|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
24.21.240.251
I have decided to move to a MM/MC pre in place of the MM input of my Rogue Cronus Magnum II.
I am considering either a Jeff Rowland Consonance for $1200 or a demo Icon Audio PS3 MKI for around $1750.
Does anyone have experience with both? If so, please share your thoughts on sound quality, strengths / weaknesses of each, etc.
My turntable is a Clearaudio Ovation with Satisfy arm and Maestro V2 Ebony MM cartridge.
Thanks in advance.
Follow Ups:
Isn't the Rowland a full preamp with phono stage and the Icon is a phono pre only? Also the icon is all tubes and the Rowland solid state. I love tubes so I would go with the Icon but I have not heard a Rowland in a long time
Alan
You are correct. The Rowland phono stage has good reviews. I agree on tubes. However, my Cronus Magnum is tube, so going tube pre > tube input and power of the integrated might be too much.
I also like the direct coupled design of the Rowland.
I would recommend a step-up transformer. I have a Vacuum Tube Audio phono stage with a Bob's Devices 1131 SUT and this combination sounds excellent to me. Bob's step-up transformers are really awesome sounding. He has different models with turns-ratios for just about any moving coil you can buy. If you like your MM phono stage, you can keep it and just add a step-up transformer.
Thanks, but I am after other features not found in a SUT. Mainly the mono switch to sum channels when listening to mono records with a stereo cartridge.
"Mainly the mono switch to sum channels when listening to mono records with a stereo cartridge."
I'm curious what sonic benefit does this switch provides?
Taking my mono records to shows and playing them on hyper rigs with mono setups sounds exactly the same as on my modest table w/stereo cart
My understanding is that the mono switch reduces noise when using a stereo cartridge.
From a hobbyist/ techie viewpoint, I get it.
But with the level of gear presented here, I'm wondering if you need to squint your eyes and lean forward to hear an audible improvement?
That Icon unit is nice, but I would negotiate a lower price,since it's several iterations old.
Someone with technical knowledge will chime in.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: