Analog Corner

Analog Corner #260: CH Precision P1 phono preamplifier

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 10, 2023  |  First Published: Apr 1, 2017

Although Swiss-based CH Precision (footnote 1) is a relatively young company, its core design team has been involved in high-performance audio for many years. Their website doesn't state the company's age, but something there did provide a hint: Among the design team's previous activities was work for another Swiss company, Anagram Technologies.

In 2001, in a review of Camelot Technology's Round Table DVD player, which included an Anagram Technologies DAC, I wrote: "I was so impressed with the sound that I took the Round Table downstairs to my 2-channel audio room and used it there when I wasn't watching movies."

I hadn't made the connection between Anagram and CH Precision when Raphael Pasche, the latter's electronics design engineer, visited last fall to install CH Precision's P1 dual-mono phono stage and the optional X1, a discretely regulated, outboard linear power supply that's claimed to exhibit ultralow levels of noise. The P1 can be ordered as a stereo preamp for $31,000; add $17,000 for the identically sized X1 power supply. Or one mono P1 can be used for each channel, for $55,000 plus $34,000 for two X1s. Expensive stuff.

Description Inside and out, CH Precision gear is built to the highest standards. The P1 is made of aluminum alloy, with no screws visible on any of its surfaces. The bottom plate sits on four stainless-steel feet, each fitted with an elastomer ring to protect delicate surfaces. Also supplied are long-shafted hardened steel spikes that fit concentric with those feet; the spikes can be used to fine-tune leveling, by inserting a screwdriver (supplied) in the slotted tops of those shafts, which extend all the way up to the top plate. The P1 and X1 are both 17.3" square; the P1 is 5.25" high and weighs 44lb, the X1 5.25" high and 55lb. CH Precision components can be securely stacked and isolated from each other using a built-in vibration-suppression system that employs those spikes and also features hi-tech discs of carbon-polymer composite. If you don't use this system, you can hide it by screwing machined discs into the openings atop the enclosure.

The P1's appearance is elegant and free of knobs—it's operated via five tiny pushbuttons—from the top, Standby/Mute/Unmute, followed by four menu-navigation controls: Up, Okay, Down, and Cancel.

Metal-film resistors are used throughout the P1's signal path, and custom film capacitors in the filtering section. The P1 offers both RIAA and enhanced Neumann pole equalization. A pair of optional boards ($1850) include the EQ curves of EMI, Columbia, Decca (ffrr), and Teldec. I passed on this option, but that's not meant as an editorial comment!

On the P1's rear panel are three unbalanced (RCA) and three balanced (XLR) inputs, and outputs of both types as well as BNC. Each input has its own discrete class-A gain stage and independent power supply—this costs a lot more to implement than putting an input-selection stage before the first amplification stage, but the latter degrades the signal quality.

After the first gain stage comes the input-selector circuit, immediately followed by the passive RIAA EQ. Then comes the second gain stage, which includes the high-pass filter. The signal is buffered after equalization, and provides the necessary gain because the RIAA circuit drops the signal level. While there are unbalanced and balanced inputs, the first stages of both the voltage and current inputs are unbalanced. The rest of the circuitry is balanced. Two inputs are current-amplification circuits dedicated to moving-coil cartridges.

According to Raphael Pasche, the current input's first gain stage is a very-low-impedance (<100 milliohm, which is a "virtual ground input"), trans-impedance amplifier that converts the current delivered by the MC cartridge into a voltage, thus producing gain. MC cartridges produce weak voltages but strong currents; the lower the cartridge's internal impedance, the greater the current output. Since the gain is related to the cartridge's internal impedance, which varies with the cartridge, the P1's current inputs offer six levels of gain.

Current-amplification circuits produce the best signal/noise ratios, and don't require cartridge loading to achieve flat response. The current input noise (CH calls it the equivalent input noise, or EIN) is specified as <–135dBu without the X1 power supply, or <–138dBu with the X1, with 1 ohms termination, gain +70dB, 22kHz bandwidth.

The third input, which can be configured for either moving-magnet or moving-coil cartridges, is a more traditional voltage amplifier featuring an ultra-low-noise FET input stage. The P1's voltage input also offers six levels of gain: 35, 40, 55, 60, 65, or 70dB. The EIN specs for the voltage gain input are also impressive: <–130dBu without X1, <–135dBu with X1 and 1 ohms termination, gain +70dB, 22kHz bandwidth. Of course, when the third input is configured for an MM, you can use your choice of step-up transformer with your MC cartridge, giving you a third option (footnote 2).

P1 owners who use the voltage-amplification input needn't worry about calculating loading: The P1 comes with a 45rpm test record. Play it and the P1 does the work for you, using your cartridge to calculate its results. Side 1 contains a track of 250Hz–30kHz filtered pink noise designed to be used in conjunction with a "wizard" available from the P1's menu. The wizard analyzes the frequency response of the entire system—cartridge plus tonearm plus P1 input loading—while varying the resistive loading of the P1's voltage input.

You can test the P1's entire loading range of 20 ohms to 100k ohms, selectable in 500 steps (load fetishists, knock yourselves out!)—or, for finer tuning, any subset of that range. The P1 automatically acquires 21 different frequency-response curves, offering input loadings evenly spread across the range selected in the previous step.

In addition to the FR curve for each loading value, the wizard provides an average level and the standard deviation of the flatness of each curve. Once the P1 has completed its calculations, at the push of a button, the front panel displays the FR curve of whatever loading you choose. You scroll through them, looking for the flattest response (assuming that's your goal), then push the button to set that load value, which is then displayed on the P1's screen.

One of the problems with resistive loading is that because the signal passes through the resistor, in addition to flattening the response curve, the signal's level is decreased. The P1's manual suggests that you make sure that the average drop in level doesn't exceed 2–3dB relative to the 100k ohm load selection. It also suggests that you examine the curves for the most extended FR and, of course, curve flatness.

The wizard is particularly useful if you use an outboard step-up transformer, which is when the loading math can get tricky. A selectable subsonic high-pass filter is available for each input—though if you can afford a P1, your turntable probably won't need it.

More of CH Precision's specs for the P1: output levels of up to 8V RMS balanced and 4V RMS unbalanced; a frequency response of >400kHz (current input selected, RIAA EQ filter disconnected); and total harmonic distortion plus noise of <0.01%, 1kHz, output level 3V RMS, 22kHz bandwidth.

While the power supply is critical to any piece of analog gear, it's especially so for a phono preamp, which must produce a great deal of gain: Providing the amplifier stages with clean DC is critical to producing a low noise floor. The power supplies in all CH Precision products are discrete, the crucial stages using a special shunt circuit. The P1 doubles the input-stage regulation, with a second stage placed in series with the first to improve voltage consistency. The linear power supply features multiple independent local regulation circuits, along with an oversized toroidal mains transformer that supplies both phono stage boards and also powers the digital section (front panel display, microcontroller, and DSP-based system monitor). Discrete, low-noise regulators are used throughout the X1 that each audio section receives the purest DC—that is, power with the lowest possible amount of noise.

Footnote 1: CH Precision Sàrl, ZI Le Trési 6D, 1028 Préverenges, Switzerland. Tel: (41) (0)21-701-9040. Fax: (41) (0)21-701-9041. Web: www.ch-precision.com

Footnote 2: Raphael Pasche provided me with an excellent explanation of why a voltage-amplification circuit requires loading a cartridge with specific impedance. But to save space here, I refer you to Hagerman Technology's explanation, also excellent, at www.hagtech.com/loading.html, where you'll also find calculators for MM capacitance and MC loading.

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ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on February 10, 2023 - 12:18pm

Really has the world gone mad!!!

Jason Victor Serinus's picture
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on February 14, 2023 - 1:01pm

The wars in the comments section on this website should be evidence enough. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a place for high-priced audio gear. Not in your house, perhaps. But certainly in others.

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on February 10, 2023 - 12:52pm

This would be the FIRST phono stage I would buy!

The world is mad because there's too many of us that can't afford the best.

Tough! Close enough is still friggin' awesome sound.

PS- The McClaren P1 is $1,150,000! Who complains about THAT price? No one.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on February 10, 2023 - 1:28pm

PS- The McClaren P1 is $1,150,000! Who complains about THAT price? No one.

We just had our Australian Bathurst Mountain International 12hr endurance race starts at day break before the sun comes up, one was in that, it didn't see the sunrise before it went boom!!!.
https://d362tqiqbgshz5.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1918191...
Mercedes 6.9lt 10cyl normally aspirated won and came 3rd 4th and 5th out of everything (Lambo's, Ferrari, Astons, Bentley etc etc)
https://dscxx9mer61ho.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/1J1A9092-Edit-Ed...

Cheers George

Scintilla's picture
Submitted by Scintilla on February 10, 2023 - 2:54pm

I paid $55k for my last new car: a Porsche Cayman that I ordered up to my own specs and options. That was in 2008. I sold it to a childhood buddy in 2018 during a divorce for half of what I paid, after 10 years and 24,000 miles of fun. Try THAT with a phono preamp other than a Vendetta or Blowtorch. These products are ludicrous; particularly when I can (and did) order up a 2-input Channel D Lino C3 and do RIAA in HQPlayer with greater precision and accuracy than any analog circuit ever built. I get, aspirational products, but a system composed of hundreds of thousands of dollars of bespoke products is both conspicuous consumption and totally unnecessary unless you are a Russian oligarch and need to launder some funds for Putin... I jus' can't wid dis... Thank you, next...

Archimago's picture
Submitted by Archimago on February 12, 2023 - 1:06am

Sorry to hear about the divorce bro.

But yeah, the level of technology needed for a performance vehicle is way beyond a phono preamp! And for sure, precision for the RIAA EQ using high resolution digital technique would be well beyond any analog circuit.

Of course a person can spend whatever he wants on anything. But I suspect that even Putin's bootlicking oligarch can sense that there are more enjoyable/beneficial ways to spend $50k+.

bigasherm's picture
Submitted by bigasherm on February 12, 2023 - 5:53am

I can’t understand why the publishing post reviews on ridiculous products that so readers would even consider buying or owning. I wonder how many readers are like me and just skim the article to see how outrageous the price is. Give me some reviews on relatable products that are worth reading.

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on February 12, 2023 - 7:45am
bigasherm wrote:
Give me some reviews on relatable products that are worth reading.

Stereophile does list its reviews of affordably priced products in a special category: https://www.stereophile.com/taxonomy/term-p/141. It also marks products that offer high value for money with a "$$$" symbol in its Recommended Components listings in the April and October issues.

John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile

Scintilla's picture
Submitted by Scintilla on February 12, 2023 - 8:22pm

John, neither you (nor your successor) have apparently learned the lessons of yore from the J10 reviews that engendered significant pushback in the letters. Here's my problem: I am a well-paid professional in my peak-earning years with engineering and law degrees, Archimago is an MD (also with a technical background); we both agree that these kinds of products do not really have utility for us or probably most of our peers and they sell only to an elite group that doesn't need or read reviews. We are already outliers with tens of thousands invested for music/video playback. There's a hard asymptote that Stereophile stopped observing many years ago and it isn't necessarily the objective cost of products, it is /who/ has them and why. I have read Fremer for many years and appreciate his wit, writing style and knowledge. Fremer is not Bill Gates. Fremer is not Fabio. Fremer is respected but why does Fremer have a several hundred thousand dollar system? He's not a capitalist. He's not a famous actor. But there he is talking about the Wilsons he just had to buy, the table he just had to buy, the amplifiers he just had to buy. Did he win the lottery? He's not on the masthead, at least at the top. It isn't aspirational when a mostly regular Joe has that much system even if he is 70 and says he can afford it (its a stretch Mike, even with accommodation). Tell stories that are more fantasy; Fabio was clownish but believable and fun. Don't make it look so greasy and smug. You boomers fail to comprehend that conspicuous consumption in print isn't salable anymore unless it is believable; yes, a rapper you don't listen to /can/ afford that, write about that person not a guy in a bungalow in Jersey. Gen Z is going to eat you alive and for damn good reason because of your consistently tone-deaf approach to reviews. If the hobby and your rag are to survive, you have got to learn to read the room in this age; they will buy hifi they can relate to. JGH is gone and so is his pipe-smoking, jacket-wearing sometimes smug aficionado of the hifi-style of the 50's and all-things superlative. But even then it actually was affordable for well-heeled professionals to buy a stack of McIntosh and some Khorns. What is your excuse now? Don't mind me, just watch it all swirl down the commode as you retire into the sunset...

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 12, 2023 - 10:09pm

...to look away.

And subscribe somewhere else.

JHL's picture
Submitted by JHL on February 13, 2023 - 5:07am

...looking away would mean missing the opportunity to implant a fabricated ism onto an editor (and a whole age cohort, missing the sopping ism irony) as a pseudo-ethical barometer, which is really just the practice of subjecting a second party to a nebulous third party's postmodern commandments and what fun would that be?

I mean, the purpose of a properly righteous 'phile would be commentariat divining quality by publicly presuming the ways and means of writers so as to preemptively tarnish them, while staking a superior, preferred ground ... by noting that you'll statistically outlive them.

And because surely your subsequent culture is inherently superior to its progenitor while yours goes approximately like Rome. Although I suppose one way to reform wretched classist high-endism is to burn the tweed and snifters along with, eventually, the violins.

Because: cultural holiness and no more of these devilish electronic art pieces.

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 13, 2023 - 8:48am

...!

Scintilla's picture
Submitted by Scintilla on February 13, 2023 - 11:06am

And it is relatively more important in the publishing business than for preparing the syllabus for your Philosophy 101 class.

JHL's picture
Submitted by JHL on February 13, 2023 - 1:32pm

...I think it was Keynes who said about monetary expansion that, economically in the long run we are all dead, which somewhat demographically, would or could be the solution to this thread's twin terrors, expensive audio and classism. We'll advise the Editors.

Philosophically, I'm still working on Darwin = Rachmaninoff.

Scintilla's picture
Submitted by Scintilla on February 13, 2023 - 1:41pm

they don't teach sophistry in college anymore... one must learn and practice it in anonymous threads on the Internets. Thank you kindly for your contribution to the leaders of tomorrow.

rschryer's picture
Submitted by rschryer on February 13, 2023 - 4:03pm

"Look who's talking."

Jason Victor Serinus's picture
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on February 14, 2023 - 1:06pm

Are you descended from Baptist preachers, JHL? Regardless, preach on.

:-)
jason

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 12, 2023 - 10:18pm

Are you that inept as a shopper that you can't find any of these items used (or even new) at a good price?

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on February 13, 2023 - 9:16am

My bank account is none of your business. Maybe I inherited a load. Maybe my wife's family supports my audio habit. Two possibilities but neither is true. But I will tell you my turntable DVD has earned me around $200,000 that I've used appropriately to invest in my stereo system. I was an expert witness in Quincy Jones's lawsuit versus the estate of Michael Jackson, which he won. Part of the considerable judgement was overturned on appeal but Q still won plenty. I was paid incredibly well for that and I earned it as I performed so well on the witness stand that the defense cut a deal to concede to Q's side everything I was there to demonstrate in exchange for my testimony being expunged from the record so the jury could not be reminded of it during summation. It really doesn't get any better than that! Of course I won't tell you how much I was paid to be that expert witness because it would be "overtly classist" but it was an amount greater than many people get paid annually. You are a just a very jealous person and other than demonstrating that, your comment has little value or appeal to anyone who is not jealous and who appreciates nice things they cannot afford or don't want.

Scintilla's picture
Submitted by Scintilla on February 13, 2023 - 11:08am

Just as a friend though Mike, your fly is down and your vanity is showing.

Jason Victor Serinus's picture
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on February 14, 2023 - 1:08pm

Please stop staring at Mikey's crotch.

Thank you,
jason

teched58's picture
Submitted by teched58 on February 13, 2023 - 11:31am

Mikey-

You say that ppl criticizing this article are "jealous" of the rich people who own this preamp.

How could that be when we all know that you're not rich? [Faithful followers of Mikey will remember when he wrote about taking out a loan to buy a very expensive ($100k) turntable.]

Are we jealous of someone who went into debt to support this hobby? I don't think we're jealous. Spending what one doesn't have calls for concern and perhaps at some point an intervention. But definitely not jealousy.

Further, commenter @scintilla is an engineer and lawyer. Archimago is a doctor (as an early reader of Archimago's Musings, I actually used to think he was a psychiatrist). I myself am an EE, FWIW.

Are you suggesting that these high-education, high-income readers are jealous of the wealthy?

I wouldn't be so sure. Ppl like us tend to come into frequent contact with our economic betters. Rather than fueling jealousy, this close contact with the ruling class tends to inspire gratefulness at not being like these people and not having their lives. (I couldn't imagine having to remember the names of all the ppl in multiple extended families, which would be the case for one who is on his/her fourth spouse.)

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on September 5, 2023 - 12:22pm

I am a capitalist. I produced a turntable set-up DVD that has sold more than 18,000 copies at an average wholesale price of $12. It still sells. Do the math. This capitalist has made over 200,000 dollars on that DVD, Most of the money went into the audio system that so bothers you that I own. I was an expert witness in the case of Quincy Jones vs. the Estate of Michael Jackson a few years ago and the money there was beyond my wildest expectations so I'm glad I knocked it out of the park in the witness stand. I traded in my Alexx speakers that I owned and was able to pay the difference to buy the $384,000 XVX at the standard industry accommodation price. My accountant, who, btw was a producer of George Harrison's "Concert For Bandgladesh", said, "life's too short, you've got the money, so go for it!" And you know what Scintilla? I did. I have bought and paid for every piece of gear in my system and I seriously resent your inferences that somehow I didn't. What else other than jealousy would drive someone to post lies about me? Your turn.

Scintilla's picture
Submitted by Scintilla on September 5, 2023 - 9:46pm

OK, you win, you're a successful capitalist. I wish you had shared this with your readership with these reviews. Context is everything. I have no issue with your successes and your assembly of a million dollar system of your own efforts. I don't really think any of your readership would. In this age when these "extra" systems are offered without context, those of us that read you and other erstwhile Stereophile writers do not have any way of knowing how that came to be, but we should. You have been in this industry so long that perhaps you can't fathom anymore how average people see these kinds of products. I am not jealous of you, just so we are clear. I am so happy with my own system and desire nothing more. I just don't think you grok it. I hope you will will enjoy the fruits of your labor and have "no regrats." You got your reply, there's no vitriol lets just put it to bed... For the record, you were one of the only writers that I always trusted to hear differences and read consistently.

johnnythunder1's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder1 on February 12, 2023 - 5:45pm

Stereophile definitely reviews "bargains" from time to time (and these days 5k is on the low end of bespoke hi fi audiophile.) Most of Herb's reviews are less expensive products. JVS tends to review only really expensive stuff (and then reviews a 5k integrated amp too though.) Motor Trend reviews a Nissan Versa and not just tests for Porsche or Ferrari. But they will mostly review the luxury sector because that's where the advertising money is. But whether I can afford a piece equipment doesn't mean I don't read the review. I always learn something about the music or audio engineering etc. IT'S ALL worth reading.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on February 12, 2023 - 9:27pm

"IT'S ALL worth reading".

Of course it is

Doesn't mean one can't put **** on it for extorting the most $$$ out of ignorant “status buyers” that probably have no ears also.

Also J.A. are we to get some measurements on this $89k phono stage??

Cheers George

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on February 13, 2023 - 9:18am

They are not ignorant "status buyers" and most are very good listeners. You need some help with both your jealousy and your fantasies.

ok's picture
Submitted by ok on February 13, 2023 - 2:14am

is actually more intresting than hearing it in person.

JRT's picture
Submitted by JRT on February 13, 2023 - 8:51am

This is not the magazine, rather it is free content including some reprints from the magazine. Read it or don't, either way it is free and you are getting much more than you have paid for.

I would have liked to have seen some measurements, to see signal to noise ratio, to see information about low and high order nonlinear distortion products and the intermodulations, and to see information about linear distortion, accuracy of the equalization functions. In the article, Fremer mentioned, "The P1 offers both RIAA and enhanced Neumann pole equalization. A pair of optional boards ($1850) include the EQ curves of EMI, Columbia, Decca (ffrr), and Teldec."

The four box solution was priced at $178k in 2017 USD, without the optional filter boards. Components priced at these extreme levels should be delivering performance very near perfection. Measurements might not tell you everything, but could highlight imperfections if imperfections exist, and significance could be evaluated.

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on February 13, 2023 - 9:22am

I bought both following the review and am still happy to have the P1/X1 as my reference. The 4 box solution was too costly for me and I haven't the shelf space. I know some people who do have that. I'm not jealous of them. I don't believe the so called Neumann pole eq is useful and I don't use it. These pieces were designed by competent engineers and I'm certain they measure well not that measurements are everything. After all analog doesn't "measure" as well as digital but it still sounds better to me and I listen to music more than I measure it.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on February 13, 2023 - 10:36am

They are not ignorant "status buyers"

For a phono stage that cost $90,000.00!!!!!!!!!! that I bet when/if it's ever measured, can be equaled by something for a under a 1/10th of that price, yes it's for "status buyers"

And I'm talking about the cost of not just this manufacturer but others doing it as well.

Cheers George

Cooking Man's picture
Submitted by Cooking Man on February 13, 2023 - 4:55pm

Five years ago we (my wife and I) bought a CH Precision L1/X1 line stage. We had the pleasure of a week with both a CHP P1 phono stage and an Ypsilon VPS100. We plumped for the latter. It was a tough call. I spent 8 months with a succession of preamps and phonostages kindly loaned by accommodating dealers. None came close to either the CHP or Ypsilon products.
After our home,these are the most expensive items we have ever bought. Are we rich? Compared to many folk yes. I had a professional career until 2009 when I jacked that in and worked as a Chef on low pay. I loved it. I retired in 2018. My wife is a civil servant. Comfortable financially,yes. Super rich? No.
So to buy these products I took a deep breath and raided my savings and pension to invest in these products. And they’re worth every penny. I spend as much time as I can enjoying music. Every day. By my reckoning I spend nearly a thousand hours a year immersed in music in our home.
We drive a 19 year old Porsche Boxster with 105,000 miles on the clock. It cost £25,000 or so in 2004 and gets used once or twice a week,a long run once every couple of months. The rest of the time it sits in the drive slowly rotting. I love that car but once it goes we don’t plan on replacing it.
We (my wife is fully supportive) make choices about how we spend our money. Our record collection and music system is a source of pleasure and spiritual nourishment. Some people buy new cars every couple of years. Some go on expensive holidays. Whatever.
I feel sad that folk assume that this type of gear is bought by everyone for vanity or status. I am just grateful that we are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy wonderful music on such fabulous equipment.

teched58's picture
Submitted by teched58 on February 16, 2023 - 7:25am

CookingMan, Is this a confession or a cry for help?

Or both?

Cooking Man's picture
Submitted by Cooking Man on February 16, 2023 - 11:24am

You’ve completely lost me…..please expand…

teched58's picture
Submitted by teched58 on February 17, 2023 - 8:21am

Is this feigned disingenuousness?

I can't believe that a person who is industrious enough to earn a million dollars to spend on discretionary purchases doesn't understand my point. How have I "lost you"?

It makes me wonder if you're trolling for amusement.

Cooking Man's picture
Submitted by Cooking Man on February 17, 2023 - 9:04am

entirely honest and ingenuous. Obvious to any normal well adjusted human being but I forgot that audio forums are the favoured hunting grounds of misanthropes, know it alls and knobheads.
Where did you get “a million dollars” from? The CHP and Ypsilon amps together cost me £60,000 so about a tenth of that.
And now you want to engage in your own cod psychology about my motives. Well Dr Freud you carry on if it amuses you.And you have the temerity to suggest that I am trolling? Look in the mirror, pal.
It’s little wonder I rarely post on forums. All I hoped to do was share my enthusiasm for these fabulous pieces of equipment which greatly enrich our enjoyment of music. Well more fool me for trying.

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on February 17, 2023 - 12:56pm

And Teched remains oblivious.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on February 13, 2023 - 8:22pm

"I raided my savings and pension to invest in these products."

Something that diminishes it value as fast as this $90,000 phono stage will do, is not called an investment.
Cheers George

Cooking Man's picture
Submitted by Cooking Man on February 13, 2023 - 8:28pm

George, do you monetise everything in life? I am happy I have and continue to receive value for the money I have spent. This investment was in pleasure which it has delivered in spades.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on February 13, 2023 - 9:09pm

"I am happy I have and continue to receive value for the money I have spent.'

Good for you, that's one, that thinks $90k for a phono stage is a good investment, now where's number two

Cheers George

Cooking Man's picture
Submitted by Cooking Man on February 13, 2023 - 11:59pm

There you go again,back to money. Reminds me of what Oscar Wilde once said that "A fool is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing".

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 14, 2023 - 12:35am

...99cent store, George.

They all get good value for 99cents.

Then all those items get tossed into the landfill and oceans or get turned into CO2 and carbon particles that drift forever in the atmosphere.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on February 14, 2023 - 12:27pm

...99cent store, George.

https://em-content.zobj.net/source/skype/289/face-with-tears-of-joy_1f60...

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 14, 2023 - 12:40pm

...well, George?

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on February 15, 2023 - 11:27pm

Mine will always be bigger than yours sunshine.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DS4pL98VoAEU8no?format=jpg&name=small
Cheers George

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 16, 2023 - 1:20am

Just another figment of your prurient imagination!

Oh look, SHRINKAGE!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85MZ4c1EWkM

Hehehehehe!

Simon Moond's picture
Submitted by Simon Moond on February 15, 2023 - 3:51pm

I never understood how this works.

If someone drives their $200,000 Astin Martin from Beverly Hills to Santa Monica, they are seen buy 1000's of people. When they go to a restaurant wearing a $80K Patek Philippe watch, their watch is seen by dozens of people.

Those are obvious status symbols.

But high end gear never leaves ones home, very few people ever see it, and the majority of those people think that people that spend even substantially less than this phono pre are a bit crazy. A Ferrari owner is looked on with envy, those same people that see high end gear look at the owner as wacky.

Remember, the vast majority of people listen to music on their smart phones with $20 earbuds. People that spend as low as $5000.00 on an entire home audio system seem a bit strange to most people.

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on February 17, 2023 - 1:01pm

There is no other way to set this point of status more correctly.

The audiophile rarely has folks to boast, and yet the Ferrari owner gets only accolades and envy from every stranger, less the jealous and hateful.

Doctor Fine's picture
Submitted by Doctor Fine on February 15, 2023 - 4:23pm

Is this a GREAT HIFI product? I don't think it is. I LOVE what a great HiFi product does to your enjoyment of life. And that includes enjoying your money and the value of your money!

So is this expensive gear that many audiophiles would even WANT? Or is it experimental high end over engineering that charges extravagantly for the over-engineering? Can't you guys find expensive gear that we audiophiles DO need? THIS product is not even aimed at our market!

No sane working person would buy the damn thing even if they made a huge salary. I do not say that as an attack against rich folks. I am a rich folk! I say it because the product is aimed at Saudi princes and that group. You know, folks that set fire to stacks of money just for laughs... They would not be popular with rich folks in Palm Beach where I come from. Too stupid to live, actually. Gross. Disgusting Nah-Voe-Reech! Not for Palm Beach crowd---run away!

In short, this product is not impressive. I mean, admit it. Even you guys at Stereophile are probably not fighting each other to go buy one on accommodation at half price. Right? And if the staff DOES buy gear that costly then you guys make too damn much money. Staff should not own better gear than Master. Ha!

Unless new trends are involved that are not apparent, this kind of gear deserves a yawn. Because ANYBODY can over engineer and charge astronomical prices these days. That is nothing new or even interesting. We GET it!

We're getting tired of a magazine that has no respect for the dollar. That sort of ignorance is not aspirational. STUPIDITY is not aspirational. Your magazine is not useful when it is stupid. Did I make that clear enough for you guys? Do you understand that WE ARE NOT IMPRESSED?

Just asking for a friend.

PS. Long time reader. Hoping sanity returns some day before it is too late. When guys like me don't subscribe you know there is a problem. I use to anticipate every issue. Not so much once the magazine because a soap box for weird gear that tests as "broken." And began touting turntables that require a crane to lift them into your house. Ridiculous stuff does not amuse. End of rant.

Pretzel Logic's picture
Submitted by Pretzel Logic on February 16, 2023 - 7:03am

Thank you. We might as well be arguing over collecting the bones of the Elephant Man at this point.

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on February 17, 2023 - 1:07pm

and because of that your thoughts on value are moot. You don't 'get' anything.

Do auto magazines have the same vitriol dumped on them for the vehicles they test drive? No.

How much value does a $2M supercar have for anyone?

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on September 5, 2023 - 12:26pm

A great product and you are stupid.

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 15, 2023 - 4:48pm

...the world go round!

And less boring.

Rah, Copernicus!

Jason Victor Serinus's picture
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on February 16, 2023 - 7:00pm

Post on.

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 16, 2023 - 9:26pm

There's just so much material here!

Doctor Fine's picture
Submitted by Doctor Fine on February 20, 2023 - 9:30am

Copernicus had a great idea. Setting fire to stacks of money was NOT the idea. If you set fire to large stacks of money there is something WTONG with you. The technology on display is not likely to alter the history of the hobby. I want to read about products that DO. I want to read about products so DESIREABLE that it makes me faint. This product wasn't even INTERESTING, much less "faintable." My two cents. Sorry for breathing.

ChrisS's picture
Submitted by ChrisS on February 20, 2023 - 4:11pm

Great ideas move the world.

Opinions are cheap (as is yours, by your own admission).

Setting fire to people not so much...(WTONG?)

Rah, Joan of Arc!

(Still breathing, Dr. Fine? This parade went by 6 years ago!)

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