What´s your phono preamp?

Audio Research LP1

 

I'd be lying if I said I haven't been lusting after CJ gear for decades. Best of luck to you in finding another!

 

Separate gain for L and R?

 

I just picked up a clean 565 Mk. II this weekend. I plugged a Dual 1019 into it and have a Pioneer SX-d5000 powering it right now...

The Phono Stage is remarkably nice. Just a hint warmer than neutral. Ansd quiet.

 

Yes, affectionately called dual mono!

JG

 

Nova Phonomena. Older version but love it.

 

How long does the battery last, have you replaced it yet? Does it continue to hold a charge? I have a Phonomena II+, roughly the same one without the battery, and it is a nice preamp.

 

Two totally independent channels.

JG

 

It has one of the quietest MM phono stages I've ever heard.

 

I am looking to replace my beloved Classé 30 preamp. I was extremely surprised to listen to a Conrad Johnson CT3 to discover that it is based on a 1 tube design. Considering the price, it was quite shocking IMO but at the end of the day, your ears are the final judge and this one didn’t cut it for me.

I listened to a Rogue RP1. Quite good but actually on par with the Classé. Different sound but not good enough to make a switch. Looking forward to listen to an RP5 from them.

Next, I would like to audition some mid-tier product from Croft. I am not too sure about separate gain control. I guess I need to try and hear what this is all about. My concerns are all about getting up and alway adjust the gain. How sensitive are the gain adjustment? No remote from Croft right?

 

No remote.

I have no issue with two volume controls, there is a mute button, so I just use that when necessary.

JG

 

Very nice. I bet that sounds soooooooo good!

 

Eastern Electric Minimax Phonostage

 

Croft I've heard are sweet sounding but man that l/r gain would drive me nuts. I passed on LFD (maybe to my own dismay!) because no remote I couldn't imagine separate channel gain knobs like that.

 

Tom Evans Groove +


and Simaudio 310LP


...and Pro-Ject Phono Box DS

 

I have 2 of these. They are fantastic

 

first it clears up the low registers. with the stock Q-PSU the low region is muddy with some loudness. also adds clarity and air. how much is it I don't know. I traded in the Q-PSU. I got this hint about the Obelisk PSU from the owner of the Heed Audio...

 

Sounds like you know what you want. BTW, there's a like new Herron phono preamp on USAM now, but the previous version, VTPH-2, asking $2150.

 

Rogue Audio Ares with factory upgraded SUTs (Cinemag Blues).

The Blues needed a lot of break in, but when they broke in and smoothed out, the unit became fantastic. Paired with a VPI Prime and Ortofon Cadenza Black.

 

Rogue Audio Ares here also, recently had Rogue upgrade it to the "Magnum" version, worthwhile investment.

 

What else does that include other than the Cinemag Blues?

 

Guess which one I just bought (no seriously like sending the PayPal to him right now) thanks for looking out!!

 

Beautiful preamp

 

Upgraded RCA Connections, Internal wiring, maybe Cardas? Upgraded Resistors and Caps. The Blue Cinemag produces another 10 dB output.

 

Over the past two years (approximately) I have upgraded my entire TT, arm, cartridge and phono preamp. My original phono preamp was a c-j Premier 15 Series 2 (Conrad-Johnson Premier 15 phono preamplifier Jonathan Scull March 2002 ) which I bought back in 2002. The first thing I upgrade about two years ago was to replace my VPI TNT-HR TT with a VPI Classic Direct TT. When I first got the Classic Direct I used a Benz-Micro Ruby 3H cartridge which puts out about 0.7 mV and worked will with the P15 which has about 53 dB of gain. At that time I did, however, notice that the P15 seemed a little nosier than it was originally. Then after auditioning some very high-end cartridges I decided I wanted an Ortofon A95 cartridge, however, since it only outputs about 0.2 mV I would have to do something to get more than 53dB of gain in my phono amplification chain. Enter Bob's Devices step up transformers (SUT). I got a 20 dB SUT from Bob that mounts on my Classic Direct TT and replaces the standard junction box which saved me from having to add another set cables to get from the TT to the SUT (Integrated VPI Step Up Transformer ). The final upgrade I did was to send the P15 back to c-j and had all of the signal path capacitors replaced with c-j proprietary Teflon capacitors (C1 capacitor upgrades - conrad-johnson ). c-j also fully checked the unit and found that four of the tubes were too noisy to be in specification anymore and replaced them with new quiet tubes (damn tubes only lasted 15 years ). So my phono preamp is a factory modified P15 and I love it as well as my entire new analog front end.