Does EAR324 phono stage sound like tubes ?

For me, the strength of EAR324 is the MM section.

Having the adjustment for PF & Capacitance of the MM section, anybody tried a low output cartridge with SUT and used the MM section of EAR324????

Analog soul,

I have gone to that route with my MC cartridge but not with the EAR324's MM section. I like the overall sound more than going direct from MC phono stage. The sound is more neutral, pure and much quieter background.

Agiaccio, you've highlighted the wrong EAR phono in your link. The 324 isn't a tube phono.

I agree with Audiomax. Using external SUT for LOMC carts is not without disadvantages as we inevitably alter the minute capacitance and, especially, impedance loadings.

In brief, we have to use ultra low impedance cables/wires in order to minimize any negative effects on signal transmission. The ICs(I had to DIY one) to and from the SUTs also need to be as short as possible to maintain signal purity closer to the source.

Unfortunately, there are not much ultra low impedance cables/wires available for this purpose...limited choices bring limited fun for this hobby:)

When SUTs and phono are placed close to TT, interferences from motors and electronics may arise too...

Dan

I had an EAR 324 for a a few months. It was initially quite impressive - very quiet, great detail, dynamic. But after a while I found it unsatisfying - to my ears, it had a cold, metallic sound which I found rather un-musical, so I sold it. I also borrowed an 88PB which I found to have a similar tonal quality, although with a little more bloom. Again, though, I found it too cold sounding for my tastes. I have gone back to using my Exposure 13 phono stage (which has not been manufactured for about a decade), although it was much cheaper and perhaps less quiet, and certainly less flexible than the 324. It is, however, far more musical.