Is impedence so important for a pick/phono combo?

Sidssp, great suggestion. There's certainly no valid way to compare two phono stages without loading the cartridge identically. A couple of resistors should go for a lot less than a Rhea, and resistors practically never shut down intermittently without a reason. ;)

Good point Sid...however, I listened to my Helikon through the Rhea @ 47khtz also vs ARC PH3se and the Rhea was simply better at that load as well.

Zender... Yes, there is, but you may not like it.

Listen to your cartridge in your system in your room with your ears, at different loads. Find the load that sounds best. Sorry, but ultimately it's the only way.

The experiences of others and perhaps even the manufacturer's specs can get you close. But there are too many variables for the "perfect" load to be calculated. Every electrical component in the chain from cartridge to speaker coil has an effect, and changing the electrical load on the cartridge changes the physical behavior of the cartridge suspension itself. It's just too complex to model.

This is one reason I chose and love the BentAudio Mu stepups. I can achieve virtually any imaginable load in a matter of seconds by swapping in a new resistor. I can even use pairs of resistors to achieve intermediate loads for which no single resistor is available. Easy, educational and cheap!

Rick,
Wow! It is that good? I am shopping for a phono amp as well but your bad experience does concern me.

BTW, does the Rhea run hot? I haven't seen one but from the reports I read, there are a lot of IC chips in the box. ICs don't like heat. If it is too hot, they might mulfunction.

Just a guess.

Sid

Hi Sid.....The Rhea is quite good and I am disappointed that I cannot hear it at home since this problem has occurred.
I did speak to Jim White at Aesthetix (very nice man) and he told me that the unit that I had borrowed for the dealer is one of the first run units. These units were a bit susceptible to static (even minor static) and this would cause the shut down. He has confirmed that the newer unit do not have this fault and the "fix" had nothing to do with sonics...so older units that work...are sonically the same.

I hope I can get another unit to test at home..(Sid you are welcomed to come over if I get another). If not..I may order one with the option of the return.