Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: EAR/Yoshino 834P Phono Preamp by Craiger56@aol.com

Model:	834P
Category:	Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price:	$995?
Description:	mm/mc tube phono stage w/vol. pot
Manufacturer URL:	EAR/Yoshino
Manufacturer URL:	EAR/Yoshino

Review by Craiger56@aol.com ( A ) on August 25, 2006 at 14:20:40
IP Address: 71.198.112.209

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The 834P reviews here have it covered. I'd like to share our observations after having added a EAR MC-4 step-up transformer to our 834P.
This is the only stand-alone step-up transformer we've ever had so not a real 'review' in the normal sense, but a comparison between the built-in transformers in the 834P and the MC-4.
Our local EAR dealer has a demo unit that can be taken home for trial. My wife noticed I always took a look at it we we visit, and asked if it would be a worthwhile addition to our stereo with me about to turn 50.
So on the counter it went with a set of half-meter interconnects for home trial. We switched our 834P from MC back to MM and connected the MC-4 between our tonearm and 834P and spun our favorite 'emotional test' song, Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Riviera Paradise" the song hadn't finished when she called back to say "order it".
The MC-4 has proven to be one of the best improvements we have made, and possibly the best value. The try to put this in perspective, our first turntable (since our Pioneer 20 years ago) was a Rega P25. We had a Shelter 501 on it when we traded it in for our SME 10A. I had them install the Shelter from the Rega onto the SME so I could hear what difference the turntable made.
The SME is quieter, with more focused bass and depth, but it didn't make the Rega sound like a toy considering its price.
The MC-4 is a larger improvement in sound for the dollar, in our setup. We hear more punch and drama, more excitement, more subtleties and more recording artifacts when they're there. The MC-4 lets us hear more of what we paid for upstream.
Removing the demo unit left us with one lazy sounding stereo and it was a long five weeks before we got our own new MC-4.
I'll bet the savvy Vinylphiles here are rolling their eyes at what these are priced at and I can't blame them, I didn't do my usual homework and fully research step-up transformers, If I had I might have tried 10 Audio's "project step-up transformer" that lightened their wallet by... $350.
The point I'm trying to make is that as good as the 834P is, its built-in step-up transformers just might be its weakest link, since we are hearing such significant improvements having bypassed them.
Craig

Product Weakness: Anyone that absolutely does not want to ever hear more recording artifacts or undesirable background sounds may already have enough resolution in their sound.
Product Strengths: The impression of more gain without any more glare or harshness and the realization of larger and more frequent goosebumps.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Quicksilver V4 monoblocks (120w ultralinear)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Quicksilver Remote Preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	SME 10A / Shelter 901
Speakers:	Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures and two 2Wq Subwoofers
Cables/Interconnects:	Chris VenHaus Silver IC's and Cat-5 Speaker
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Blues, Jazz, Big Band and Classical
Room Size (LxWxH):	26' x 16' x 8'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Echo Corner Busters behind speakers and additional threaded jacks under sub-floor supporting turntable enclosure.
Time Period/Length of Audition:	5 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Topaz Ultra-Isolator
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Anyone that absolutely does not want to ever hear more recording artifacts or undesirable background sounds may already have enough resolution in their sound.
Product Strengths:	The impression of more gain without any more glare or harshness and the realization of larger and more frequent goosebumps.