Thanks to John for welcoming me into this community and to a member of the Facebook Turntable Talk group for suggesting this! I’m looking for a phono preamp and value clarity, dynamics, micro-detail and soundstage in equal measures, with natural female vocals, organic instruments and plenty of air, especially up top! A pitch black background is obviously essential and all of the above led me here. I guess you could simplify the description of my preferences to “just on the fatigue-less side of almost clinical”!

What are you looking MM or MC

Plenty of MM phono stages to choose from depending upon budget constraints; not forgetting power supply options either.

You should try out the loaner scheme.

Nothing is better than trying out and comparing in your own system and room.

I was surprised at the initial difference between phono stage and my amps built in MM stage .... no going back! 

Have fun listening to your vinyl via a 'proper' phono stage/PS.

david

Welcome aboard Colin. There is a really good loan scheme here so you can try the HFC phono stages, power supplies, and cables as you wish.

https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/uk-loaner-program-back_topic4784.html - https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/uk-loaner-program-back_topic4784.html

This is a wonderful way of doing business and an excellent service for us audiophiles. I love my system as it is but there’s clearly something lacking in the vinyl department and I think the Accession M will be very revealing!

As it is the CD player outshines the turntable disproportionately despite this amp reputedly having one of the best built-in phono stages of all that manufacturer’s amps of a similar age.

I’ll be sure to let you all know when an Accession M comes my way, have a good listen and post some feedback. Nothing beats being able to try something in your own system so the Graham Slee loaner program is truly priceless in both senses!

Edit: I guess the flip side of this indelicacy is the perfectionism with which we “Aspie’s” (people with Asperger’s Syndrome) treat our prized possessions. Yes, I can lose control (have an “autistic meltdown”) and start shouting and throwing things when my hypersensitive senses are overwhelmed but if I’m in the listening room and feel a meltdown is about to happen I get out of there rapidly - before anything untoward can possibly befall my system! The fact that it remains untouched by the products of meltdowns after so many years is testament to the value I place on it! My system - or rather the music it plays - is the best form of therapy I’ve ever found, so nothing I do is ever going to put it at risk! Items on loan experience even greater care, and when I have the shakes I plug my bombproof portable media player in to the DAC section (an optical Toslink cable is always plugged in ready for such times!) and steer well clear of all fragile disks! I do wonder how many audiophiles are autistic due to our hypersensitive nature; the ability to see, hear, feel, etc., things the other 98% of the population are either able to ignore or unable to sense. I’m certain autistim plays a large part in my audiophilia and chronic upgraditis!