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Right out of the gate, I was impressed by the value represented by this preamp. My main reference point is the nearly three years I spent with the Hagerman Cornet 2, built for me by inmate anumber1 (Al Gallacher). The Hagerman cost 3X what the Yaqin cost and this was just in parts.
Few specs are available for the $159 MS-22B, but listening in my system indicates gain in the same range as the Cornet, or around 40 dB.
Feeding the MS-22B was an ADC XLM MKII cartridge mounted on an Infinity Black Widow arm.
The unit uses a pair of 12AX7 tubes, so there is a whole world of fine NOS possibles out there to play with. I stuck with the stock Chinese tubes to begin with and will shortly switch to a pair of Mullards.
The Yaqin offers a clean, neutral presentation with fine HF detail. Percussive attack and decay is spot on. Where the Yaqin lags behind the Cornet is in midrange quality. It lacks the almost organic quality the Hagerman so richly provides.
At first I thought the Yaqin was a bit light in the bass, but as it broke in, the bottom end came around. If there is low bass there, this pre will reveal it. If not it won't. No fake bass (i.e. upper bass hump) here.
After about 10 days listening, I have to say this has become my recommended phono preamp in the under $200 category and it will compete with most $500 pres I've heard.
About the only caveat I can find is the stories of QC problems with Yaqin gear. But so far, this one has been flawless.
Opus 104
Follow Ups:
What happened to anumber1 Al Gallacher? How is he doing?
This may be of interest to MS22-B owners.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lez/Yaqin%20MS-22B/Putting%20%27Life%27%20into%20the%20Yaqin%20MS-22B.pdf
See here:
The Hi-Q mod is a redesign and upgrade of the MS-22B.
Change?
Warmest
Timothy Bailey
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger
And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!
'Still not saluting.'
http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm
My Ms-22B was delivered today, have you rolled any tubes yet? and do you leave yours on most of the time. I put a set of Sovtek 12ax7 LPS in right off the bat.
A pre like this would be perfect to use with my Onkyo Receiver, even though it already has a Phono sec I bet this would kill It! Plus I have a Large Stash Of 12ax7 tubes to try with it.
Opus 104
After spending A whole day reading reviews and the such online I ordered the Ms22B phono stage, it will be used in my HT setup which is where my Kenwood table curently resides, I have ALOT of 12ax7 tubes so this is a good inexpensive way to better my vinyl sound in this system, I figure it's gotta sound much better than my Onkyo Receiver's Phono Stage and it is definatly the right price!
Do you like it better than the CornetII?
Very pleased to read this post as I purchased one of these about a week ago! I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival from the frozen north.
If anyone is still interested, I will be happy to chime in with my impressions once I have it hooked up.
Thanks for the great review of this wonderful little phono preamp. I was concidering one to given the price. I decided to use the phono preamp in my tube preamp with my newly aquired Choir SUT that I plan on posting a review as soon as it breaks in. So far so good......
I've been waiting for your initial thoughts. This item represents serious value for the money. Their tried and true active feedback RIAA EQ should mean classic hifi sound; great for at least our vintage discs. Solid state rectifiers and high capacitance power supply topology could be the usual or extra spectacular. Is kick drum bass impact, like on Dire Straits "Communique" Side 1 "Once Upon A Time in the West" special sounding ? If yes, then there are probably high values of power supply capacitance inside. High impedance output usually requires short interconnects for most extended highs; but I know you have made sure of that.
Judging from parts choices in other Chinese units I have seen, your Yaqin 22 parts are still breaking in; especially the coupling caps. Also, changing to different 12AX7/ECC83 tubes will undoubtedly yield, at least slightly, different sonics. Is there any chance you can uncover the bottom to reveal, and shoot a picture of, the innards ? I am actually wondering which EQ parts and values they chose, as well as the couplers; so important to sonics. The difference between a silver mica vs. polystyrene EQ cap can be enormous. Polystyrenes need extensive break-in time, by the way. The wrong value or type of EQ parts can make significant differences in sonic character.
I am thrilled you favor this unit as worthy of $500. value sonics. That is saying something important; certainly. Long live active feedback EQ ! I would think the mid range quality will get better and better as the parts settle in... Changing to the Mullards this weekend ? ENJOY !!!
Opus 104
But they can manufacture consumer goods that are every bit as good, and often better, than stuff made in the West.
___
If it really were "all about the music," we'd just use iPods and be done with it.
Seriously though, they are making some nice stuff in many areas. I have a Chinese made Epiphone acoustic guitar that was ridiculously cheap and isn't bad at all. "Set Up in the USA" it proudly proclaims.
So that's our future - setting things up.
What does that mean..... stringing the guitar? Big future there.
No "bent-clip" RCAs, thank you!
******************************
Heck if I know! I ain't no genius.
Opus 104
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