Realistic 42-2101/42-2101-a Phono Preamps

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Robin L, Aug 12, 2015.

  1. Thorensman

    Thorensman Forum Resident

    these old style phono stages sre actually quite superior to modern bretherin.
    they run in pure class A,
    modern counterparts use OP amps and sound typical of Class B
    overblown Bass and prominent treble! yeuk
     
    McLover and cmarti like this.
  2. Phasecorrect

    Phasecorrect Forum Resident

    Location:
    WI
    Based on design and schematic, what would be comparable in terms of a low to medium power (30-60wpc) vintage Receiver?
     
  3. cmarti

    cmarti Forum Resident

    Not sure I am following you
     
  4. Phasecorrect

    Phasecorrect Forum Resident

    Location:
    WI
    In other words, what vintage Receiver (S) with built in phonos have similar performance?
     
  5. cmarti

    cmarti Forum Resident

    The phono inputs on my SA-2000 sound very similar.
     
  6. Phasecorrect

    Phasecorrect Forum Resident

    Location:
    WI
    That's what I was looking for. Anybody else chime in with a non-collectible receiver that would equal or surpass Realistic?
     
  7. Phasecorrect

    Phasecorrect Forum Resident

    Location:
    WI
    Fet or ICS?
     
    cmarti likes this.
  8. cmarti

    cmarti Forum Resident

  9. McLover

    McLover Senior Member

    Not quite. The Shure was extremely better performance and S/N wise. As broadcast gear then was expected to be. That said the older Radio Shack cheapie MM or MI phono stages were decent Japanese made items which sounded pretty good if not great. I like how the old 1960's through mid to late 1970's discreet ones sound today, they perform very nice. I have a McMartin broadcast phono stage also, which is excellent.
     
    MLutthans likes this.
  10. paolo

    paolo Senior Member

    This was my first ever phono preamp and I proudly combined it with a Technics SLB-210 in 1984. I still have it but my recollection of it is that it was pretty average. I have a Vincent PHO-8 that wipes the floor with it.
     
  11. sami

    sami Mono still rules

    Location:
    Down The Shore
    I run two tables off if my Sansui 2000X, and have no need to look for anything else. Maybe low-fi on here, but it produces magic through a pair of Large Advents.
     
    bluemooze likes this.
  12. Phasecorrect

    Phasecorrect Forum Resident

    Location:
    WI
    Nice. Unfortunately in my area, vintage gear has skyrocketed in price. Stuff that was giving away just years ago fetches $$$. Still, I grew up with that same Sansui amp. I'll keep my eyes open.
     
    sami likes this.
  13. Phasecorrect

    Phasecorrect Forum Resident

    Location:
    WI
    Anybody done a comparison between Realistic unit and mid-level Kenwood KR 5400, or something comparable. Is it a quantum leap or are we splitting hairs?
     
    cmarti likes this.
  14. cmarti

    cmarti Forum Resident

    I own the Kenwood KR-4400 and multiple Realistic units and to my ears the sound signature is very similar, perhaps the Kenwood have a little more hump on bass.
     
  15. Thorensman

    Thorensman Forum Resident

    The Monacor Spr/6
    Is similiar.there are a few under different names i recall.
    Basically a phono stage is 2 transistors
    A feedbabk loop for the RIAA and the necessary components .
    It is simple and works in class A.
    Simplicity always wins.
     
    cmarti likes this.
  16. Phasecorrect

    Phasecorrect Forum Resident

    Location:
    WI
    Hey, anybody have experience with the Lil Rat Shack battery powered 42-2111 that was all the rage years ago?
     
  17. Thorensman

    Thorensman Forum Resident

    I have a similiar one .
    Again its similiar to Monacor.
    I must add thst it would be easy to copy the Radio Shack or Tandy .
    Phono stage so simple.
    Why the high. Charges i do not know.
    OP amps are in my opinion the worst
    Thing for audio
    The realistic does not use them obviously . Good for thought.
    A pp3 battery would last 3/6 months!!!
     
  18. norliss

    norliss Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cardiff, Wales
    I've noticed that your posts are formatted like poetry. Are you a particularly poetic person? :)
     
  19. cmarti

    cmarti Forum Resident

    How do you go about installing a pp3 battery in one of these?
     
  20. Thorensman

    Thorensman Forum Resident

    Not really!
    Sometimes my phone has a mind of its own.
     
  21. Thorensman

    Thorensman Forum Resident

    You can buy a battery holder and wire it to infeed. With an in line switch .
    You could obtain old preamp and strip it out and fit realistic or Monacor to it and install battery within .and use on / off switch to switch on battery.
     
    cmarti likes this.
  22. Rockos

    Rockos Forum Resident

  23. krisbee

    krisbee Forum Resident

  24. Rockos

    Rockos Forum Resident

    Thanks. I will go that route then.
     
  25. cmarti

    cmarti Forum Resident

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