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My highly modded Phonomena II has crashed again. Just got it back from being repaired, AND since it was sounding so good, I decided to try the AT F-7 cart instead of a new stylus for the 440MLa.Now I'm in a pickle, and would really like to get something in the house so we can listen to records.
I’m talking with Boris at Vista, but also reading up on all the under $1,000 units out there. I've also just bought a few mono boxes as I had rigged my phono pre with a mono switch.
Jasmine? Used GCPH? Used Nova? What else should I be looking at?
I have a 40 watt tube amp and some odd speakers (MTM cap n coil) that are pretty sensitive and revealing. I was finding the 440MLa a bit too etched in this scenario.
Edits: 12/19/14Follow Ups:
A Musical Fidelity V-LPS is a very cheap but very capable MM/MC phono stage. The circuit is virtually identical to all previous phono stages made by MF with the main change being to move to a DC plug pack. However, the actual RIAA design (opamp) and MC gain stage (discrete) are identical to the X-LP/LPS/LPS-V3 etc.
I have the X-LPS and V3 versions which were my project phono stages while I worked on my own design (still in progress!).
This listing appeared on Ebay - $75. At least it will get you going again!
Regards Anthony
"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats
of mods did you do to the Phonomena. IIRC it has a lot of SMD devices, although it is a discrete amplifier section...
Stu
Mike changed out dip resistors to give me more loading options for my MM cart (62K, 50K, 38K). The caps were reduced to 68pF, and most recently, the caps were changed to WIMAs, including the caps in the RIAA circuit. And, we added a mono switch and upped the resistors on the output.
All good stuff. Sounds amazing. This unit is his own development unit, and it does blow resistors. IDK
hmmmmm...Mike is a very talented engineer. Have you spoke to hm about this. He's really busy now, but I'm sure he can solve the issue. He just designed an AMG phono section, IIRC.
I'm sure the resistors on the DIP switch have nothing to do with the failure, but most likely the change inthe output.
I would fix it as I am a great admirer of MY's designs
It’s great, and I am as well. Not to mention his service. Still, if I keep it in use I will need a backup unit. However, there may be some issue with this particular unit that is unique. It does use some different parts that were not available/discontinued in the first production. In other words, my issues should not be taken as characteristic of the model specifically because it is not typical of the model.
In some respects, Mike has been so generous with his time that I hesitate to send it back because I just got it back from him, it is not under warranty, and if I send it back to him again it will be the fourth time in a few years that he has repaired the unit at no cost to me. If I were to send it back and get the issue fixed, experience tells me I would be sending it back again in short order.
If so, is that the current problem, a blown resistor? If this is happening repeatedly, and if it's happening in the same part of the circuit, then an upgrade in the wattage rating of the resistor(s) that blow is warranted. Did he do something to increase voltage or current? You might take a voltmeter and measure VDC across the resistor(s) that blow, once the unit has been repaired. Then you can calculate the current; it is equal to the measured VDC divided by the value of the resistor. Then you can calculate wattage, equal to the same VDC measurement multiplied by the current. If the Watts are near to or above the wattage rating of the resistor in question, you need to replace that resistor with one of higher wattage rating. Some resistors are very sensitive to high voltages, even when their wattage rating is not exceeded; that's another possible issue. But you should not have to put up with that kind of recurring problem; it's curable.
Save yourself some money and order a Yaqin MS-23B. I'll bet it would take the edge off the 440ML! Mine sounds great.
The thing is that I just fitted an AT F-7 (MC .35mV) so I need MC capable.
Lounge? for $250 it offers LCR RIAA correction.
Ifi Audio iPhono? Less than $500, and Fremer loves it.
You're actually in good shape if you can spend $1000. There are many many good choices, new and used, well within that price range. I daresay you can do better than your Phonemena, even, although that would be an unfounded statement, as I have never heard a Phonemena.
I am a DIYer, and nearly every piece of gear I use has been modified by me or someone else. Sometimes that can be asking for trouble; I too have experienced inconvenient failures. Usually it's a problem of my own making. You have my sympathy.
I had the Vista and should not have sold it.
Very good and all the adjustment you may need , MC or MM.
Tough call there is a lot of great sounding stuff out there at reasonable cost. I had the iFI too, very good. Further back I also had the Jasmine LP2.0 II.
I wouldn't mind hearing the Lounge too.
Would love to try the lounge, but it is MM only, right?I guess an SUT could make it work.
Edits: 12/19/14
Guess it is indeed only for MM and other high output cartridges. Expense of a good SUT might stretch your budget, but I'd go for the Lounge myself because of my curiosity (and one exceptional listening experience) regarding LCR RIAA.
Similar to the Lounge and there's an active step up with available power supply.
I tried the active on batteries, as did a friend and we both thought it good but less so than Cinemags, 3440 AH for me, friend has the more expensive ones.
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