Balanced phono stage circa 1K

Ok i have a thousand ish to spend on a phonostage (second hand is fine), but i am after one that is balanced and i can't seem to find many of them.

I will be using it with a hadcock 242 and music maker on a garrard 401. The rest of the equipment is balanced, tvc preamp and flying mole poweramps.

 

A very good one is thew Aqvox balanced phonostage very versatile and you can buy direct for about 900 euros

 

Thank you for that one. It certainly has some interesting reviews.
I was also looking at the Ayre P-5xe, but i could only afford this second hand. I wonder how it would compare.

 

why balanced?

 

Hi Chris,

It cuts down noise and interference.

SCIDB

 

Indeed, and also seeing as every other component in my system is, why not?

Cartridges do naturally put out a balanced signal.

Also interestingly i found a review of the Aqvox and the reviewer usually uses the Ayre.

http://www.soundstage.com/vinyl/vinyl200606.htm

 

Hi Dom,

I have seen an Ayre P5XE for £995 at Central Audio.

http://www.centralaudio.co.uk/

I have seen an Aq-Vox phonostage for £395


http://www.heathcoteaudio.co.uk/product.php?type=vinyl&head=Vinyl

SCIDB

 

even on a short run between two components on a hifi shelf?

 

Clearaudio have a balanced phono stage,its very good,but not adjustable,fixed gain, fixed input impedance,MC only ,single ended in (RCA) balanced out.

 

Hi Chris,

Yes. In thoery balanced connections offer noise cancellation. True balanced connections have signal paths that carry just signal and separate eart path.

Downside is extra cost and extra circuits/components (+ quality of these bits). More companies are putting them on bits of kit it seems.

I have heard good things about using balanced connections from tonearms to phono stages.

Some people say that the short lengths don't make a difference but is worth looking at with small signals like those from cartridges.

SCIDB