This is a really sweet system with the tube phono, preamp and amp stages warming up the benz/clearaudio front end. Tremendous dynamics. Will install Bluenote Borghese unipivot tonearm when I can find the right fitting for the turntable.
System edited: Purchased used Clearaudio Champion turntable with Graham Robin arm and Benz Micro Glider HO cartridge. Big step up that goes great in the system. Previously added the Bottlehead Straight 8 speakers with cabinet built from plans and added lacewood veneer. Great speakers, especially with tubes.
Thank you for your feedback. I heartily encourage trying some DIY-it both teaches you about how they work and give you the satisfaction of actually building something that sounds good. If you haven't built before, I would suggest starting with the preamplifier, not the amplifier. They are more straightforward. The bottlehead site is tremendous for help with building the foreplay (there are animations of the process by Joe Yellico that are really great). There is much less information on the building of the other kits (like the seduction I am now building).
