You may be okay with your speakers. But you may find yourself needing a little headroom. . . the proof will be in the pudding I'm afraid.

You WILL need a phono preamp if you are not using one now--the Anniversary amp does not include a phono preamp stage, just a line level input.

Honestly, I've read variations on this same question for years and what Lon posted is always the answer.  Unless your speakers are something fantastic and non-negotiable, buy the amp but be ready to upgrade your speakers.  Build the system around the amp and not the speakers (with the aforementioned proviso).

Wow. Thank you all so much. Your responses are super helpful. I'm currently running a vintage Pioneer SA-7700 integrated amp. I had been planning to build a vintage system around the JBLs, and was looking at McIntosh and Luxman gear. But the more research I've done, the more I'm convinced I was going in the wrong direction.

For those who use a phono preamp, do you any suggestions or reviews about what works well with the SE84UFO25?

Thanks agian!

Thanks Sean, that's above and beyond! Really appreciate it.

And, Lon, I'll definitely check out the phono amp. Makes sense to keep it in the family. Thank you!

Happy holidays everyone.

I would echo Lon's reply regarding the Decware ZP3, what a magical phono preamp. Keep us posted on your travels down this audio rabbit hole and happy listening, Chris.

Hey Dylan, yes, phono stage is different than a pre-amp. You are correct that none of the Decware amps require a pre-amp, although all can benefit due to ability to ride the gain, some more than others.

Phono stage is always required when playing records. Some integrated amps have phono stages built in, but amps never do (Decware is in the minority by "giving" you ability to use their amp without a pre-amp).

In short, records use a special EQ curve to fit the music on the vinyl and keep the needle from jumping. The voltage coming from the cartridge is also miniscule. The combination of these require a phono stage to "translate" the EQ curve and boost the voltage so that it sounds good. Even if you have a pre-amp, this voltage boost (and EQ translation) are necessary.

In the 40's there were several EQ curves, but since the 50's RIAA has been the standard pretty much worldwide. That means, with a phono stage, you can listen to any record made since the 50's without worry. Most older records will work too, but the EQ may be slightly different.

Hope this made sense. In short, get a phono stage. They start at about $50, so you don't have to spend money on ZP3. Of course, you almost always get what you pay for, but it's a journey. You don't have to buy everything at once.

You can change your order if you decide. I don't have an anniversary SE84 so can't say, but you may decide to get a standard SE84 and the ZP3. You can always add anniversary mods now or later.

Good luck, Jon.

I just want to fill in a little relative to the end of Jon's post #11: "You can change your order if you decide. I don't have an anniversary SE84 so can't say, but you may decide to get a standard SE84 and the ZP3. You can always add anniversary mods now or later."

This seems a good option if getting a ZP3 is a priority and funds are limited. But I think it is important to note that an "SE84UFO" with anniversary mods, though family, would not give the same experience as a "SE84UFO25."

Though I have heard the lower power Taboo and Rachel variations, I have not had a chance to hear the 84s, so far my needing the power of a Torii III or IV with my speakers and room. But design wise, seems the UFO25 emerged from Steve wanting to fully optimize the design of the stalwart 84UFO. To this end the power supply is highly tuned up on the 25, in addition to internal PS design enhancements, having used voltage regulator tubes for power filtering, while also having treatments known now as Anniversary mods designed into the UFO25 voicing. From my experience with modifying my amps, these are potentially quite notable improvements for more ultimate refinements in musical presentation and experience. And as I recall watching the development thread, aside from a more advanced power supply, he made quite a number of adjustments with caps, resistors, wires, layout, connectors.... toward an even more ultimate sort of amp.

That said, I have no doubt the UFO84 with Anniversary mods is a really nice amp!

Good Luck!

Will

I agree, prioritizing what to invest in along the way can get tricky, and the journey can surely be enlightening. And I hope I did not seem to suggest that the SE84UFO25 is necessarily "the way to go" considering all the complexities we each bring to these decisions. But for those who are less experienced with Decware, I just wanted to add to your points that the anniversary modded SE84UFO would be family, but different.

Related, as I think of my "journey," seems progressive improvements to a system/room can make the inadequacies of things I thought were pretty good become weak links, and sometimes without my knowing. Every so often I change things up in part for this reason, moving different power or IC cables around, or feet, tuning tubes or settings or parts in gear... Good sounding change causing me to hear the system differently, enlivening my musical experience, but also showing the sonic qualities of everything in a clearer/new light. And though, for the most part, I am pretty sure I have solved most weak links that I am able to solve here, I continue to find potential for refinements I had not noticed before, giving me a chance to try to find them... A basis for the efficacy of the journey being teacher, but also pointing to the wisdom of trying to avoid weak links as we go....

So beyond keeping an eye out for new things that I might benefit from, the beat goes on for me more from adjusting things I did not necessarily know needed adjusting. This is what motivated me toward making and modifying things.... adjusting good things to be better at less overall expense for the quality, while toning down the influences of riding the ever increasing unknowns and costs of the audio ladder.

It perpetually amazes me, no matter how much I improve my system and room, for me, there is always more to discover toward uncovering a deeper and more complete musical experience. I am pretty sure this is based a lot on how the more successful improvements make it easier to perceive and discern all the rest.... bringing out the good and not-so good as we dig deeper into the potential for beauty our system/rooms can reveal. What a trip it can be!

Thank you so much for all the information it has been a great help!!

I think I am going to stick with my original purchase of the UFO25 as I will need a phono stage for either version of the UFO and I figured I would get the best amp off the hop now instead of later. Now I know what my next purchase is going to be tho. (Im almost torn to just get the order in now since the wait will be almost a year from the looks of it)

Im not just playing records tho and the one I have has a built in phono (always thought it was a preamp) but it is definitely a weak link which I am working on replacing.

My reasoning behind getting the UFO25 now was that it's a LONG wait, I got super lucky with my tax return and and it may be selfish to say but I just really really want one. They look beautiful and It wont be a stretch to say they probably sound beautiful too. And if it's anything like the SE34I I wont be disappointed.

Thanks
Dylan

Edit: My current TT is not very good, its a Audio Technica AT-LP60 which has been discontinued. I'm open for suggestions .