- Posted by cpdunn99 (A) on November 18, 2002 at 12:32:37
In Reply to: EAR/Yoshino 834P Phono Preamp posted by Capt. Z on November 18, 2002 at 09:04:45:
Sorry about the rather cryptic review. It was the first one I wrote, and I assumed it would be linked to an earlier review by another inmate. I said more about the EAR in my BC comments.In a nutshell, the Telefunkens really opened up the soundstage. The highs were a little less shrill, the bass deeper, and the mids more present. The mids are always an issue for me, as they seem to be either the most difficult sound for equipment to portray well, or manufacturers simply skimp there. In my opinion (for what it's worth) many listeners concentrate on the highs and bass when auditioning equipment and don't pay much attention to the mids. I think it is psychological. Anyway, the EAR does very well up and down the range.
As for the volume pot, I never heard it working. It was delivered disabled. I suppose with a low-output MC cartridge, it might be desirable to have that volume control (I presume it would provide more gain), but my cartridge is medium-output. The volume pot can quite readily, I'm told, be hooked up again.
I don't know exactly how to describe it, but the EAR seems a little "slower" (yet more defined) and the BC "snappier." But, one is tubes and other other is SS, as you know. I tend to prefer the EAR for classical (because of greater definition) and the BC for jazz and rock (more "pop", if you'll excuse the phrase!).
I don't know that I fully answered your question. My turntable is currently being upgraded a little. I'll have it back on Thursday and will do some additional comparisons over the weekend.
