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Post by robbiegong on Dec 24, 2021 11:29:56 GMT
What's out there ?? new, used - doesnt matter, just so long's as it's SS and exceptional !
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Post by gninnam on Dec 24, 2021 11:44:03 GMT
Firebottle OPT MKII/III - great for the money and leave change for some records  |
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Post by firebottle on Dec 24, 2021 11:46:46 GMT
OK Rob, are we talking MC? There must be some contenders but my exposure is limited.
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 24, 2021 11:57:33 GMT
Firebottle OPT MKII/III - great for the money and leave change for some records Cant disagree gninman, I had the MKIII but wasnt patient and didnt spend the necessary time with it and for resistors etc to settle/burn in but it was mad quiet and quite flat across the frequency range in my set up. Andy Smangus-Electronumpty on the other hand found it veering on the bright side in his set up, which goes to show, different set ups do different things. It definitely needs some hours on it to know it's true prowess. I actually thoroughly enjoy the Mk1 in my set up, it just synergises wonderfully, does music and boogies like a good un. Not the quietest, but as I say - music ! Mine has a slightly annoying short associated with the left channel loading plug rca connector, whereby the left channel drops out/dies so I'll be getting it off to Alan the Firebottle man soon, may well simply be just a solder joint or something. Still, my curiosity for mid-upper end phono stages persists as it's clear that when the stage foundation for the Candenza Black - FGS is improved the reward is amazing. |
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 24, 2021 12:01:22 GMT
OK Rob, are we talking MC? There must be some contenders but my exposure is limited. Yep, MC Alan - I find your original OTP to bring big smiles in my set up btw. If I can sort that left channel shorting niggle I'd probs stop looking for a long long time and put funds instead towards upgrading my Spendor D7's to the revised D7.2 |
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Post by gninnam on Dec 24, 2021 12:10:38 GMT
I have a Cairn Boost which is excellent and you can borrow to see what you think.
Dip switches for setting the right load etc and support both MM/MC
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2021 12:45:18 GMT
Also try a home loan of a Graham Slee Accession MC. Contact John Cadman on the GS forum to arrange a loan.
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Post by rexton on Dec 24, 2021 12:47:30 GMT
Trichord Diablo is decent enough, especially if you can score never connected power supply, should be under £1K 2nd hand.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 24, 2021 19:39:12 GMT
The best value is in the DIY sector, Rob. No point arguing, it just is. There isn't anything exceptional about any of the above IMO. The VFM of the OTP is not to be sniffed at, and the Graham Slee stuff i haven't heard. However the Trichord? No thanks. One of the better SS phonostages i heard was a Lab47 Phonocube. You can't get one of those with the budget available, but you can build the clone: phonoclone.com/diy-pho4.htmlFor me, considering the budget etc, this is where i would head off to. Luckily for you, you have a plethora of people in here who are more than capable of building one for you and knowing that Alan loves a bit of phonostage tweakery, he may be your best bet. The PCB's are no longer available but the gerbers are, so some can be made. Seriously, this could be done for a few hundred pounds and you'd have a phonostage that would be very enjoyable. I heard Sam Smith through the Lab47, I think he's Sh#t, but the recording sounded superb. I will point out that this wasnt on a particularly "reference" level TT, so it did well to impress me. I did look into the 47 after hearing it and thought it might be one to pick up cheap in the future. I liked it. |
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Post by bigbird on Dec 24, 2021 20:54:33 GMT
Having tried most of the aforementioned above(tri chord ,whest,slee,firebotte)I would say the Whest 2.2 bettered them all. It’s clean , bags of detail,pretty neutral and has all the loading options you could need . You can buy them for 8-900 used (that’s what I sold mine for )
However the BB3 is a step up from that again for the same money . It would be my only choice in the sub 1000 category as you’d have to spend 2-3 times that in a shop to get close and the Cadenza would really benefit from a stage of this caliber
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 24, 2021 21:25:39 GMT
Having tried most of the aforementioned above(tri chord ,whest,slee,firebotte)I would say the Whest 2.2 bettered them all. It’s clean , bags of detail,pretty neutral and has all the loading options you could need . You can buy them for 8-900 used (that’s what I sold mine for ) However the BB3 is a step up from that again for the same money . It would be my only choice in the sub 1000 category as you’d have to spend 2-3 times that in a shop to get close and the Cadenza would really benefit from a stage of this caliber He doesn't want valves though. |
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Post by sq225917 on Dec 24, 2021 22:48:27 GMT
If all you want is a dual stage opamp phono with accurate riaa and no fuss then just go for the rjm audio Emerald. The regs are onboard, the specs are better than the phono clone and its an easy build. You can cobble one together for a couple of hundred quid or go all out with boutique parts dual mono psu and cases for £600. No need to spend more if you're happy with opamps.  |
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 24, 2021 23:56:21 GMT
If all you want is a dual stage opamp phono with accurate riaa and no fuss then just go for the rjm audio Emerald. The regs are onboard, the specs are better than the phono clone and its an easy build. You can cobble one together for a couple of hundred quid or go all out with boutique parts dual mono psu and cases for £600. No need to spend more if you're happy with opamps. Looks like a tidy little phonostage doesn't it. |
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Post by antonio on Dec 25, 2021 0:59:13 GMT
NVA Phono 2, with two power supplies, and I think they do one with a much larger power supply, although that would be taking you over a grand, but I don't know by how much.
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Post by bigbird on Dec 25, 2021 6:19:28 GMT
Having tried most of the aforementioned above(tri chord ,whest,slee,firebotte)I would say the Whest 2.2 bettered them all. It’s clean , bags of detail,pretty neutral and has all the loading options you could need . You can buy them for 8-900 used (that’s what I sold mine for ) However the BB3 is a step up from that again for the same money . It would be my only choice in the sub 1000 category as you’d have to spend 2-3 times that in a shop to get close and the Cadenza would really benefit from a stage of this caliber He doesn't want valves though. I know mate , it’s a shame but I respect the choice and won’t harp on about it anymore. That’s why I mentioned the Whest first as it’s the only retail one I’ve personally tried sub 1500 that gets anywhere near the BB3 . There may be others but I can’t speak for them . Apparently james has updated them too so they are even better now. If one of those could be picked up it would be a whole different level to the other stages I mentioned . It’s a very good phonostage . The guy who bought mine had the rega phono that costs about 800 quid and said it was a nice improvement . He was well chuffed . I’ve been told the Avid Pulsus is very good too which might be doable for a grand in the used market ? |
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 25, 2021 6:29:27 GMT
He doesn't want valves though. I know mate , it’s a shame but I respect the choice and won’t harp on about it anymore. That’s why I mentioned the Whest first as it’s the only retail one I’ve personally tried sub 1500 that gets anywhere near the BB3 . There may be others but I can’t speak for them . Apparently james has updated them too so they are even better now. If one of those could be picked up it would be a whole different level to the other stages I mentioned . It’s a very good phonostage . The guy who bought mine had the rega phono that costs about 800 quid and said it was a nice improvement . He was well chuffed . I’ve been told the Avid Pulsus is very good too which might be doable for a grand in the used market ? Yeah the Whest stuff looks very polished Good resale value if you don't like them too. |
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Post by bigbird on Dec 25, 2021 7:02:52 GMT
I know mate , it’s a shame but I respect the choice and won’t harp on about it anymore. That’s why I mentioned the Whest first as it’s the only retail one I’ve personally tried sub 1500 that gets anywhere near the BB3 . There may be others but I can’t speak for them . Apparently james has updated them too so they are even better now. If one of those could be picked up it would be a whole different level to the other stages I mentioned . It’s a very good phonostage . The guy who bought mine had the rega phono that costs about 800 quid and said it was a nice improvement . He was well chuffed . I’ve been told the Avid Pulsus is very good too which might be doable for a grand in the used market ? Yeah the Whest stuff looks very polished Good resale value if you don't like them too. Exactly . He wouldn’t lose any money on it if he tried one . |
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Post by firebottle on Dec 25, 2021 7:49:11 GMT
If all you want is a dual stage opamp phono with accurate riaa and no fuss then just go for the rjm audio Emerald. The regs are onboard, the specs are better than the phono clone and its an easy build. You can cobble one together for a couple of hundred quid or go all out with boutique parts dual mono psu and cases for £600. No need to spend more if you're happy with opamps. That looks like an excellent phono stage. With pcb's available it's a no brainer. |
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Post by rexton on Dec 25, 2021 10:13:35 GMT
Hate Whest phonostages. You could always try and score some Paradise boards and ask very nicely for someone to build one for you but your going over your £1K+. TBH, it might be worthwhile saving and getting something like the Paradise, but the Emerald also looks a good bet, again, if your not upto building one, there are plenty of people on here that will help you out.
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 25, 2021 10:18:19 GMT
I can't see anyone building a Paradise for under £1.5k. The BOM is expensive and the build takes ages.
There was a used one for sale a few months back for £500....but that's long gone now.
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Post by karma67 on Dec 25, 2021 11:01:33 GMT
I can't see anyone building a Paradise for under £1.5k. The BOM is expensive and the build takes ages. There was a used one for sale a few months back for £500....but that's long gone now. yep agreed,the emerald looks to be good value,why not ask simon to build one for you? or get yourself out and about next year and hear a few,im sure most people would be ok with that.
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 25, 2021 11:11:36 GMT
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Post by sq225917 on Dec 25, 2021 14:56:33 GMT
I'm currently building a single box emerald, fully dual mono after the mains socket. Just for something to do. You're welcome to borrow it once it's done.
I've a spare set of boards if you fancy giving it a go.
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Post by rexton on Dec 25, 2021 16:37:15 GMT
You'll not get anything dual mono for less than a grand. I love mi'dual mono phonostages.
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 25, 2021 16:39:53 GMT
I'm currently building a single box emerald, fully dual mono after the mains socket. Just for something to do. You're welcome to borrow it once it's done. I've a spare set of boards if you fancy giving it a go. How much do you want for them? |
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Post by sq225917 on Dec 25, 2021 17:03:26 GMT
£15 to you squire, they're built for smt resistors in the riaa, originals are through hole
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 25, 2021 18:11:56 GMT
£15 to you squire, they're built for smt resistors in the riaa, originals are through hole Got the BOM? |
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 25, 2021 18:59:13 GMT
I can't see anyone building a Paradise for under £1.5k. The BOM is expensive and the build takes ages. There was a used one for sale a few months back for £500....but that's long gone now. yep agreed ,the emerald looks to be good value, why not ask Simon to build one for you? or get yourself out and about next year and hear a few,im sure most people would be ok with that.
Indeed, the RJM Emerald has been getting plenty of shout, the Olster first brought this one to my attention. Btw, Simon ?? |
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Post by karma67 on Dec 25, 2021 19:03:13 GMT
yep agreed ,the emerald looks to be good value, why not ask Simon to build one for you? or get yourself out and about next year and hear a few,im sure most people would be ok with that.
Indeed, the RJM Emerald has been getting plenty of shout, the Olster first brought this one to my attention. Btw, Simon ?? sq225917 |
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 25, 2021 19:59:43 GMT
£15 to you squire, they're built for smt resistors in the riaa, originals are through hole I'm gonna leave them mate. I don't really need EXTRA things to do at the minute. Thanks though. |
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