After 50 years in this interest of ours, I can finally afford to go for a cost-no-object (to me at least) Analog front end. So here we go. The current system is a Vacuum Tube Audio PH-16 phono-stage (kit built) with a Rega P3 TT and a Hana SH moving coil cartridge. This is a very good system for the money. But I have stepped out on a limb and am taking a big jump up. Given the cost, I have been concerned, irrespective of the reviews, that this might be a mistake. But I took a leap of faith after talking to a few owners. So two weeks ago the Allnic H-7000 phono-stage arrived. After a few days of warm-up for break-in here is what I heard. It is the best I have heard to date having recently listened at several of the upscale shops in my area. It is both what I expected and did not expect. What I expected and got was a very large soundstage in both width and depth yet able to scale down to small and intimate when called for by recording. I expected good layering of instruments and got very, very good layering. I expected increased detail and got exceptional. What I did not expect in a tubed unit was the speed of transient attack, more like a best SS offering than a tube unit. This is not a shy phono stage. It is aggressive in a good "oh-wow” kind of way. Its ability to do dynamic swings is startling. So, to sum it up natural vocals, speed, detail, separation of instruments, holographic soundstage, and the best mix of SS and tube characteristics in one unit. Could not be happier plus I got a very, very deep discount off the list price, without which I could not have afforded it. Arriving this Sunday is my new TT/Tonearm/cartridge rig. The Feickert Firebird with Kuzma 4Point 11” tone-arm and a Soundsmith Sussurro moving iron Cartridge. Also holding my breath on this one as it is a stupid amount of money. Getting older, and as this will likely be my last chance to buy at this level, I did not want to have any regrets later on.
