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Myles had opined that I should post something on the phono stage in my main system, as it is a rare one and one of the later revisions, as I had sent it to John Curl a few years ago for updating.
An excellent review of this phono stage can be seen at http://www.stereophile.com/phonoprea...4LgqbFOKptp.97
They compared it with numerous other phono stages, none of which bettered it.
Being a mere hobbyist, rather than a reviewer, one doesn't have the opportunity very frequently to do A/B comparisons of gear, but as it happens, a friend wanted to bring his phono stage, a competent $2400 one by Art Audio, called The Vinyl One, which had received favourable reviews.
We spent a fair bit of time with well recorded material listening to the Art Audio stage and found it to be a pleasant sounding unit. Then we switched to the Vendetta and the first thing we noticed was an instant expansion of the sound stage. The Vinyl One had presented a good stable stage between the speakers, but the Vendetta had a sound stage that extended well beyond the width of the speakers themselves as well as somehow adding more height information. We also noted that it retrieved more subtle detail, although my tube head friend felt that it lacked the sweetness and romantic tone he was fond of.
System is Koetsu Urushi, SME V, TNT V, Conrad Johnson Premier 14, Rowland 5, Wilson Audio Maxx 2.
The Vendetta ceased production in the early 1990s and last cost c. $3,000 new. There is one further revision possible, to the 2CP2-T, which adds some Teflon caps to the mix.
Another review - http://www.tonepublications.com/anal...2-phono-stage/
It would be most interesting to compare an SCP2-T with a CTC Blowtorch with phono (also a Curl design). Apparently the FETs used in the Vendetta are no longer available, and while you couldn't expect any public statement that the Vendetta sounded better than the new amp, I have seen intimations of that opinion being held.
PS - FWIW, it has been stated that only about 200 Vendettas were made and only about 6 were converted to 'T' spec.
An excellent review of this phono stage can be seen at http://www.stereophile.com/phonoprea...4LgqbFOKptp.97
They compared it with numerous other phono stages, none of which bettered it.
Being a mere hobbyist, rather than a reviewer, one doesn't have the opportunity very frequently to do A/B comparisons of gear, but as it happens, a friend wanted to bring his phono stage, a competent $2400 one by Art Audio, called The Vinyl One, which had received favourable reviews.
We spent a fair bit of time with well recorded material listening to the Art Audio stage and found it to be a pleasant sounding unit. Then we switched to the Vendetta and the first thing we noticed was an instant expansion of the sound stage. The Vinyl One had presented a good stable stage between the speakers, but the Vendetta had a sound stage that extended well beyond the width of the speakers themselves as well as somehow adding more height information. We also noted that it retrieved more subtle detail, although my tube head friend felt that it lacked the sweetness and romantic tone he was fond of.
System is Koetsu Urushi, SME V, TNT V, Conrad Johnson Premier 14, Rowland 5, Wilson Audio Maxx 2.
The Vendetta ceased production in the early 1990s and last cost c. $3,000 new. There is one further revision possible, to the 2CP2-T, which adds some Teflon caps to the mix.
Another review - http://www.tonepublications.com/anal...2-phono-stage/
It would be most interesting to compare an SCP2-T with a CTC Blowtorch with phono (also a Curl design). Apparently the FETs used in the Vendetta are no longer available, and while you couldn't expect any public statement that the Vendetta sounded better than the new amp, I have seen intimations of that opinion being held.
PS - FWIW, it has been stated that only about 200 Vendettas were made and only about 6 were converted to 'T' spec.
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