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I would greatly appreciate your advice. I have the chance to purchase an Antique Sound Labs PP 1 phono stage in chrome finish as part of a used turntable package. I have searched through all of the threads on this forum and have discovered that it was made in China but not any longer. I am most interested in how good it sounds compared to other products like the PH 1, Creek, Black Cube, etc. Your comments are much appreciated. Thanks.
Follow Ups:
actually Antique Sound USA or ASUSA. They were basd out of Washington. I am not sure of the status of this company at this time. May be out of business.......but anyway.The PP1 was a tube phono stage for MM carts. It is actually a nice sounding unit if tubes are your thing. I do not think it compares with the Black Cube or some others as far as inner detail but a nice piece non-the-less. I did like it a bit better than the OBH-8 (I prefer tubes) but the OBH-8SE was more articulate.
If it's included in the deal, take it. If you don't like it you could always sell.
I have one of these units and like it very much. The company that made it, Antique Sound USA, is not the ASL of Chinese origin (they also make worthwhile gear). Antique Sound USA went out of business in the recent past.I use my PP-1 in a system consisting (in part) of:
Shure V15xMR cartridge
OriginLive (modified Rega 250)arm and interconnects.
VPI HW19Jr turntable
Cary P7 control amp
McIntosh 240 power amp
Kimber PBJ interconnects between the PP-1, the Cary, and the McIntosh
Maggie 1.5 speakers
Hsu subwoofer with dedicated power amp.I find the PP-1 provides plenty of resolution and soundstage. My PP-1, which is completely unmodified, is dead quiet. I don't doubt there are better units available, but mine is a fine example (in my view) of a good, tube-based phono preamp. It provides me with a good deal of musical enjoyment.
Remember, the PP-1 is to be used with moving magnet and relatively high output moving coil cartridges. Should you want to use a low output moving coil, choose a different phono preamp.
Some model of ASUSA is made by "Antique Sound Lab" about 7 to 8 years ago !!! PP-1 is not by us.
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