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A great MM phono stage

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Posted on June 22, 2017 at 08:22:48
jsm71
Audiophile

Posts: 1123
Location: Cincinnati OH
Joined: June 16, 2011
 I recently purchased a custom built phono stage from Don Sachs, who is mostly known for his work in restoring vingtage HK, Scott, etc tube electronics. Don advises on upgraded parts if desired as part of his efforts and his customers often receive better than new units.

His phono stage is based on Vacuum Tube Audio's (tubes4hifi.com) PH-16 kit circuit, but again, Don upps the ante with better parts. I went with all his suggestions and opted for a nice cherry wooden case with a metal top place that exposes the tubes, including his name on the plate, for a nice look. I don't think he sells a lot of these compared to his full function preamp, so his phono stage is still a sleeper.

The PH-16 basic kit is for MM only and includes full dip switches for fine tuning the load. If you wish Don can also include SUTs as part of the build. I already use a Bob's Devices SKY 20 SUT boosting my Lyra Delos cartridge, so the stock setup loaded at 47k was perfect for me. I can play with the loading if I ever want to fall back on my MM carts some day.

Don is a busy guy with very happy customers so there is a waiting list for new units. That's the only downside. I couldn't be happier with the sound. There are a few other reviews on the tubes4hifi site, but it is dead quiet, has amazing channel separation, and the isolation of individual voices/instruments would be hard to beat without spending multiples of what I paid. Thanks, Don.

For me, the design was perfect. I didn't need full MC support so all the cost and design was put into a superior MM stage.

 

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RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 22, 2017 at 08:51:08
louie3
 I have one of these phono stages, too, and could not be happier...in fact I sold my Manley Chinook after listening to both.

Sounds scrumptious.

 

RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 22, 2017 at 11:49:43
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 You didn't mention what you paid, but I built the PH16 for $680 not too long ago and it is an exceptional phono stage. I'm using it with one of Bob's CM-1131 step-up transformers and it sounds spectacular with my Denon DL-S1 cartridge mounted in my Technics SL-1200.

Best regards,
John Elison

 

Sachs custom PH-16, posted on June 22, 2017 at 12:17:34
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6604
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 Thanks for the review. You didn't mention it but coming from your Cary that was a pretty solid benchmark to beat.

At the risk of sounding anal, I will point out that the Sachs SP-14 is not a full function preamp. It does not include a built-in phono stage, so by current nomenclature it is considered a line stage. Small point but I wouldn't want anyone not familiar with Don's products to be confused by this. However it is more flexible than some other line stages. It offers a choice of volume controls, remote, individual channel balance (even dual volume controls), five inputs, a tape loop, plus output loading options to match amp input needs, capacitor upgrades, and I ordered mine with a mono switch.

It is encouraging that you are so impressed by your custom PH-16 phono stage.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 22, 2017 at 13:16:46
jsm71
Audiophile

Posts: 1123
Location: Cincinnati OH
Joined: June 16, 2011
 John, I assume at your price you did the building. I'm a combination of incompetent and lazy so I had Don do the building along with all his recommended parts upgrades and nice wooden case. My price was about (see below) out the door. I feel the price was well worth it and I know it sounds better than a couple of other retail alternatives.

For those willing and handy, by all means go the kit route.

EDIT: the price I paid was a bit over $1,200, not $2,100. Thanks to M3 Lover for catching my mistake.

 

RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 22, 2017 at 13:19:28
jsm71
Audiophile

Posts: 1123
Location: Cincinnati OH
Joined: June 16, 2011
 Thanks Louie. I believe we traded emails before I pulled the trigger to buy Don's unit. You were right, I am not the least bit disappointed. Frankly, I'm a bit more impressed than I was hoping for.

 

RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 22, 2017 at 14:56:27
louie3
 Thought that might be you. Glad it worked out. I have a linestage in the queue at the moment...really looking forward to hearing it.

 

Is it just parts upgrades, or..., posted on June 22, 2017 at 16:15:40
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 10912
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 does Don Sachs tweak the PH16 circuit in any way? There's always SOMETHING one can do to change any circuit a bit, in the belief, real or imagined, that it will improve the sound.

 

RE: Is it just parts upgrades, or..., posted on June 22, 2017 at 16:26:10
jsm71
Audiophile

Posts: 1123
Location: Cincinnati OH
Joined: June 16, 2011
 Lew, I'm not aware of any design changes offered/needed other than parts upgrades. He can tailor the unit for MC support. Each sale is basically custom. You can certainly ask Don. He was good returning my emails.

 

RE: Heads Up!, posted on June 23, 2017 at 14:41:06
Cuernavaca
Audiophile

Posts: 878
Location: NW
Joined: December 23, 2011
 I also have one, very nice phono stage. I upgraded the coupling caps with Jensen copper PIO, and use a Jensen JT346AX SUT. I was so impressed I bought the Don Sachs SP14 preamp, loaded with good parts. Well worth the money.

Thomas
"I've never owned a firearm, but I do have an attack parrot!"

 

RE: Heads Up!, posted on June 23, 2017 at 19:03:14
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 I assembled my own SP14 from the kit and it sounded so good I replaced my $5800 Pass Labs X1 line stage with my new SP14. Total cost was $1355.

 

RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 24, 2017 at 17:09:01
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6604
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 The basic Sachs Custom PH16 is $995, the wood cased model is $1249. What upgrades did you order to bring it to $2,100?

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 24, 2017 at 19:47:12
jsm71
Audiophile

Posts: 1123
Location: Cincinnati OH
Joined: June 16, 2011
 Oops! I transposed the first two numbers. I'll go back and edit the post with the wrong number. I in fact paid a bit over $1,200. Sorry if I scared anyone away.

 

RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 25, 2017 at 21:24:42
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 You still didn't describe the upgrades you purchased????

I'm curious what the upgrades are because I might want to do that to mine.

Thanks,
John Elison

 

RE: A great MM phono stage, posted on June 28, 2017 at 05:48:30
jsm71
Audiophile

Posts: 1123
Location: Cincinnati OH
Joined: June 16, 2011
 John, Don wasn't specific with exact part types. He notes Mundorf caps as an upgrade on his web site, but he seems to have altered his stock build.

He mentioned to me "The basic version I am building now uses a cap combo that I think is excellent and renders the Mundorf silver oil caps unnecessary. I use a nice film and foil cap bypassed by a small value of Russian Teflon cap. It sounds great and it is very detailed. Just takes 40-50 hours to fully run in.

I did pay for all film caps (type not disclosed) in the power supply as well as the wood case.

 

Okay! Thanks! /nt\, posted on June 29, 2017 at 05:55:47
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004

 

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