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In Reply to: RE: Not enough power from Phono Preamp? posted by BMWDoctor on September 23, 2016 at 09:49:44
Much much thanks for everyone who has replied, at this point impedance and many of the other output ratings etc. are a bit like Chinese to me so the interpretation is a huge help. I guess at this point the question is what phono pre amp to look at for a budget of about $150. Not sure if this is the correct venue for that question but any tips are appreciated for sure.
Follow Ups:
Many choices here within your budget !
FWIW
The volume control is *not* like the gas pedal on your car. Turning the volume control up does not make the amp work harder; pushing the gas pedal *does* make the engine work harder.
The volume control *stops* signal from getting in. When all the way up, it lets the source signal enter the amp as is; when turned down, it reduces the level of the source.
The amplifier takes whatever signal comes in and amplifies it "x-times." It does that for a tiny signal, a middling signal, and a loud signal, up to its design limits. Signals of all levels get amplified the same amount. There is no gas pedal; just something to *stop* signal from getting in (the volume control.)
So, there is nothing wrong with 2 o'clock, or 3 o'clock. The only problem is if you are constantly dealing with the extremes, i.e. "all the way up" or "almost all the way down." When you get to the extremes, stereo volume pots tend to track badly, with one channel or the other louder. Also, when you're at the extremes, it's a sign that some component in the chain is badly matched to the component it feeds.
In my system (m/m cartridge, VTL Deluxe preamp, Manley 120's, Spica TC-50s/sub) LP playback is normally around 2 o'clock to fill a pretty big room, and 3 o'clock for loud.
WW
"A man need merely light the filaments of his receiving set and the world's greatest artists will perform for him." Alfred N. Goldsmith, RCA, 1922
I know that. The OP doesn't!
You might get some good answers for recommendable phono stages over on Vinyl Asylum.
In the meantine this one is a lot less than $150 yet has a very enthusiastic review by Michael Fremer and his readers over on Analogue Planet. "His readers" as he posted sound files of it and others in a similar price class for a blind comparison that could be voted on. It won hands down.
BTW, don't worry about the numbers, the specification is good especially considering the cost.
The best sounding inexpensive phono preamp that I've ever heard is the Yaqin MS-22B, but it cost me $200 on eBay. I think, you'd be hard pressed to find a decent sounding phono stage for less than $500 otherwise.I just built a Vacuum Tube Audio kit phono preamp that cost $710 for the kit and it sounds better than my Yaqin MS-22B. However, before buying the Vacuum Tube Audio kit, I bought two different $400 phono preamps that didn't sound as good as my Yaqin MS-22B, which has now been replaced by the newer model MS-23B.
Therefore, I think you're going to have to spend more than $150 on a phono stage. Furthermore, if the only reason you're buying a new phono stage is because you don't like the position of your volume control, you might as well save your money. Two O'clock is the optimum position for any volume control when listening to music. I once owned a Mark Levinson preamp that had different gain settings controlled by internal dip-switches. The manual said to set the dip-switches so the volume control was at one or two o'clock for normal listening.
Best regards,
John Elison
Edits: 09/23/16
2 o'clock is fine. This sounds like a classic eyes deciding instead of your ears.The OP is falling into a trap of his own design.
ET
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936
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