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Good Day,
My trusty phono preamp (Acoustech PH-1P) has developed a problem and I am in the market for a replacement. The new preamp should be a tubed unit or a SS unit that sounds clean on the top end.
I am open to almost all suggestions but please keep the cost of the unit to my modest budget (< $1000). One of our inmates is helping out with a loaner unit but I have to start thinking long term.
The unit can be a kit or assembled and I will consider used equipment. I would prefer if the phono preamp supports both MC and MM but a MM only unit will not be a deal breaker.
Thanks in advance,
Ed
My current setup includes the following:
Turntable: Denon DP-62L with Applied Fidelity ceramic/jeweled bearing and many other tweaks
Tonearm: Rega RB-300 with Incognito wiring, Mitchell Technoweight and Riggle VTAF
Cartridges: Denon DL-103D w/SS retip, stock Denon DL-103R, stock Denon DL-103M, ADC XLM II Improved, Shure Ultra 500 w/SAS stylus
Phono Preamp: Acoustech PH-1P (malfunctioning)
Preamp: Audible Illusions L1 (modified)
Power Amp: Adcom GFA 555II (modified)
Speakers: Magnepan MGMC1
Subwoofer: Polk 350W
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
Follow Ups:
Built as a result of crowdsourcing - which was heavily over-subscribed.
It's about $400 delivered.
Can't offer a review - just a heads up.
MC Transformer?
I had a great time trying out various phono stages for a few years. Here's what I've tried, not necessarily in order.
- Cambridge Audio 640p
- Musical Fidelity V-LPS
- Graham Slee Era Gold V (MM)
- Graham Slee Elevator EXP (Headamp for use with Era Gold)
- PS Audio GCPH MM/MC
- Musical Surroundings Nova (battery powered)
- Hagerman Cornet II Silver (factory built, higher end parts)
- Aesthetix Rhea
- Bob's Devices CineMag 3440a "red" SUT
- Bob's Devices CineMag 1131 "blue" SUT
- EAR 834P
- Rogue Audio Ares (MM tube phono has internal CineMag SUT for MC)
The best I've heard in my setup:
Solid State: Graham Slee Era Gold V MM or coupled with CineMag SUT for MC
Vacuum Tube: Rogue Audio Ares tube phono
Excellent:
PS Audio GCPH MM&MC. I owned one then sold it. Tried various other phonos listed above. And now own the PS Audio GCPH again. In my opinion, it gets little respect but it's an outstanding phono especially when you consider it's versatility. The Graham Slee and PS Audio are so close. The Graham Slee was a bit more resolving but the GCPH was so close and much more versatile. The main thing I didn't like about the Era Gold V and SUT was the cable clutter. External power supply for the Era Gold, short interconnects from the Era Gold to the SUT vs 'all in one' PS Audio GCPH.
Very good:
Hagerman Cornet II Silver Edition (sweet but a bit rolled off bass)
Aesthetix Rhea (versatile but kind of dark sounding overall)
EAR 834P (get the MM only model and use your own CineMag SUT for MC)
Ho hum but not bad for entry level:
Cambridge 640P
Musical Fidelity V-LPS
Musical Surroundings Nova - good with MM, dull and compressed sounding with MC.
Graham Slee Elevator EXP 'headamp' for additional gain with MC cartridges used on Graham Slee MM phonos. It was OK. Either CineMag SUT coupled to the Era Gold MM phono was better than the EXP headamp.
My setup: KAB Technics SL1200mkII, Dyna 17D3, Benz Glider SL, Dyna 20XH, Denon DL-103R, PS Audio GCPH.
nt
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
It's a shame my pal Steve Brown couldn't get any pub for his Caravaggio.
He'd probably build you one. PM me for his e-mail, you don't accept e-mails.
Government is not eloquence.
It is not reason.
It is a force.
Like fire, a dangerous and fearful master. -George Washington
What is wrong with it?
Lounge Audio LCR MKIII
http://www.newrecordday.com/lounge-audio-mkiii-lcr-phono-preamplifier/
Edits: 09/09/14
It makes a low level buzzing noise when set to MM mode. I tried two different MM cartridges with it and the problem remains. I've also tried replacing the OPAmps and still the problem is there.
I have to double check but the problem was not there when configured for LOMC. All of this began when I removed my DL-103D for a retip and decided to install one of my MM cartridges as backup.
At first I thought I had a bad NOS ADC XLM II Improved so I swapped out that cartridge for a Shure Ultra 500...problem remained. I then tried to swap out the OPAmps with new ones and still the problem remains.
Tomorrow I will put it back in LOMC mode and see if the problem goes away. If it does it is a strange issue that needs to be figured out.
I would like to use one of the MM cartridges but if that cannot be done I can go back to a DL-103R I have as backup, assuming it works as a LOMC preamp. I am also going to receive a backup preamp from another inmate and I can try the cartridges I have with the replacement unit.
Ed
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
I can't think of why the MM would hum and not the MC.
Lounge Audio LCR MKIII
http://www.newrecordday.com/lounge-audio-mkiii-lcr-phono-preamplifier/
Edits: 09/09/14
I'm a little stumped but there is always the option to replace the preamp. I've enjoyed it for a number of years now and it would be a shame to see it go but all thing wear out...including us.
The only thing I can think of is some sort of loading issue that causes instability in the input stage of the second level OPAmp (MM section). When the jumpers are inserted for LOMC it was working. Maybe the loading of the first OPAmp coupled to the second makes the second behave...I don't know.
Ed
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
You can send it to me and I will take a look at it if you want to. If it is not parts intensive I will just fix it and you can pay shipping back. I live in Sylmar, CA.
Lounge Audio LCR MKIII
http://www.newrecordday.com/lounge-audio-mkiii-lcr-phono-preamplifier/
Edits: 09/10/14
It sounds like a grounding issue. I would first check all my mechanical connections.
Dave
Its not a hum, its a buzzing type sound. Like an instable input stage when loaded improperly. I suspect that's what it is. I have tried removing the wires from the cartridge pins and you end up with a grounding hum. Hooked up you get the buzzing.
It is a weird problem,
Ed
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
I have a Yaqin MS23B laying around that I'm not using. It gave me hum problems, but others seem to like it a lot. I'm in Baltimore. If you want to give it a spin and see if you like it, I'm sure we can work something out.
Happy listening,
Jim
"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno
I have 2 Hagerman Cornets, with upgraded internals and a Vacuum Tube Audio PH-16, which is either a kit or pre-built. It is a bit better than the Hagerman Cornet. I bought mine pre-built.
TR
I second the Hagermann Cornet II clean rich i went through 4 tube phono amps b4 this one
and Musical Surroundings Phonomena 2. The former tubed and MM/HOMC only, the latter discreet solid state, MM/LOMC. Both are $600 or less.
Both are winners The Cornet 3 is just released.
Opus 33 1/3
I have an iFi iPhono MM/MC Phono Preamplifier in for review right now, I've tried it with a Grado Sonata and a Allnic MC and it's great with both. I can't believe you could beat it for under $1,000. If you could go the extra dough the Allnic 1201 is incredible for the money, but a good bit more than $1000.
Beatnik's stuff http://web.me.com/jnr1/Site/Beatniks_Pictures.html
" I can't believe you could beat it for under $1,000"
You wouldn't be much of a reviewer if you didn't!
---
(Sorry, couldn't resist ... ;)
Never trust an Atom, they Make Up everything!
Highly regarded and a site sponsor. I have been using a version of this phono stage for 14 years now and still love it. It's the only thing that has remained unchanged all this time.
Oz
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
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