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How much difference will a phono stage upgrade make?

For the past couple of years I’ve slowly been upgrading my audio equipment. I currently have a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated amplifier, an EAT C-Sharp TT with an Ortofon Quintet Black MC cartridge, and Tannoy Revolution XT 8F speakers. The weak link at this point, it would seem, is my phono stage, which is a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS. All things considered, my system sounds really good to my ears, but I can’t help but wonder what a phono stage upgrade would bring to the table. I’m looking at the Manley Chinook Special Edition MK II, which is a big step up in terms of cost, but I wonder how much better it will actually sound. Has anybody made a similar upgrade, and was there a marked uptick in sound quality?
12hz
58 responses Add your response
leotis
151 posts
 
I have Dialogue HP INT also.I would never use a tube phono stage. (YMMV haha!)
Many people who should know say tubed phono = too much distortion.You don’t want my suggestion, but Sutherland 20/20 w/ PL Dialogue HP sounds pretty fine IMO.
soundermn's avatar
soundermn
243 posts
 
I would disagree with Leotis on this one.  Sure, there is some small amount of distortion that tubes MAY add, but it's negligible.  You'll see that Kevin Deal highly recommends the Chinook with the Primaluna as a good match.  My experience is the same.  I moved from 2 different SS phono stages (Musical Fidelity and PhonoBox RS), both good in their own right.  And I find the Chinook betters both by a long shot.

Also, above I didn't mention that I use an ART9 cartridge.  I do find a tiny bit more gain would be good.  And, the latest version delivers an extra 5 db of gain.  I sent mine in to have that added so I can try it out.  I don't want to add an SUT to the mix.
chakster's avatar
chakster
2,482 posts
 
 You'll see that Kevin Deal highly recommends the Chinook with the Primaluna as a good match.

Kevin Deal is a tube dealer, what else he can recommend? 
He also a dealer of Manley Lab. gear. 

Gold Note PH-10 is a new generation of SS phono stages
JLTi is also superb SS phono stage for MM/MC 
both very reasonably priced

 
mmai
15 posts
 
papafrgog, sorry I misinformed you. The tubes that Aesthetix sold me were JJs, not Sovteks.

Regardless, the replacement Gold Lion B759s are working wonderfully for me.
tangramca
32 posts
 
I would consider the iPhono II. I have one but recently upgraded to the Allnic H1201. Head to head, the differences were more subtle than expected (although the Allnic was green). The iPhono provides tremendous performance in a small package withlots of flexibility.
12hz OP
13 posts
 
Thanks everyone for a lively discussion and lots of useful feedback. I pulled the trigger yesterday on the Manley Chinook Special Edition MK II, so I’ll be up and running with a new phono stage this weekend sometime if all goes as planned. 
bpoletti
1,004 posts
 
Decent selection.  Nice musical phono stage.  It should serve you well for years without a big desire for an upgrade.  Not a big number of phono stages that are better.  
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
324 posts
 
He's coming from a  Pro-Ject Tube Box DS. Could throw a dart, anything within range guaranteed to be a skin-tingling revelatory experience. Hard to go wrong with any phono stage at this level. Ought to make him very happy indeed.
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