Phonostages - what to get

Tom Alves

Tom Alves

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I'm retiring, I'm going to be poor and I'm emigrating to Inverness but before I go I'm going to do something about my LP12. Either I wil sell it and buy a Rega P9 or keep it and buy Lingo2. I'll also get a Dynavector 17D cartridge. None of that's up for discussion as my resaearch in those areas is near completion.

The only thing I don't have clue about is a phonostage. The obvious is the Naim Prefix as the rest of my kit is Naim but what else? I've heard the Tom Evans Microgroove which was fine on both the P9 & LP12 and I may try the Microgroove Plus. But that can't be all. What else should I try to hear?

Budget is £600
 
In that price range there isn't a huge amount else apart from the Trichord Dino/Dino+, the Graham Slee Era Gold, or the EAR 834P Signature (in case you want to experiment with valves).

If you're anywhere near London Walrus are the place to go (http://www.walrus.co.uk).

-- Ian
 
Hi Tom

If you do manage a trip to Walrus I would recomend that you give the Trigon range of phono stages a spin.

I have their entry model (£300) the Vanguard and to my ears it takes some beating V. Musical. (FWIW Hifi+ reviewed it recently and gave it the thubs up). Trigon also have a more upmarket stage in your budget range.

Trigon are a German company who as far as I know used to trade as Restek and who were quite useful in their day.

Cheers
 
If you don't mind buying second hand try to locate a DPA phono stage - the last one I saw went for £250 on ebay. As DPA are no more the second hand market is the only place to find them but they take a lot of beating in the "mid" price range - much better than the Dino, similar sound to EAR.
 
Hi Tom


With an output of .23mv, quite obviously you're going to need a phono stage with a good MC stage.

This months issue of hifi+ has a review of phono stages in your price bracket if you havent got it yet.

I shant reccomend anything - thats for your ears :)

Good luck!
Chris.
 
Lots of choice at the £600ish mark...
There's the Lehmann Black Cube with uprated PSU; there's the Brinkmann Fein (at a little more, but sounds absolutely the dogs); there's the EAR 834P (being a bit valvey it should tome down that Naim shoutiness ;) ).
Then there's the Tom Evans ones (though I preferred the EAR and Brinkmann to the Microgroove).
Speak to Walrus in London, or MAX in the midlands..
 
Well I rang Walrus, Their advice is a Shelter 501 II & the Trigon Advance phono stage. So I'll try and borrow them
 
Originally posted by soundzandpower
Trigon are a German company who as far as I know used to trade as Restek and who were quite useful in their day.
Click to expand...

Trigon are actually an offshoot of a company that makes medical electronics. Their designer used to be with Restek, but I beleive that's as far as the connection goes.

Restek has recently been revitalized and is trading again. Never heard their stuff, though.
 

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