What´s your phono preamp?

Thanks. I like your Classic 2 Companion. Can't say I've seen one before, outside of VPI's website.

 

I use the phono section of my Conrad-Johnson PF2 (left side of top photo), fed to the Conrad Johnson Premier 17LS2 (bottom photo). The PF2 is a solid state FET preamp, capacitors are polypropylene and CJD polystyrene including the power supply filter caps (note there are no electrolytic capacitors, one of the things that makes CJ gear sound so natural). All resistors were 1% metal-oxide deposited on glass construction. I added pins on the phono section input to plug in resistors for cartridge load.

The 17LS2 is a later tube preamp, it's the premium version with most of the big capacitors replaced with CJD teflon units, and resistors metal foil. It's got the precision switched relay volume control with very high quality resistors to make it a really nice remote control unit. The only electrolytic capacitors used in the 17LS2 are for the tube heater power supply, and the digital power supply for the remote functions. In theory, the PF2 doesn't have enough gain for the low output moving coils I use, but in practice, as a system, it's fine. I do have some Lundahl transformers too, but I'm not using them now...









I also have a second system that uses the Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+, kind of the antithesis of the CJ gear with its modern SMT construction, but it is still an all discrete MM/MC design with no opamps, and many here can attest that it sounds very good, not quite to that relaxed and natural CJ level, but still very nice, and has lots of load and gain flexibility on the back panel ...

 

Parks Audio Budgie Tube Phono Preamp

(not my actual unit, want custom walnut plinth)

 

I've had the XP-15 for six months. Prior to that I was using my Pro-Ject Phono Box RS with battery power supply. The XP-15 is a step above the Pro-Ject and I really like being able to have both outputs connected at the same time. The Pro-Ject did not support that, despite having both type of outputs.

The XP-15 has, in my opinion, better, tighter bass and more refined treble (at least up to 16k with is the limit of my hearing).

Talk to Mark at Reno Hi-Fi for all things Pass. There may be good deals around since Pass now has the XP-17 available.

 

I just did, Thank you much appreciated.

 

NVA Phono 2 ( with one PSU ).

 

Here's my little musical box. Image is near actual size.....

 

Rothwell makes some really nice preamps, I especially like the Rialto MM/MC, nice discrete designs, no-frills with old-school through-hole parts, and pretty low cost too (I think usually $449 USD for a new Rialto on audiogon).

 

PS Audio GCPH

 

Apparently the Rialto and Simplex have exactly the same MM stage. and yep!...no frills build and looks is definitely the word. Plenty of frills with the music they produce though!...groan

 

same here! sounds great with a Dynavector 20x2L

 

Can we all chip in to get royzak2000 a Swiffer?

 

Acoustic Plan Phonomaster SE

 

Pro-Ject Tube Box DS with 60's Siemens tubes.
Swagmanlabs linear power supply.

 

Current mode and tubes! A really unusual combination. Maybe the only one out there like that? Have always been intrigued by that one.

How would you describe it and what did you have before?

 

Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+. So glad I bought it. For the price point I feel it's a steal. Great for MM and MC. SO SO SO SO SO Glad I got it!

 

Same here...except my Scarlett 2i2 sits to the left of mine.

 

Owning this for 15 years it's a constant reminder of what I might have. One day I'll be able grab a nice TT. It says the Gain is 20dB (MC), 35dB (MM).

 

I've really enjoyed it a lot. It's very smooth, with great dynamics. I'd say it's neutral, with a slight leaning towards the warm side. It's also easy to use, because it automatically loads what MC is used with it. Don't know the specifics of how it does that, though. Prior to the Phonomaster I was using the MM input of a Shindo Aurieges preamp along with the Auditorium 23 SUT for a Denon DL-103. A great combo, that is definitely lush and romantic. And before that, I had a Dynavector P75 mk.3, which is my top pick for best phono preamp under $1,000. I used that with an EMT TSD-15SFL and a Dynavector XX-2 mk.II.

 

Musical Fidelity V90-DAC. Never had anything before it, so can't compare, but my Rotel RCD965BX Discrete sounds pretty impressive through it to these cloth ears.

 

My beloved Croft Super Micro A2... all hardwired, not a pcb in sight.




JG

 

With current mode stages like this the design implements a very low impedance input which essentially presents a short circuit to the MC cartridge. This supposedly greatly reduces a lot of noise and ringing associated with a voltage input and the necessary "loading" of the cartridge in such an input.

My Aqvox works the same way but is solid state.

 

This may be a good thread to ask for advice on Phono Pre-amp.

My set is:

Pro-ject Debut Carbon with Nagaoka MP-110,

Denon AVR-3200 integrated,

B&W CDM-1 speakers.

Do you guys think I should add a phono preamp? To add for example Musical Fidelity V90 LPS would make any difference?