Tube phono stages -£400 ish

[bullinachinashop]

Evening all, I'm keen on upgrading to a tube phono stage. £400 ish budget used.

I'm running an AT-VM95SH cart at the moment but something with adjustable gain for a moving coil cart at a later date would be nice.

And ideally a single box, half size, with integrated power supply if possible.

Any recommendations?

Thanks
Ross

 

[manicatel]

project tube box DS2. Sounds superb, loads of flexibility, mm & mc. Maybe not the sexiest looking thing out there & some may be a bit sniffy about the Pro-Ject badge, but get past that & you‘ve got a really excellent PS.

 

[DomT]

I don’t particularly like what stages with MC inputs do vs using an SUT. I know it’s not what you want but a secondhand Croft or an Audion Premier would sound very good. MCs can be good but there are lots of great MMs that with one of these stages could satisfy in the long term.

Otherwise I really like the Dynavector P75. I have had one for years and it’s great especially with Dynavector cartridges

 

[bullinachinashop]

I don’t particularly like what stages with MC inputs do vs using an SUT. I know it’s not what you want but a secondhand Croft or an Audion Premier would sound very good. MCs can be good but there are lots of great MMs that with one of these stages could satisfy in the long term.

Otherwise I really like the Dynavector P75. I have had one for years and it’s great especially with Dynavector cartridges

That's interesting, thanks! It'll probably be years before I change the cart as it's got less than 10 hours on it, so MC capability is not essential

 

[leroyd]

I don’t particularly like what stages with MC inputs do vs using an SUT. I know it’s not what you want but a secondhand Croft or an Audion Premier would sound very good. MCs can be good but there are lots of great MMs that with one of these stages could satisfy in the long term.

Otherwise I really like the Dynavector P75. I have had one for years and it’s great especially with Dynavector cartridges

I have the latest iteration of the Dynavector P75. Excellent with both MM and MC cartridges.

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

I'm sure you can get phono stages for < £400 but aren't such things more likely to be solid state? Wouldn't you need a bigger budget for valves?

 

[bullinachinashop]

There's definitely some around like a Jolida JD9 I'm interested in, and the Puresound A10

 

[DomT]

There's definitely some around like a Jolida JD9 I'm interested in, and the Puresound A10

Compared directly to the Croft and Audion the Puresound is very very laid back sounding. Ok though if that’s your thing.

 

[Tarzan]

A leftfield recommendation is to try a Jez Arkless phono stage, ( SS) they are very full, smooth and extremely musical, and quiet, you could pick up one well under budget.

Good luck any road.

 

[Jazid]

I was fond of my Icon PS1 Mk 1. Used it with a 401, SME and G1042. The new models prices have gone through the roof, but they are well built so a second hand one will last near enough for ever. Last thing I'd have called it was laid back, bouncy and open would be closer for what its worth.

 

[greybeard]

I have been using an EE Minimax for many years, and have never felt the need to change, a great valve phonostage which has it own sut built in. Mind you I doubt you will find one for £400.

 

[toms wait]

Just sold 2, that fit the bill.
Parks Audio Budgie and World Audio Designs.
Both valve and around your budget.
Both rare, Parks Audio not imported as far as I know, imported it myself from Shannon Parks in the USA. Discontinued line, now is all digital and called The Puffin.

 

[Motortown review]

I used a Quad phono stage to good effect, mm/mc with adjustable gain, bought used £450.

 

[mayebaza]

I have a well regarded Vincent Pho 700 going spare with Bugle Boy 12AX Long Plates at your asking price.

 

[The Great Soprendo]

It's not MC and it's definitely not to everyone's taste to buy such things but the two box EAR834P clone I recently got from AliExpress is very very good. Quiet and very musical. And seems well put together with decent parts inside. About £170 delivered without valves or £200 incl 3 PSVane valves.

It has a volume control also which is handy as the gain from it is high.

 

[Lawrence001]

I use a Yaqin MS23B and think it's great. Ok I only replaced a Cambridge Audio one so it wasn't up against much but it was clear night and day once I replaced the stock Chinese valves with Sovtek short plates.

They can be modded (I think someone on here used to do it, maybe Firebottle, where's he gone?) to sound even better but you can buy s/h to try it first to see what you think and then upgrade if you like it or sell without loss if you don't.

 

[antonio66]

For the OP here are the links to the above recommendations:-

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...a2g0o.productlist.main.11.39be6d57OpipvT&algo

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...o.productlist.main.9.23fa4531fykSgw&algo_pvid

Also a one box EAR with MM/MC - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/328...o.productlist.main.1.23fa4531fykSgw&algo_pvid

I've never heard these phonos but I do own a Yaqin amplifier and it is very good.

 

[rdale]

For the OP here are the links to the above recommendations:-

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...a2g0o.productlist.main.11.39be6d57OpipvT&algo

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...o.productlist.main.9.23fa4531fykSgw&algo_pvid

Also a one box EAR with MM/MC - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/328...o.productlist.main.1.23fa4531fykSgw&algo_pvid

I've never heard these phonos but I do own a Yaqin amplifier and it is very good.

I don’t really need another phono stage, but I’m quite tempted to get the two box EAR clone at that price.

 

[Lawrence001]

I don’t really need another phono stage, but I’m quite tempted to get the two box EAR clone at that price.

Does seem like a bargain esp the no tubes option to add NOS of your choice. Never bought off Ali Ex though no idea what happens if things go wrong.

 

[rdale]

Does seem like a bargain esp the no tubes option to add NOS of your choice. Never bought off Ali Ex though no idea what happens if things go wrong.

I’ve got several cheap Chinese valve amps - three APPJ ones, and they have all been 100% reliable, well made and respond well to valve upgrades such as Psvane types. I suppose if they ever go wrong, you might have to write them off as it would be almost as cheap to get another one as repair them. I’ve found recently that deliveries from China via Ali Express to the Canary Islands where I live, are actually faster than from places like Germany.