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In Reply to: MC Phono Stages posted by JWPATE on December 22, 2003 at 20:16:16:
Hi,James:I own examples of many Marantz Model 7 preamps and also two McIntosh C-22 preamps. If these are updated with new component parts throughtout, their performance will be quite suitable, believe me.
Yes, the circuit in the McIntosh preamp is nearly identical to that of the Marantz. Aside from all of this, if you are considering using a MC cartridge, the old Ortofon step-up devices will be fine, but what I am presently using was not only quite affordable, but superb sounding. A few years ago, I wound up acquiring a Levinson JC-1 battery-powered "pre-preamplifier", which actually is quite a vintage piece on its own! It was manufactured and marketed somewhere in the early seventies and my particular example cost me exactly $3 in a box filled with old radio headphones at a rummage sale.
The little Levinson unit was one of the early designs of John Curl, whom I have met several times. Of course, even though I am quite satisfied with this in my system, along with a good Japanese cartridge now out of manufacture (Signet something), Mr. Curl was a bit surprised that I was using such an old unit. I am of the opinion that no matter what you choose for your system, as long as you are happy and pleased with the results, who cares, other than YOU?
Happy Holidays!
Richard Links
(I'm out here in New Mexico at the moment and will not be able to respond to any private notes until after December 28th at my normal e-mail address.)
Follow Ups:
> A few years ago, I wound up acquiring a Levinson JC-1 battery-powered "pre-preamplifier",
> which actually is quite a vintage piece on its own! It was manufactured and marketed
> somewhere in the early seventies and my particular example cost me exactly $3 in a box filled
> with old radio headphones at a rummage sale.Rich:
Many times you have mentioned some of your amazing hi-fi deals! Just out of curiousity, and if you don't mind me asking (especially the second question):
1. What was your worst hi-fi deal ever?
2. What was the most that you ever spent on a hi-fi component (that you intended to keep for personal use).
Thanks.
Hi, Gerry:Thanks for your note.
I'll try to answer your questions!
#1. What was your worst hi-fi deal ever?
I believe it might have been the time I picked up a ReVox integrated amplifier at a Police auction and it was a total mess. Lukily, I found a person who wanted it for parts! But to be honest, many years ago I really lusted for an Ampex PR-10 "portable" tape recorder. When I finally acquired one at a studio auction, it took me more than one year to get it working properly and the day I sold it was a day for celebration! What a terrible machine that was! The wiring in the electronics was an "explosion in a sphagetti factory"!
#2. What was the most that you ever spent on a hi-fi component (that you intended to keep for personal use).
Believe it or not, I have purchased superb old Marantz components for what was then the prevailing market value. One such deal was the acquisiton of my second Marantz 10-B tuner, from a fellow collector, for about $500. This was at least 18 years ago, however.
I can also clearly remember running across numerous examples of the Heathkit W5-M monaural Williamson amplifier at most local flea markets. This was twenty or more years ago, long before this hobby was a growing "thing". They were usually only $5 - $10 each then, and I had a stack of them in one of my rooms.
Friends of mine used to go out to the various local flea markets at that time and we would literally load up our vehicles with these things, since for the most part, nobody really cared about them or seemed to have any use for them.
BTW, that Levinson JC-1 pre-preamplifier was a VERY lucky find, since I am enjoying using it so much in my system. It's another thing to run into its designer, John Curl, at a local Chinese restaurant and tell him that I had such an old item. John was quite astonished, in fact!
Did I ever mention that I recently picked up a GAS Thoebe preamp from the local Salvation Army in my area ($30) and believe me, it is the first solid-state preamp that I have ever owned which actually sounds decent with one of my 8-B's providing signal to KEF Calindas. Just in case anyone else out there has one or both of those components with which to experiment.
These days, I am more into recording music on location and have a definite affection for both vintage and some of the new tube-based "retro" recording gear for pro use.
But, thanks for asking!
Richard Links
presently in Albuquerque, NM, shortly to return to Berkeley, CA.
Thanks Richard,
And yes, I have made contact with John.
JAmes
I would seriously recommend that you not use a solid state active device as a step up for a moving coil. After all if you wanted to listen to transistors you would have bought a solid state pre. With all due respect to Mr Curl. I have heard his devices and must say that if I were listening to solid state I would consider no other. I have however found passive devices to be far better sounding when used with tubes. The T-10 is just the tip of the iceburg. There are much more expensive transformers out there but it's hard to beat the T-10 for bang for the buck.
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