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I have a Rega 25 with a RB900 and a Benz Glyder cartridge. I am looking for a phono preamp and was wondering if anyone could compare the EAR and Cary? Or could anyone suggest anything better for under $2000? Thank You
For less money but still great sound, try to audition the Lehmann Audio Black Cube. Their website is http://www.lehmannaudio.de/lehmann/welcome.htm
Reviews are at http://www.lehmannaudio.de/lehmann/press/steve03.htm, http://www.lehmannaudio.de/lehmann/press/lacubtnt.htm, and http://www.lehmannaudio.de/lehmann/press/lapress7.htm.
Solid state, but very clean neutral sound (on my system). See what you think?
James
I can describe the general sound of the Cary - I heard it in Seattle a year or two back on an unfamiliar system. It is in the same type of sound family as the EAR unit - a bit warm in the midrange though it has better textural detail, also much tighter on the bass and a more extended silky high end. I do not know it well enough to be able to talk about cartridge loading, noise level, and output levels.
The times I have heard the EAR it always had a glare or brightness that I found a bit troubling (though that may have been from the stock tubes) However for the money it is a very good buy. The EAR is one unit that really will improve with tube swapping. Is the Cary worth the extra money - in my mind yes it is. Good Luck.
The Stock tubes that come with the EAR suck big time-its almost as if they searched for horrid sounding tubes. One should consider tube swapping *mandatory*(raytheon 5751s work well). It also needs vibration control and mass loading.
Jack
I also have a Rega 25, but with an RB-600 arm and a Clearaudio Aurm-beta S mm. cart. I'm using the AcousTech PH-1 with very satisfied results, it's price is $1200.00. AR PH-3 is very good for $1500.00. "Listner" mag. thinks the Pass phono preamp is the very best, with a price of exactly $2000.00.
I haven't done a direct comparison, but I thought the Cary was considerably more expensive. The EAR lists for $900(black face), I thought the Cary was a bit more. I have the EAR, and outside af a few quibbles, i strongly recomend it as an affordable Phono stage.
Jack
...the PH-301 is $1795 and the EAR is $895-1195 depending on options/finish. I am also looking for a phono pre and so far the Joule OPS-1 is the direction I am heading. However I would like to audition the Cary myself. First I need to decide on a table though.
EAR also makes a MM version for roughly 1/2 the price(one can get a step up transformer later is needed.Wished I had thought of that...
Jack
I purchased a Audio Research ph-3 for 900.00. I like it very much, I think it lists for about 1500.00. I have not compared it to other comperable phono stages however, only my previous NAD pp-1.
Keith
Keith,
I was curious as to how that pp-1 sounded? Comments for a low end system?
Well it souded pretty good considering its cheap price 125.00 or so . Its of course unfair to compare it to its replacment. I still have it and would sell it for 50.00 bucks if your interested.
Keith
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