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Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp

50.0.169.230
Posted on May 19, 2017 at 19:29:48
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 I've posted this request before as it's the type of sound I like (warm, rich, rolled-off, round, romantic, muffled, punchy, bass-heavy, dark, syrupy, colored, etc). The reason I'm posting again is because it's been a while and there are always new phono pres being released on the market. I'm not familiar with many of them. Recently, a friend who also favors this type of sound has asked for my recommendation sub-$1000 price range. Typically for this I will suggest the Vincent PHO 700 as it's the only budget pre I've encountered that approaches this type of sound. But I'm wondering if there are other options and something, perhaps, even more thick and colored and less neutral sounding than the PHO 700? And yes, I know I am not looking for accurate. I want something to mask and gloss over and fill out poor recordings. I admit it.

 

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RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 19, 2017 at 20:48:11
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 You might also want to look for specific cartridges that provide the sound quality you desire. Matching the right cartridge to the right phono stage might give you exactly what you're looking for. Unfortunately, I can't help you because I prefer natural, transparent sound. Then, I concentrate on playing high quality recordings rather than trying to mask and gloss over poor recordings.

To each his own!

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 19, 2017 at 21:13:43
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Thanks for the input.

 

How about a vintage Scott integrated?, posted on May 19, 2017 at 23:19:34
Otis1
 Fast and dynamic, they ain't. Just the opposite.

 

RE: How about a vintage Scott integrated?, posted on May 20, 2017 at 00:14:07
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Not an amp, a phono preamp.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 05:58:53
Terry
Audiophile

Posts: 1291
Joined: August 27, 2000
 The type of sound that you are describing I usually associate with the older tube gear, like the Audio Research SP3 or the Conrad Johnson PV5. Unfortunately, these are full function preamps but you could just use the phono section. These devices are hard to find and are now quite old (some service probably required).
Terry

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 06:23:32
Industrial
Audiophile

Posts: 46
Joined: March 20, 2010
 I have a Xindak LP1 phono. It's pretty smooth and close to that budget.I find it sounds a lot like the Audio Note Zero dac I'm currently using.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 08:08:22
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2444
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 Get a graphic equalizer. You can muck up the sound as much as you want!

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 08:51:52
Uncle Mike
 Or any Fisher tube receiver.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 09:19:31
rascal33
Audiophile

Posts: 29
Joined: May 18, 2017
 I had a Cary tube amp and preamp and they sounded just as you described. They liked to put those oil capacitors in their gear. Maybe you could find a used Cary at Upscale Audio.

 

Have heard very good things about this phono pre, posted on May 20, 2017 at 10:13:27
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 and seen reports of some pretty cool upgrades too.






Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 11:44:43
Bry
Manufacturer

Posts: 5610
Location: S. Florida
Joined: July 21, 2005
 That won't do all of it. You can mess with the response, but it sounds like the OP wants non-linearity/harmonics as well. This is where you probably want a minimalist amplification design.

 

Vintage? Would a Shure M65 suit?, posted on May 20, 2017 at 12:02:36
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 A search around here reveals a few users. There were also Calrad equivalents. Just get a tech to renovate some of the caps and resistors and you should be all set with some vintage über-fi!



(picture from vinylengine.com)


Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 12:28:05
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2444
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 The OP wants punchy,bass heavy,colored, rolled off ,etc. What manufacturer would make something inaccurate like that? Playing with an equalizer might give him some options.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 14:05:47
Bry
Manufacturer

Posts: 5610
Location: S. Florida
Joined: July 21, 2005
 I think what he wants is the sound of vintage tube gear which could be inaccurate and highly euphonic (of course, back then it was just the way everything sounded). This sound can't be duplicated with an EQ. There are modern audio devices which are based on early tube circuits which don't measure that well and have a vintage sound. I imagine that's what he's inquiring about.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 14:40:10
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2444
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 I gotcha! He best be shopping for vintage gear!

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 18:08:43
SoundMann
Audiophile

Posts: 588
Joined: October 21, 2015
 There are Japanese artisans that create wonderful sounding equipment based on vintage designs. Leben and Shindo are good examples.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 20, 2017 at 19:22:45
collinslaw@fuse.net
Audiophile

Posts: 524
Location: Northern Kentucky
Joined: August 5, 2011
 find a nice old dynaco pas-3 and get it reconditioned.
Tom Collins

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 05:01:09
Kindablue
Audiophile

Posts: 1072
Joined: August 7, 2003
 You own and listen to a pas 3 pre-amp claw ?

 

RE: Grado Platinum; done. nt, posted on May 21, 2017 at 06:09:18
kitch29

 

A Question for You, posted on May 21, 2017 at 06:54:28
spindoctor
Audiophile

Posts: 1661
Location: Virginia
Joined: December 31, 2002
 Given your desired sound, how do you see your current components contributing to achieving your goal... working out from cartridge to arm to deck to amplification to speakers? Specifically, I don't think any phono pre will accomplish the sound you like alone. Thanks for helping with this question.

Sim

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 14:56:21
collinslaw@fuse.net
Audiophile

Posts: 524
Location: Northern Kentucky
Joined: August 5, 2011
 KINDA: no, i don't but have a good friend that does. the phono pre is actually pretty good on those.
Tom Collins

 

If the tone controls on the preamp (listed) won't give you that sound then I doubt any single component will., posted on May 21, 2017 at 16:27:54
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 If the system you listed is accurate, I'd guess your speakers won't give you that sound even if such a phono pre exists. They are computer speakers meant for near field listening. The description says they have a 2.75" woofer. Fat sounding isn't going to happen with 2.75" woofers. A subwoofer may be your best route to get close to what you are looking for

Description from Cnet
The Audioengine 2+ speakers measure 6 inches high by 4 inches wide by 5.25 inches deep. They each have a 2.75-inch Kevlar woofer and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter. Because the left speaker houses the amplifier (15 watts per channel), it's heavier than the right speaker.

https://www.cnet.com/products/audioengine-a2-plus-white/review/
=========================
You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 16:56:19
flood2
Audiophile

Posts: 2558
Joined: January 11, 2011
 You're not going to achieve those objectives in a modern off the shelf design as it is the opposite of what a good design that purports to be High Fidelity should achieve. You need a bespoke solution and are likely best served by modifying a Tube design yourself. It sounds like you need to alter the time constants to have an earlier roll off and a steeper attenuation - in other words a custom EQ that isn't RIAA. However, no off the shelf design can anticipate exactly what you are after since it will be cartridge dependent....as well as owner dependent!


Regards Anthony

"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats

 

Incorrect, posted on May 21, 2017 at 18:56:05
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Note Stereophile measurements:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/audioengine-2-powered-loudspeaker-measurements

The little A2s sound huge. Massive bass/lower mid bump. Extremely fat sounding. That's why I use them. And I don't have the A2+ that you refer to. That's a different speaker.

The phono pre isn't for me anyway. It's for a friend's system, as I said in my original post.

 

Untrue, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:00:48
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 My Pilot SP-210 is more or less an off the shelf design. It has these sonic properties. The Vincent PHO-700, another off the shelf design, subtly hints at these properties with the right tube installed. I'm not looking for the phono pre to dictate what the entire system sounds like as such that it will wash over everything like a thick, impenetrable blanket of honey. I'm trying to steer it in that direction with a collection of similarly flavored components. And of course I know that it's cartridge dependent.

 

RE: A Question for You, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:01:51
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 System is irrelevant. I'm looking for phono pre recommendations only. Thanks

 

RE: Vintage? Would a Shure M65 suit?, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:03:56
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 I'm going to guess you've never heard one of these? I've had the one pictured and many of the off-brand similar versions. They have all been sold due to being the absolute opposite of the sound I am looking for. They're wretched, thin-sounding, overrated.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:04:42
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Awesome suggestion. Thanks. I read some Cary reviews and it looks like this something to pursue.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:06:14
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Been there, done that. Dynaco preamps are not for me.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:06:44
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 I disagree.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:07:22
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Maybe, yeah. So what would these modern units be? Any names?

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:08:26
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 First professional review I found of the Xindak starts going off about how fast, detailed, and bright it is. Next.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:09:06
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Cool. Thank you. I'll look into these.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:09:31
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 I agree, but a Fisher receiver is not a phono preamp.

 

RE: Grado Platinum; done. nt, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:10:10
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Again, just looking for phono preamp recommendations. And let the record show, no pun intended, that the Grado Platinum has the reputation for sounding warm, rich, and thick, for some odd reason, but in reality is quite airy and detailed.

 

So here's the rub..., posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:39:36
spindoctor
Audiophile

Posts: 1661
Location: Virginia
Joined: December 31, 2002
 IMHO a system can achieve where you want to go but it occurs a symbiosis of all components and is not dependent on one component.

Sim

 

So..., posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:51:14
spindoctor
Audiophile

Posts: 1661
Location: Virginia
Joined: December 31, 2002
 I'd look first in investing in your cartridge..

Sim

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 21, 2017 at 20:48:39
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4306
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 I've often thought that the image of warm, rich, fat sound from tubes was more a factor of early style tube amps and tube circuits combined with output transformers rather than tube phono stages or tube line stages. But since almost every tube amp will be used with tube front end components the affects of the amplifier are also associated with the front end components.

 

RE: So..., posted on May 21, 2017 at 21:52:29
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 That's nice. Still looking for phono pre recommendations though.

 

RE: So here's the rub..., posted on May 21, 2017 at 21:54:02
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Except that I didn't ask how to build a system to meet the sonic criteria described above. You assume that I'm looking for general advice when in fact I simply requested advice regarding the sound characteristics of phono preamps. I know you're just trying to help and I appreciate that, but just wanting to clarify. Thanks

 

RE: Vintage? Would a Shure M65 suit?, posted on May 22, 2017 at 02:53:40
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 That wasn't my experience - but then I was listening to a Pickering 380 through it and it had been re-capped and, to an extent, re-voiced. I don't have one any more, though.

Good luck with your search.


Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 05:33:14
Kindablue
Audiophile

Posts: 1072
Joined: August 7, 2003
 It is a nice little pre amp(pas 3X) with the right tubes and take care of it like I did with mine still a good sounding pre amp esp for the money I spent of it years ago. Hit it with a nice pair of Mk IV's and it really has a nice sound to it. Better then a lot of SS pre amps I have listened to in time. Pre amps can really cost you if you are not careful.
Take care Tom,
Kindablue


 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 05:45:40
Kindablue
Audiophile

Posts: 1072
Joined: August 7, 2003
 "Some service required" can be a very tricky situation in itself a lot of the real good guys are gone I mean gone forever. I personally need someone who grew up building kits and went deep into it after that all others are not too good with the work in my experience they mean well but are not there yet.
Kindablue

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 05:59:21
Jeffrey Lee
Audiophile

Posts: 708
Location: Louisville
Joined: September 24, 2002
 John, your approach discounts a majority of recordings, does it not? I'm not going to stop listening to my favorite music because it's not well-recorded or discount potential new favorites based on recording quality.

Well-recorded LPs are a thing of beauty but, at the end of the day, they are exponentially outnumbered by poor recordings. I'll take a system that helps to salvage those poor recordings all day long.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 06:07:18
TubeDriver
Audiophile

Posts: 794
Location: East Coast
Joined: February 16, 2007
 Most any single tube per channel 12a..7 type phono stage will have at least some of characterustics you mentioned. As mentioned, the Cary 301 had that sound to some extent.

Here are a couple options I found with a quick search (no relation to any of these sellers):

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/phono-antique-sound-labs-mini-phono-preamp-2017-05-13-preamplifiers-91701-alta-loma-ca?acq=fuel&keyword=preamps&creative=shopping&gclid=CKWD5c_Gg9QCFcpLDQodyYwIeg


http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-MS-23B-Tube-Phono-Stage-Pre-Amplifier-MM-RIAA-Turntable-HiFi-Stereo-Preamp/261582916963?_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D6924ab01691043a7b05d65a2fdbc5d10%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D20%26sd%3D122008331194

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 06:08:46
Terry
Audiophile

Posts: 1291
Joined: August 27, 2000
 I hear you but the availability of a good tech is largely a function of where you live. As the OPI lives in central California, I would have thought that there would be many competent techs to chose from. I could be wrong, though.
Terry

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 06:15:10
mg16
Audiophile

Posts: 1022
Joined: October 18, 2001
 Got the perfect unit for you. I love the same time of sound from my vinyl.
Tubes and vinyl; like chocolate and caramel. Soft, sweet, and satisfying.
Quicksilver stand alone phono stage. Not the older model. The current model that uses 3 12ax7 tubes. It sounds great as is, but for added softness, roundness, etc, I rolled in 3 Pvsane 12ax7's in place of the NOS tubes that appear to come with it. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket.
1500 bones new. I love mine.
My suggestion. There are many, many others though.
Mg16

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 06:30:30
Jeffrey Lee
Audiophile

Posts: 708
Location: Louisville
Joined: September 24, 2002
 Mr. Blue Sky, you might consider the Eastern Electric Mini Max Phono. You'll have to find one used to meet your budget and it won't get you all the way there with its stock tubes, but a little tube rolling will pay massive dividends.

They're usually around $750 used, which leaves some budget to buy a few tubes. The EE uses four tubes and the 6x4 rectifier tubes are cheap if you decide to change. For the other three I mix one 5751 with two 12x7s. I've enjoyed Amperex, Mullard and Telefunken 12x7s for different reasons (and, of course, there are sonic variations within each brand).

I would guess that I have around $150 invested in the four tubes I currently use.

I haven't compared the EE to a ton of other phono stages so all I can offer is this:

- Compared to refurbished Dyna PAS3, the EE has vintage tube-gear tonality without the Dyna's bloated fuzziness. The EE has a lot more detail while still delivering sweetness.

- My Sonic Frontier hybrid SFP-1 has a lot of good qualities and seems to perfectly straddle solid state and tube, but at the end of the day it doesn't give me the same glow as the EE. I still like it and wish I could find a place to use it.

- I use a PS Audio GCPH in a mono system but I've listened to it in my stereo rig. It has more detail than the EE and nice tonality but the music feels like it's strapped to the speakers. With the EE, the music spreads into the room and the speakers disappear. It isn't subtle.

- That Yaquin thing that everybody seems to like. I didn't. No contest compared to EE. I jumped on the Yaquin thing early and maybe they've been improved but I'll never know.

Hope this actually helps. I'm sure that the folks who demand accuracy in all things hi-fi are nice people but they're just setting themselves up for a lifetime of listening to the same 50 records. If my inaccurate system can bring some life to poor recordings while still sounding gorgeous with good recordings, I feel like I'm the winner all day long.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 07:04:24
AudioSoul
Audiophile

Posts: 4594
Location: north central AZ
Joined: July 9, 2005
I think some of the new phono preamp designs are just the opposite of syrupy. The more modern designers are going for more detail and quieter backgrounds.....

 

To each his own!, posted on May 22, 2017 at 07:10:31
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 We all approach this hobby in our own way. I choose to discount a majority of recordings. So be it! There are way more high quality recordings than I'd ever be able to listen to in several lifetimes. Therefore, I choose accuracy and transparency in my audio system.

Good luck,
John Elison

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 22, 2017 at 07:43:15
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 10911
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 Early Conrad-Johnson
MFA Luminescence
Marantz 7C
Paragon
Audio Research SP3 (which is, after all, a glorified Dyna PAS)
Luxman

Just some vintage thoughts.

 

Addendum, posted on May 22, 2017 at 07:48:06
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 10911
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 Fisher, Scott, and Sherwood, of course
I don't know whether any of these three ever made standalone phono stages but they did make great sounding receivers and integrated amplifiers. Mapleshade Audio sells fully restored examples.

 

RE: Grado Platinum; done. nt, posted on May 22, 2017 at 09:17:30
kitch29



 

RE: Seriously, though, posted on May 22, 2017 at 09:25:30
kitch29
 The Moscode Super It is exactly what you describe if you can tame the hum and even find one.

 

Please pardon my skepticism in desktop Computer speakers ability to deliver the sound you describe, posted on May 22, 2017 at 09:50:14
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 I have little doubt that they sound good when used for their intended purpose. But I still question why you cannot get the sound you are seeking from your tone controls on the preamp?

edit
My apologies. you are asking info for a friend. My bad
=========================
You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

RE: Vintage? Would a Shure M65 suit?, posted on May 22, 2017 at 13:55:47
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Ah, the truth comes out! ;)

Re-capped and re-voiced? So what you had wasn't really a Shure M65. Stock Shure M65 is a nasty piece of business.

380 is a very dark cartridge. In fact, I have an industry friend who measured one and it starts rolling off sharply at 7KHz. He built some inline resistors to flatten the response. Trust me, if you heard what the 380 is really doing to your vinyl in the high frequencies, you'd never use one again. And of course, take almost any cartridge, eq for a dramatic 7KHz roll-off, and it will sound strikingly similar to a Stanton 380.

 

RE: Seriously, though, posted on May 22, 2017 at 22:27:46
Mr Blue Sky
Audiophile

Posts: 909
Location: Central California
Joined: May 23, 2003
 Good recommendation. I found some reviews and it's nothing but people complaining that the Moscode sounds exactly like I've described. Perfect!

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 23, 2017 at 05:28:23
Kindablue
Audiophile

Posts: 1072
Joined: August 7, 2003
 Terry you are right about location being a big part of what you can find on vintage audio repair and the west coast is full of some very good techs without a doubt. Glad you pointed that out.

Kindablue

 

RE: Trying to find a Super It schematic, posted on May 23, 2017 at 05:37:42
kitch29
 I had one circa 1985.

Looking got me thinking about building one just for kicks but all the schematic links I Googled are dead.

I'm going to query Diyaudio.com and see if someone has a schematic.

 

I feel your pain......., posted on May 23, 2017 at 15:27:10
NuWave
Audiophile

Posts: 2619
Location: Wisconsin
Joined: March 22, 2002
 Looking for the same sound - minus the word 'muffled'. I just built a Vacuum Tube Audio PH16 for $650(it's $895 built/tested). Sounds VERY good......but it didn't give me the fat honey syrup I was looking for. Even running a Grado Reference Reference thru it, with a Meridian pre, Audio Research VT60, and Vandersteen 2ceSig2 speakers. I don't know what else I can change to soften it all up. I wish you luck

 

RE: I feel your pain......., posted on May 24, 2017 at 01:57:07
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 I agree with your assessment of the PH16. Its sonic character more closely represents the attributes of accuracy, clarity and transparency. My Pass Labs XOno sounds more like a tube component than the PH16. ;-)

I suspect that tube rolling will be a requirement for warming up the PH16. I haven't tried that yet because I appreciate the honesty of the PH16's sound quality!

Best regards,
John Elison

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 24, 2017 at 07:04:00
Kindablue
Audiophile

Posts: 1072
Joined: August 7, 2003
 Correct but a Fisher Model X 101 B sure does sound nice and it looks great too really a nice pc of work.

Kindablue

 

I'm just glad it works!, posted on May 24, 2017 at 08:34:20
NuWave
Audiophile

Posts: 2619
Location: Wisconsin
Joined: March 22, 2002
 Was worried during my profanity-laced construction(i.e. lead-free solder). I would think between a Grado cart, tube phono and a tube amp, that I'd get some of my goopy soft sound, but it hasn't been that way. I might swap my Meridian amp back in for a comparison....it might be smoother than my AR VT60.

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 25, 2017 at 09:09:53
dconsmack
Audiophile

Posts: 73
Joined: September 12, 2009
 Fosgate Signature Phono Stage (V1)

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 25, 2017 at 09:11:10
dconsmack
Audiophile

Posts: 73
Joined: September 12, 2009



Fosgate Signature Phono Stage (V1)

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 26, 2017 at 05:36:05
Kindablue
Audiophile

Posts: 1072
Joined: August 7, 2003
 Ever listen to a Yaqin MS 23 B phono pre amp? There was a lot of talk about them a while back it is a tube phone pre for around $150 I bought one and enjoy it with my set up of all vintage tube amps and pre amps top to bottom.
Kindablue

 

RE: Seeking recommendations for warm, rich, fat sounding, syrupy tube phono preamp, posted on May 28, 2017 at 09:05:02
Industrial
Audiophile

Posts: 46
Joined: March 20, 2010
 Crazy. It's much less bright then any SS Ive had before I got Audio Note. And i used to run Rotel system and had a graham slee phono before. If you do find something with those qualities I want one too :) anything up from what I have (locally available new) with tubes the $$ goes way up. I'm scared of vintage stuff myself. I don't know anywhere local that would tune it up. Keep us posted if you find something your friend likes!

 

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