture such a simple and small component. It should be selling for far less. This is true of all their other components. The bottom line is that they all have unique performance capabilities, but they are also all overpriced.

A reader informed me that he replaced the stock power supply of the Sakura with a pure DC battery version of it. He claims to have heard a significant improvement in sound quality. It is even possible that this battery power supply may become a commercially available product. This is exactly what he wrote (with a litle editing):

"A systems engineer (and audio hobbyist for 30 years) taught me how to run the PhonoCube from batteries as a way to improve on the stock Power Humpty AC transformer. The idea was that powering the PhonoCube with a battery setup would have a great impact on the sound due to the fact that a low noise capability is so important to phono use. Here are some of the details:

The PhonoCube (like the Gaincard) uses a bipolar power supply of + / - 24 V DC and can be powered with four 12 VDC, 5 Ah SLA (lead acid) batteries from Panasonic (cost: around $120) tied in series configuration. To get true twin mono power, you need to use 8 batteries. 7 Ah batteries can also be used, for even more current, longer operating time (about 40% more)--and a power supply of 168 VA, almost exactly the same as the Power Humpty.

The connectors for the DC cables to the stock PhonoCube must be bought from AMP Japan. The charger should be three-tiered and should fit with the supply compliance of PhonoCube. I use two ChargeTek 500 battery chargers (cost: $150), which allows me to keep the PhonoCube on all the time, with no required warm-up time, or cooling of the OpAmps.

The exact same configuration can be used for the Gaincard. There are some other details, but since the systems engineer that helped me with these battery units might decide to commercialize this system in the future, I do not feel I should give them all out.

Also note, that both the US and European distributors are not aware of these details as they have not experimented with the PhonoCube in this way, and would revoke my warranties if they knew I was using these units with batteries.

As far as the sonic results: the PhonoCube is already able to play with a huge soundstage, with real depth and excellent focus, plus superb transparency, deep, tight bass, and incredible speed, and transient response. With the battery supply the unit plays even more comfortably with a minumum of disturbance and has an effortless, clear quality. The unit actually gains in liquidity and low-level detail, presence and immediacy, and is more enjoyable with acoustic music.

Of course, the sound of the PhonoCube is largely dependent on the internal impedance of the cartridge, and the cabling. I have had the best results with the new Temper Transfiguration Supreme (internal impedance of 7 ohms), with the tonearm wires (of a Simon Yorke turntable) directly wired into the PhonoCube, bypassing the phono cable altogether. But for even more gain and dynamics, the Miyabi/47 Labs cartridge is preferable. This analogue setup is the best I have ever had. There is no polluting AC hum, no line noise, no coupled EMI/RFI, and no need to ground the TT.

I mentioned that the Gaincard can also be run from the same battery set-up. The amplifier chips in the Gaincard are National Semiconductor LM3875, an integrated op amp design which has a supply compliance of just below 12VDC to 84 VDC. To produce precisely 25 W, a power supply voltage of 23 VDC is required. The amp can also be run at 11 to 12.5 VDC and work fine. It produces 7W at this lower voltage rating (think 300B SET range) and is softer sounding, without the razor-edge bass punch and delineation. With the battery at the normal voltage of 24 VDC, the unit shows the same improvements as the PhonoCube, and might even be worth a Class B rating. In any case, powering these units with batteries has had a great impact on my listening."

MORE RECENT INFORMATION- The same reader has recently sent further information and, even more important, a generous offer. After some requested and minor editing, this is what he sent:

"I have fallen out of contact with the person who was thinking of commercializing the battery power supply. He hasn't done so, and I do not think he will do so in the future. I have also lost interest in commercializing such a unit. In fact, I no longer use the battery supply I designed for my PhonoCube, having designed a normal AC supply that satisfies me quite alot.

...One point among many: the 47 Labs components need to be modified when switching from the standard 47 Labs Humpty/Dumpty power units to a battery configuration: for instance, the Dumpty is a C-core transformer with half-wave rectification and no smoothing circuit. Because there is no smoothing circuit, the coupling capacitors in the Flatifish are very large (2,200 uF /25V Chang) and need to by reduced in size when using a battery.

47 Labs proprietor and designer, Junji Kimura, tried battery power supplies when he was designing his products but discarded the idea for various reasons. There are no plans for 47 Labs to come out with a 47 Labs battery power supply.

Because of this situation, I think battery power units for all 47 Labs products are best approached as a DIY project by a person with some knowledge of electronics. I can be reached for technical questions. But I will not send parts lists, nor schematics over the internet. I am also reluctant to guide amateurs through the basics.

For your information, I rebuilt my PhonoCube from top to bottom, upgrading the carbon resistors to nuded Vishay S102s, replacing the cheap coupling caps by BlackGate N Series, replacing the WIMA 20% MKP caps on the feedback circuits with high-grade mica and styroflex capacitors. The PCB was redesigned and the noisy LM78xx regulators were replaced by low noise precision regulators with discrete noise filtering. The cheap RCA jacks were replaced by Vampire CM1F/OFC on the output. The RCA jack on the input was removed and the wire from the cartridge was directly soldered to the input pins of the OP27G that forms the first gain stage of the PhonoCube.

Further- I will forward any reader's e-mail request about the Sakura modifications to this person. However, remember that this reader has placed a few "qualifiers" with his offer. Please respect them. (This reader's e-mail address has been cancelled, so delay sending me any letters until I receive the new address.)

There is no currently made production model within this Class at this time. I really wish there were, but I will make no apology considering the very reasonable price(s) and easy availability of the components that are mentioned below.

If you already have a line stage, and are now looking for just a phono stage, and also want excellent quality without paying "big bucks", there is an easy solution that you will never read anywhere else;

Just find a top notch used tube preamplifier from the 1980’s or 1990’s at a bargain price!

All you have to do is take the audio signal from the preamplifier's "tape outputs", which automatically bypasses the preamplifier’s entire line stage and all of its controls, except the selector switch.

There are plenty of excellent choices;
Audio Research Corp. SP-8, SP-6 (later models), SP-10 & SP-11;
Conrad Johnson (not quite as desirable as ARC) PV-5, PV-7, PV-2, PV-1, Premier Two and Premier Three (check the circuit boards carefully for deterioration);
Counterpoint SA-3 and SA-5 series (very desirable);
Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 (all versions);
MFA-Magus and Audible Illusions Modulus II or III series.
The various Melos, Music Reference and the older Paragon and Precision Fidelity models (C-4, C-7, C-8, C-9) are also excellent choices.
If you are on a real tight budget, a Dynaco PAS-2, 3 or 3(X) will work very well.

All of these units can and should be modified (with superior coupling capacitors etc). There are undoubtedly a number of other models that are also worthy of consideration, which I have either overlooked or forgotten, for now.

FURTHER- I have CRITICAL information for those of you who are using the phono stage section of a tube preamplifier (through its Tape Output), while also bypassing its line stage. Since I've advised using this procedure for years now, here's the latest advice I learned (from Tom Tutay) about optimizing the performance of these components. It's quite simple...

While the Selector Switch is obviously on the Phono input, you should also make certain that the Tape Monitor switch, if there is one, is always set to "Tape" or "On". When you do this, the output signal of the dedicated phono stage goes directly to the Tape Output ONLY, while none of the signal goes to its internal Line Stage, which would further load it down, thus weakening it. Keep in mind: ANY weakening of this already delicate phono signal will be detrimental to it, so this procedure is mandatory if you want to optimize the inherent capabilities of the phono stage. This procedure may also help transistor phono stages.

Also, do NOT remove the tubes in the now unused line stage. Put "junkers" in the tube sockets if you have to. Why? Because the heater voltages may otherwise become too high for the remaining tubes still in the phono stage, which may both compromise their performance and even reduce their operating life.

First, to make things clear: No solid-state preamplifier (except the Sakura above) we’ve heard sounds, overall, as natural as any of the tube models above, at least after modifications, and that includes some very expensive units.

However, they usually have more gain than the tube models. This allows them to be used with low-output cartridges without any extra "step-up" devices. They also generally outperform the tube units in other sonic areas, which I realize that many listeners will appreciate more than I do.

A good used transistor preamp, with a phono stage, is usually a much better value than any of the separate phono stages made today, and it can also be used as an outboard switching device or even as an entire preamplifier in a pinch.

The best solid-state preamplifiers I’ve heard are the (Stan) Klyne series, which usually includes their excellent head-amp.
The (Mitchell) Cotter phono stage, with its separate power supply, was in the same sonic league as the Klynes, though it required an added step-up device (usually their own MC transformer).
The Vendetta Research was also excellent. It wasn't quite as natural as the Klynes or the Cotter, though it was superior in many other areas; dynamics, bass etc.
The Morrison preamplifier was also very good value for the money, and it had adjustable gain (by changing resistors), but it was noticeably more "analytical" and "dry" in character than the above units.

Other very good used preamps, such as the models from Classe, Rowland, Krell (not my own "cup of tea"), Dolan, Perreaux, Spectral, PS Audio, (the "Original") Mark Levinson, Dayton-Wright, Hegeman (Hapi One), Threshold, Van Alstine, Burmester 838, etc. should be seriously considered before making any investment in any new phono stage, especially if it is expensive. As with the tube models mentioned above, I must have missed some other worthy transistor models, for now.

VINTAGE PREAMPLIFIERS- While I have only limited experience myself, a number of "Vintage" preamplifiers may be excellent, stand-alone, phono stages, even if the entire preamplifiers (with their noisy line-stages and numerous, useless controls) may no longer be satisfactory.

Once again, the signal must come only from the tape outputs. Modifications should be made of course, including changing the phono input, and tape output, RCA females.

Based on my very positive experience with a "stock" Dynaco PAS-3X phono stage, some of the other (and even better) preamplifiers from that period could be real "killers". This even includes some of the finest solid-state models (Marantz 7T, Dynaco PAT-5, H-K Citation 11 etc.).

I will only list models by name above, like the Dynaco, if and when I or my associates (or others I trust) actually have "real-life" listening auditions with them. The desirable models, Marantz, McIntosh, Harmon-Kardon Citation, Fisher, Scott, Sherwood etc., should be obvious.

CAVEAT- All of these vintage phono stages will be "low-gain", and will require a step-up device for low-output moving coils.

THE GROOVE- This phono stage, designed and manufactured in England, has received raves in both The Absolute Sound and (the English magazine) HiFi+. Neither I, nor any of my associates, have heard it. However, one of my associates has informed me that someone he knows, whom he considers reliable, purchased one of them and claims it was excellent, though he was unimpressed with the (plastic) build quality. More important...

This same individual recently compared it to the Aesthetix, and much preferred the Aesthetix. How "much"? This individual ended up purchasing the Aesthetix and selling The Groove, before I even had a chance to talk my associate into borrowing it and giving me his own assessment on this unit. (These events all happened in Canada or else I would have been directly involved-not my associate.)

Further- I have since found out that the person who purchased The Groove from the individual above, prefers it to the Aesthetix IO, the Sakura, the CJ-15 and the PASS Xono, plus some others. I feel there is no way to logically reconcile these two accounts. It would appear that I will need more reliable input, or, better yet, experience with The Groove myself, to straighten this out. The only thing that appears certain is that everyone feels this component is "exceptional", especially for transistors. Its ultimate status is still up in the air.

CAVEAT-Please be advised that the readers’ letters posted on this site are solely the opinion of that reader and may not necessarily represent or reflect the opinions of Arthur Salvatore or High-End Audio. These letters furthermore, are not to be taken as being endorsed by Arthur Salvatore or High-End Audio. They are posted because they may be edifying, thought provoking or entertaining.

Personal Note- A number of readers have asked me for this over the years. So here it is:

Dr. Stanley Lipschitz's RIAA Equalization Curve
(The most accurate I'm aware of at this time)

Overview- The signal goes (backward) from the output (plate) of the second RIAA tube to the cathode of the first RIAA tube, both of them are 12AX7s. Here's the formula and instructions, step by step:
1. A 1.21m ohm resistor and a 2,640 pf cap, which are in parallel, are soldered to the second RIAA tube plate. This output signal is, in turn, soldered, in series, with;
2. A 100k ohm resistor and 750pf cap, which are also in parallel;
3. The output of this is finally soldered to the cathode of the first RIAA tube.

So, in effect, you have two separate resistor/capacitor "couples", with the signal going first through one of them, then the other (in series), finally ending at the cathode of the first tube, and becoming the RIAA equalization feedback.

EAR 834P- One of my associates heard a stock version of this design and he felt that it was "decent sounding", but not "outstanding", even for the money.

However, several readers, independently of each other, have now informed me that it can be radically improved with modifications (mainly capacitor changes). This makes sense because EAR has always believed in, and used, cheap and mediocre passive parts in their components. There is further (anecdotal) confirmation of these improvements on various websites (mainly in Audio/Vinyl Asylum).

The evidence, in total, suggests this is a phono stage to take a serious look at, if simple modifications don't intimidate you. It could be a real "killer" (if modified) for the money. If these audiophiles are correct in their joint assessment, this unit is a Class C component and may even be a border-line lower Class B component.

Here is an excerpt from a letter by a reader who purchased and then later modified the EAR:

"Some research took me to vinylasylum.com and I downloaded what looked like instructions for a promising and relatively inexpensive project. After installing about $ 120 worth of parts (caps, rectifiers and resistors) and making a couple of small circuit modifications, I can report that -- as you suggest on your site -- the EAR becomes a spectacular performer! I can best describe the sound as ultra-detailed yet supremely laid-back, non-fatiguing, and as quiet as a good solid-state preamp.

For further confirmation, I took my unit in to the dealership where I had purchased it in the first place and compared it to a $2,500 British solid-state unit that the dealer had already decided was far superior to the stock EAR (which he had recently relegated to the back room.) In short, the modified EAR clearly outperformed the SS preamp after several A-B comparisons. To his credit, the dealer readily admitted this!! Anyway, just thought I would pass this along -- getting the damn thing open and working on the circuit board is a royal pain-in-the-you-know-what but it's well worth the trouble!"

"I further greatly improved the unit by using AudioNote paper-in-oils (copper) for the output caps, and replacing the 12AX7's with vintage GE 5-star 5751's. I firmly believe this unit can now take on virtually anything in detail, smoothness, musicality, noise, etc." (10/03)

WRIGHT SOUND WPP200C PHONO STAGE- I haven't heard this component, and neither have any of my associates, but a reader recently sent me this e-mail. I thought it should be shared, slightly edited (my bold). The model mentioned is sold direct for $ 825.00. The Link to this company can be found below, and is also in the Links File, for future reference.

"I just purchased a phono stage from Wright Sound and I have to tell you it is the best sounding phono section I have ever heard. It is the WPP200c. It comes with volume pots so I am running it straight into my VAC 80/80 and getting fantastic results. I have owned, in my time, the following; Mod Squad EPS, Counterpoint 5000, EAR 824p, conrad-johnson PV9, 10, 11, Audio Research SP9, PH3, and the Linn Linto (What a disaster! I could not believe the rave reviews it got). This little Wright out does all of them in one way or another. I don't know if you are familiar with his products. I read a review in Listener back in 2002 and always kept it in the back of my head. Wright does offer a 15 day trial. These units are hard wired and made in Kent, Washington." (2/05)

SHURE M-65 TUBE PHONO STAGE- I've never even heard of this Shure phono stage, but this reader is very enthusiastic about it. Here is his slightly edited letter;

"With regards to bargain tube-based phono preamps, I've been using a Shure Brother M-65, which I've compared to a McIntosh C-22 and a Conrad-Johnson PV-5. I didn't care for the C-J, and the C-22 had only a bit deeper sound stage than did the Shure M-65. I was quite surprised at how good it was. It has two Mullard 12AX7's in it.

I see these little tube phono preamps on eBay go for about $150 from time to time."

Personal Note- This phono stage could be a real "killer" for the money, especially with signal path capacitor modifications, plus the beefing up of the power supply caps, along with a few bypasses. Then there's the RIAA equalization, but you get the point. If anyone else has experience with this component, I would like to hear about it, positive or negative.

"(I) haven't heard this preamp, but I looked at the schematic posted on the One-Electron web site. The circuit topology appears to be the same as the Dynaco PAS-2/3/2X phono preamp with a few changes in resistor values and different RIAA network feedback circuit values. The other difference is the power supply voltage, about 100 V B+ specified for the Shure versus about 210 V for the Dynaco. The higher voltage on the Dynaco should theoretically put the tubes in a more linear state, with a higher overload margin compared to the Shure."

Personal Note- I had great results with a stock Dynaco PAS-3 "phono stage" (the signal leaving by the tape outputs), so I can easily believe that the similar Shure circuit has potential.

AUDION PREMIER PHONO STAGE- While the Audion, top of the line, Quattro is one of only two models in our "Class A" peramplifiers, none of us has heard this particular phono stage. One reader has heard it, so I felt his observations should be shared, especially since he also made a few comparisons with some other interesting models. Personally, I would be very surprised if the Premier was not at the least an excellent performer, since the company obviously knows what it's doing, and the model isn't that different from the Quattro, in either design or execution. Here's the (European) reader's letter, with only minor editing:

"My gear consists of a highly modified, and reverse engineered, Project Debut III with an Ortofon 540 Mk.II Cartridge. Amazing what you can do with their bottom line offering. The Audion Premier phonoamplifier. Cambridge 640 C V.2 CD player. Good channel separation, with 2 BB DACs per channel, low jitter and very similar layout with the Mark Levinson offering. Leaves you wondering if Soundblaster (sister of Cambridge) does engineering for other companies. A Melody SP-3, with new and NOS tubes. Apparently this amplifier shares most of its components with its much higher priced siblings. A bit of reverse engineering and it sounds very very grown up. It needs a little bit of external support in the bass section to improve authority.

The amp drives Quad 12l Monitors and a Quad subwoofer. The monitors are simple two way speakers voiced very much like the big Quad ESS models. They do not reach the resolution of the big electrostatic panels but are very pleasant and symphathetic. They crossover at around 80 hertz. The sub is of the closed box variety with the 13`chassis pointing to the floor. It has a remote that controls loudness, crossover and phase and has freely programmable presets. Bass resolution depends on the quality of recordings. Nothing more - nothing less. It can reach to 24hz and does so quite linear and with authority. The low frequency growl of masses of people at a Gallagher concert is something that this sub is delivering well.

Audion Premier MM Phonostage:
I`ve tried a couple of Phonostages, Cambridge 640 P SS, the tubed Bellari and the built in of my previous AURA SS amplifier. I`ve been hearing into friends Mark Levinson phonostage, Onix, the Benz-Lukaschek on Mark Levinson gear, and the Audion Premier beats them all hands down. The Cambridge is proof that there is more to building a phonostage than perfect measurements. The Bellari is a fine piece of gear and reacts nicely to tube rolling, but there are limitations. The Benz phonostage is very nice, but too bright and forwardish. The Aura feels better than the Bellari, but feels a bit to analytical without actually delivering it.

The test records were: Harry Belafonte at the Greek theatre, Jazz at the Pawnshop, Pink Floyd's "Fame", Elvis Presley`s "Fever".

Soundstage of the Audion is believeably big, and really it is up to the recordings capabilites, with no artifices. Musicians are convincingly placed. Noise level is pitchblack. There is a bit of hum when cranked all the way up, but that does not matter anyway since that would go unnoticed at those soundlevels. Roll off -in both directions- is not noticeable. I would call it seamless. Resolution is by far the best I`ve heard, with absolutely convincing depth even at very low listening levels. It does not beautify bad records, but it gives sparkle to magnificient recordings, and preserves tonality, rhythm and sense of space. By any standards, I would call this neutral, but not sterile or warm or tubey.

Conclusion:
I will not touch this piece of equipment, because I feel like no corners have been cut to deliver a truly remarkable experience that is rare nowadays. The Audion Premier`s performance is in every sense a thing of beauty, and it let`s you be there and witness the performance."

AUDION PREMIER PHONO STAGE- The reader who sent a letter that was posted in the June 2006 Update, has recently sent another update on his recent upgrades. I felt it was interesting (my bold):

"I have since been upgrading my whole system to allow the Audion do its magic: The heavy Project RPM 6.1 turntable with carbon-tonearm and Grado Signature High Output as the front-end, Audion Premier Phonostage, 60w Mitch Bi-amp Class-T amp and 98db Mitch Singledriver Speakers helped with a Quad subwoofer.
The Singledrivers serve the whole band down to about 90Hz - where the sub seamlessly crosses over.

The whole setup is now almost the proverbial "wire with gain". Lots of resolution, warmth and detail, rhythm and pace. In one word: the music moves you. It feels like a SET with proper bass articulation.

I`m in heaven. Pitch-black background, no loss of detail and articulation - even at super low level. Listening experience is wide and deep but realsize and not overextended. The amp has adjustable bassboost (within limits) and that makes low level listening even better. It does not go as loud @ 104db as some of the big rigs - but then that's not my kind of listening anyway.

The Audion has just grown with the whole chain and I feel it will stay in my line forever since I have not heard better phonoamps that can be used without a linestage in the signal path." (9/06)

Personal Notes- Once you've experienced an audio system without a linestage (and without any gain and/or impedance compromises), which I have for more than 10 years now, you know you can never go back. You also realize that any effort you made to get to that point was well worth it. This reader is now experiencing what I did, but it's sadly still a much too rare occurrence. I realize that linestages are foolproof, but "fortune (and true musical fidelity) favors the bold".

I've never heard of the Mitch components. According to the same reader: "It will go on sale under the brand name DYNATONE later this year." They appear to be synergistically designed. A link to them (http://dynatone.ch/) is now available. It's in German, but "English will follow suit", according to the reader.

AUDION PREMIER PHONO STAGE- Here's another letter about this phono stage, from a different reader this time. It also has valuable observations to share, unedited (my bold):

"I read what others have written about this phono stage and agree. I used it with a Micro Seiki RX-5000 turntable, SME 3012R tonearm, ZYX Airy 3 Cartridge, and Micro Seiki MT-500 step up trany. The output of the Audion was fed into my VTL 5.5 to provide volume and balance control. My amp was a VTL ST-150 and Audio Physic Virgo speakers.

Having owned one of the Audion for about 2 years, I have a good idea what it can and cannot do. However, I disagree that it is not worth modifying. The Audion Premier is highly influenced by the type of tubes in it. I've used both vintage Siemans 6922s and Amperex Orange Globes. The Siemans tubes tend to push the vocals to the front a tad and add a degree of warmth and realism. The Amperex tubes give a little bit more detail and do not push the vocals to the front; overall, a bit more balanced.

The lesson here is, if you own this unit, get rid of the stock tubes as soon as possible. You just can't believe what a nice pair of vintage 6922s can do in this unit. Not to mention the unit is one best kept secret bargains in all of hi-fi. If only it had a moving coil input with more gain. I had to buy a Steelhead to do better."

Personal Notes- I agree with this reader about "tube rolling", and the coupling caps should be eventually replaced with either V-Cap Teflons or the new Solen Teflons (more about the Solens at a later date). I never recommend making any changes or modifications to a "new" component while the listener is becoming accustomed to its inherent sound, or is making other changes to the system. However, once things have "settled down", you should always try to maximize the potential performance of any component, and changing tubes and coupling caps are the most noticeable, economical and easiest improvements possible.

If I had this phono stage myself, I would first modify it as I described above. Then I would use the Bent Audio Silver Transformer as the MC step-up. Most importantly, I would also find some method, as did the earlier reader, to connect it directly to the power amplifiers. The best method would be a built-in volume control, added to the Audion Premier itself, which would also eliminate a signal cable as a bonus. This should be a "killer" set-up, especially for the reasonable amount of money invested.

Here's a letter from a reader about a component that I am not familiar with, and neither are any of my associates. There's some minor editing:

"I recently built a Pass DIY "Pearl" phono preamp and inserted it into my system. It is essentially a simpler, lower-gain, single-ended Xono. I compared it to an Aragon 24K, and an Audio Research SP-8, and I have to admit it sounds pretty damn good. For you website fans who are handy with a soldering iron, this may be an affordable option. The circuit and PC board Gerber files are available from PassDIY.com, while the cabinet is available from DIYClub.biz"

Personal Notes- I was a PASS dealer for a few years in the 1990's, but I never had a chance to hear their XONO phono stage. Outside of the superb (though discontinued) Pass Aleph L line stage, I've never been as impressed with the preamplifiers from "PASS" (meaning Threshold), as with their power amplifiers. Still, they were well built and always sounded "good", and not irritating like so many transistor models. As for this model, I am intrigued with its circuit simplicity, which is why I posted this letter.

I'm a big fan of DIY projects, and applaud Nelson Pass's numerous (and highly generous) efforts to help the many audiophiles who are on a tight budget and adventurous enough to take a risk with their time and limited funds.

Here's a letter from a veteran reader. If correct, this model may be one of the finest phono stages ever made, especially considering its cost. No editing, but my bold:

"Hagerman's "The Trumpet" is an excellent phono stage. Having lived with my (MFA) Lumi(nescense) for a LONG time, and finding it hard to find another phono to be as satisfying, I was really surprised. It is more open, and more "normal" sounding, that is not as "darkish" as the Lumi, but it is natural and clear, unlike something like CAT or AR. In addition, it is very quiet for an all-tube unit, in fact it pulled my 0.25 mV Koetsu Onyx Gold and Carnegie I (0.28 mV) with very low noise! It is definitely worth considering. They are not being made anymore, sadly. I paid $1650 for mine, that included Hagerman's matching step-up (TX103 copper) and shipping. So, a bargain! And, it looks great! By itself, I saw them go for $1200 or less, but that may change, as everyone offered for sale on a used market is sold right away." 9/07

Personal Note- Any phono stage that can outperform a Luminescense at the above stated price, new or used, is an incredible bargain, if not a breakthrough, for performance/price.

I've never heard of this phono stage, but a veteran reader is very impressed with it. Good phono stages, especially at reasonable prices, are still difficult to find. Here's his write-up, with my bold:

"Last time I wrote, I had a Benz Micro MC-1 cartridge, which is now minus a cantilever and has been replaced by a Shelter 501 Mk2, mounted on my LP12/Akito.

I've been using various cheapish phono stages without much satisfaction:
Creek OBH-9 (moderately good at everything and not great at anything)
Cambridge Azur 640P, Modified (very similar to the Creek)
MingDa MC-767RD (beautiful mids and highs, but seriously recessed bass and a bit too refined)
PS Audio 4.6 preamp (great tension, but way too brash and forward)

Anyway, I have just purchased a Jasmine LP-2.0SE MM/MC Phono Pre-Amplifier. It cost me AU$550 delivered to my door in 5 days from mainland China (that's about US$500 or EURO$350). At this price, I expected a unit which would be, at best, two or three steps above the Creek or Cambridge. It is in a totally different class. This is by far the best phono stage I have ever used and possibly the best I've ever heard (not that I've heard that many), even without any burn-in time. You need to audition this ridiculously cheap phono preamp.

The sound is hugely dynamic without any sense of artificiality. The first album I played was Stravinsky Sacre du Printemps, Boulez conducting the Cleveland in a half-speed CBS Masterworks pressing which I know well. I was totally blown away! Absolute sense of where each instrument was in the orchestra, with mezzo-piano solos grabbing your attention away from the fortissimos in the background which had always overwhelmed them until now. I'm sure the sound will improve from here."

Personal Notes- Another veteran reader has sent a further observation about this phono stage...

"Your reference to the Jasmine phono stage is the second time I have heard positive info. An audiophile I know, who has a high-end system using Zu Definition speakers and 845 based amps, also uses this phono amp in his system." (10/07)

Personal Note- If the Jasmine phono stage turns out to be actually "special", than we have a (relative) technical breakthrough from our perspective, because it will be the first outstanding preamplifier we know of that was designed and manufactured in China. Of course, there's the bargain price too ($ 565, including shipping, according to the reader). Here's the contact URL for the U.S. distributor:

This letter from a reader came in early this year. It further confirms the enthusiasm of the reader whose letter was posted in October 2007. The letter has minor editing, and my bold.

"I just wanted to let you know I got one of the Jasmine Audio LP2.0SE phono stages, and compared to my Lehmann Audio Black Cube SE, it's like a Porsche racing a Kia, except, in this case, the German's aren't going to win. I have used it with an Empire MC5 and a Grado Blue MM. It excels over the Lehmann in every respect, especially the true drum sound, and the bass is so good I'm hearing notes I never heard before. I've heard the Lehmann is better than the EAR 834P, if that means anything, and it retails for $895US, while in total the Jasmine was $530CDN.

Oddly, the gap between the Lehmann and the Jasmine is much larger on a Cambridge Audio Azur 540A than my Dussun DS99 amp, which is a far better amp, so this didn't make much sense to me, unless there is some sort of synergy between the Cambridge and Jasmine, or between the Dussun and Lehmann, or oppositely a lack of. Either way, the Jasmine is an amazing phono, and my system never sounded so good. By the way, as far as I know, the Dussun is the OEM amp for Mark Levison's Red Rose Music Passion, which he sells for $3000 (cost me $450 used).

I also suspect whatever you heard about the Empire MC5 is probably true, because I always get the feeling my system is not making the most of it. When I first heard it I was shocked. The difference between the MC5 and my Grado Red were even more dramatic than when I first compared vinyl to CD. I think with the Lehmann I could have benfited from an MC step up, but with the Jasmine I don't feel the need." (1/08)

Personal Note- This is potentially great news, but I would still appreciate even more confirmation of these readers' observations.

It didn't take long for someone to answer my recent request (above) for further confirmation about the Jasmine. This reader may be even more enthusiastic, if that's possible. Minor editing and my bold:

"Just dropping a quick note to tell you that I bought the now infamous "Jasmine phono stage" from China, and I have been blown away at the quality, dynamics, soundstage and low noise of this low cost phono stage. It has replaced my Dynavector P75. It is incredible for the price point. It definitely should be priced higher*, because it can compete with almost everything out there for at least twice that amount. I was using it with my old VPI Scout - Dynavector 17D2 combo, and now with my new Nottingham Space 294 - 17D2 combo, and it has carried extraordinarily well with the upgrade. I was so impressed, that I bought two of them, the other for my father as a gift, and he sold his old phono stage as well..." (1/08)

*I hope not. Consider this "wish" as the reader's innocent "audio enthusiasm". There's too much artificial audio price inflation as it is.

A reader sent me this modification. It looks highly promising and inexpensive, but don't do it unless you are certain you know what you are doing.

"...The Lukaschek sounded good unmodified, but then I started tinkering. I substituted a heavy duty torroidal transformer for the little puny brick that came with the unit. As a result, the bass was deeper, smoother and better defined; the midrange sounded more lush with better definition; the highs were better defined; overall the sound was more lively and dynamic with better definition across the spectrun. These sonic enhancements were clearly noticeable, but not dramatic. However, the next change to the Lukaschek was definitely dramatic.

I opened the unit up and removed the tiny, little, puny diodes on the circuit board and replaced them with high quality HEXFREDs. I could hardly believe my ears when I turned on the Lukaschek and played a few records. The sonic enhancements I described above with the transformer upgrade apply, but this time in a dramatic way; the Lukaschek sounded like a different phono amplifier; I was hearing things on my records that I never heard before. These changes are highly recommended to anyone who owns a Benz Lukaschek phono amp. The changes I just described are unlikely to make the Benz Lukaschek phono amp a class A or B phono stage, but they sure make it much more revealing and dynanic and therefore more enjoyable to listen to." (1/08)