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Upgrade from my internal Primaluna phono stage... Audio Alchemy PPA-1? What else?

So I am currently using the built in phono stage in my Primaluna Dialogue Premium Integrated (along with an Audio Interface CTS-80 SUT). The other gear is a VPI Classic 2 w/ 3D arm, Dynavector DV20X w/ Soundsmith Ruby retip, Devore Gibbon Super 8s. Musical taste is all over the place but is generally 60's to 80's underground rock, soul/funk, jazz, reggae. Not really any Classical or much modern stuff.

The Primaluna phono stage is better than I thought it might be but not sure just how good as I haven't heard this amp with anything else. Can't really tell how far I need to go to get a noticeable improvement. Can't really spend more than $1k if that (really should be less), but am happy to buy used gear.

Anyone else have the Primaluna phono board and upgraded? How much better can I do for under $1k?
Been scanning the ads here and the other usual places and doing plenty of research but I just keep going in circles. Too many options and no clear winner. Hopefully you guys can help narrow things down with experience with some of the same particular gear I am using.

I like tubes but don't feel it is 100% necessary as I have tubes in the rest of the path. I like the idea of MC capable especially with loading options but I have a quality SUT so it is also not necessary. A small chassis is nice as space is limited but a full size component is ok if it isn't too tall. No space for some big Audio Research type piece of gear. I am in NYC and in a 100 year old house with some wacky wiring so a good power supply and noise rejection is a plus, too.

I am Intrigued by the Audio Alchemy PPA-1 since Audio Advisor has them on sale for $799 ($1795 MSRP) but there is surprisingly little info on them out there beyond a positive Michael Fremer review and some other passing mentions which are also all positive. Seems odd for something that appears to have been out for a couple years now. Anyone actually have one or at least heard it? What else should I be looking at?










delay1968
johnss
291 posts
 
have the same preamp. if its within your budget, would suggest the EAR 834P, or for a little less, the Clone of the EAR which is a direct copy.
pharmacylaw's avatar
pharmacylaw
8 posts
 

how would the audio PPA-1 stack up to the Phenomona II+? Price difference


have a Dual CS 5000 TT with a
grado stylus and a Hegel 160 integrated amp. Thank you.

big_greg
315 posts
 
First of all, I have not heard the Primaluna phono stage, so can't say whether an external stage would be "better", however this is from Primaluna's web site:

"Built in phonostages are “throw in” and are rarely good quality because manufacturers assume 90% of buyers won’t use them. The external phonostage market is very competitive. You can get something much better for as little as $200, and buy one that actually meets your cartridges needs and YOUR budget."

If you search, you'll find comments about the built in phono stage on some other forums.

Some of the phono stages I've used within your budget are the Jolida JD9 and the Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena.  I like them both.  The Jolida has a lot of loading and gain options and is very dynamic.  It's a tube / solid state hybrid and gives you the option of rolling tubes while not putting out a lot of heat.  It's not as quiet as some phono stages, but I have not had any issues with noise in any of my setups.  The Phonomena has even more gain and loading options and is very quiet and neutral. 

My latest phono stage is the $400 Parks Puffin.  It's very quiet and to my ears more dynamic than the Phonomena.  It doesn't have as many loading options, but offers numerous options for customizing the sound.  I think it's  a better value and better sounding phono stage than the others I have, except for the Manley Chinook which is fully tubed and out of your budget.

I'd give the Puffin a try.  You should be able to flip it for close to what you paid for it if you don't like it.
soundermn's avatar
soundermn
243 posts
 
I did quite a lot of comparisons last year with phono stages.  I have a PL HP Integrated.  I definitely agree that a tube phono stage is the way to go.  I had a JD9 for quite a while, but ultimately found it to be a little too noisy.  I had a ProJect PhonoBox RS that I really liked for about 6 months.  When I picked that one, I tried several other SS phono stages, and also the ProJect TubeBox DS.  The DS I liked too, but chose the RS. 

After living with the RS, I ended up taking the big plunge and got a Manley Chinook.  The difference is really surprising, and I'm sticking with this one for the long term.  I know it's over your budget, and I'm not trying to convince you to spend more money.  But, I am saying I would definitely stick with a tube phono stage, based on my experience.  

And, for the record, the step from JD9 to TubeBox DS is a good step, but the step to Manley was really significant.  Major improvement. 
mjcmt's avatar
mjcmt
479 posts
 
I have a Norwegian Mystere IA-11 EL34 integrated amp. It is designed by Prima Luna (their sister company) and built to the same incredibly high standards of workmanship and uses PL's adaptive auto-bias circuitry. I have it matched to the Schiit Mani phono preamp and find the combination quite amazing. The Mani is dynamic, rhythmic, and detailed and compliments the Mystere which is quite a quick paced and detailed sounding amp. The combination does not have that romantic lush vintage tube sound, but a very modern sound. I love the combo.
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