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Hello guys, im knew here and looking for advice. I recently had a marantz 7c hooked to a pair of solid state amps to paradigm studio 100 v5's I was amazed at the sound quality listening to vinyl, although not always consistent. At its best it was full of ambiance and tranceparency with amazing imaging and soundstage. When I switched to a modern high end solid state preamp it sounded electronic, yuk !I had to sell 7c becuse of finances, my question is , I need to get another pre amp. I dont have 7c money but I am looking for a upgrade. So what is out there that has a better phono stage than 7c but less money ( under2500) ?, is it even possible . Doesnt matter recent or vintage. please help ! Thanks so much.
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Personal bias, but I'll take my Luxman CL35III over anything when it comes to the phono section. If you can find one, a nice unit should be around 1200-1500 dollars.
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." -HST
Vintage units with a huge acceptance factor, costing much less, are many. First, remember that most vintage gear benefits greatly from rebuilding/upgrading power supplies and modernizing their coupling caps. I can heartily recommend the 1960s era full function Eico HF-85, Lafayette KT-600, Madison Fielding 340, Pilot SP-210 and some others. The 1970s and 1980s era brought in Audio Research SP-2, SP-3; Paragon E and 12; Precision Fidelity C-4 and C-7 among other candidates...The late 1980s and 1990s welcomed Conrad Johnson PV-2, PV-3, PV-6; Audible Illusions 2 & 3 plus the obscure dual mono Uranus; MFA; Magus; Quicksilver and many more...
Study the periodicals, AA and other online forum archives. Check out the circuitry and try to listen to nearby audio friends' systems that include classic preamps. Discover the different sounding Passive EQ equipped phono stages. Some of them are coveted, like the early stereo Pilot SP-215 and 216. Some more modern units are viable, as well.
Since you mentioned inconsistent results with your initial trial, keep your test discs the same for all relevant listening sessions. Our psychoacoustic memory is not a good one, so beware the "latest is greatest" or "that sounds exciting" syndromes which can confuse. Enjoy the journey...
I like that last bit.
A strong reason why I'm leaning towards the VTA zpreamp. Basically it's been around longer than I have. And rung out in every situation possible and still comes up in polite preamp conversation.
I'm not big on the latest and greatest. And the more adverbs that precede a praise, the less I like it.
The Marantz 7C phono stage is really pretty poor by modern design standards. Unfortunately, you will see lots of 7C clone PC boards floating around on eBay, and lots of modern companies who are happy to just use the RIAA feedback EQ network, even though it's pretty terrible (an acceptable passively EQ'd RIAA preamp circuit is provided in the old RCA tube manual)
Look for a preamp that advertises passive RIAA equalization.
How can you say such utter nonsense and appear serious ? Have you actually heard a comparison with a 7C or similar active feedback phono EQ preamp versus a "decent" passive EQ phono unit ? Do you really think the published RCA manual phono EQ, with or without an added buffer stage, sounds better ? On vintage classic records ?
I am wondering when you started listening to hifi stereo records ? You see, the vintage discs many of us grew up with were either cut with feedback EQ and/or played back over the air with active feedback EQ. Thus, many of us "remember" the timing of that era's music associated with feedback EQ equipped playback.
Most, if not all of the 45s from 1954 thru the early 1970s were cut with feedback EQ ! Likewise, most LPs from that era were cut with feedback EQ. Don't you think their playback should include the proper decoding ? Passive EQ will definitely change the timing encoded on these classic discs. Some may prefer the different sound imposed by passive EQ; but that does not make it better !
Today, the 7C is the bonafide world reference classic vintage full function preamp ! This is indisputable fact !
Yes, I have heard and owned a lot of feedback EQ phono preamps, mostly built into preamps and integrated amps. The difference between them and a decent passive EQ preamp is night and day, hence my recommendation.
The 7C is a highly collectible preamp, and very sought after, but I wouldn't seek to listen to one in a modern Hifi rig.
How about answering my question ? When did you start your hifi journey ? Do you listen with vintage discs ?
I am happy that you enjoy your modern stereo choices. Remember that your enjoyment factor is not any better than anyone else's...even the many, many thousands of us that listen with feedback EQ phono stages...Concerning your "night and day" consider that your night is someone else's day...this hobby has no right and wrong...Happy Listening !
I'm not going to derail this thread, as you seem more interested in me personally instead of the actual question at hand.
Yes, prefer equipment without a lot of negative feedback. If you like equipment with a lot of negative feedback, that's OK too.
I have to agree with Interstage. The Marantz 7 is just plain magical sounding. It may not measure the best, but for LP playback its tough to beat. and for low output MC Carts, use a Cotter step up and feed that into the 7 phono stage.
Getting back to the original posters Q, that is a tough call. Everything I have heard does not approach the Marantz 7.
for 2500 or under I would looking at the AI modulus 3A. Very nice sounding, but still not sonically the same as a 7.
happy listening
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