I would say trust your own ears, if you like the Koetsu step up..keep it, if not sell it :)
I was a solid state guy for years and had some phonostages like Gryphon Orestes, ASR Basis Exclusive, Audio Research PH5...the point when I started to listen to music instead of Hifi was when I discovered my Paragon 12a tube preamp and transformers...
My experience is totally different to the things Mepearson said. I dont know if he has any experience with very very good step up units like Audio Note, Kondo etc..
In direct comparison no active phonostage I tried against the Paragon Step up combination could made so much dynamic lively and almost touchable music in my listening room. Not even the highly regarded Gryphon Orestes (>7000$). With my Audio Note step up and the Paragon I had not to sacrefice anything in precision, frequency extension to active phono stages. Sometimes I think transformers have a bad reputation to some people before they ever had the chance to hear a top transformer under good conditions.
And personally I cant trust what Mr. Wilson says...I had a Watt Puppy 5.1 and I have to say that this was dead, sterile and boring sounding compared to for instance my Cabasse 500. So his taste how music sound is maybe something wich doesnt get along with me...
I just can propose in general to try to listen less to "more bass, more resolution..." whatever and judge a component more after if music is touching more or less via the specific unit.
I was a solid state guy for years and had some phonostages like Gryphon Orestes, ASR Basis Exclusive, Audio Research PH5...the point when I started to listen to music instead of Hifi was when I discovered my Paragon 12a tube preamp and transformers...
My experience is totally different to the things Mepearson said. I dont know if he has any experience with very very good step up units like Audio Note, Kondo etc..
In direct comparison no active phonostage I tried against the Paragon Step up combination could made so much dynamic lively and almost touchable music in my listening room. Not even the highly regarded Gryphon Orestes (>7000$). With my Audio Note step up and the Paragon I had not to sacrefice anything in precision, frequency extension to active phono stages. Sometimes I think transformers have a bad reputation to some people before they ever had the chance to hear a top transformer under good conditions.
And personally I cant trust what Mr. Wilson says...I had a Watt Puppy 5.1 and I have to say that this was dead, sterile and boring sounding compared to for instance my Cabasse 500. So his taste how music sound is maybe something wich doesnt get along with me...
I just can propose in general to try to listen less to "more bass, more resolution..." whatever and judge a component more after if music is touching more or less via the specific unit.