Mellotronix
Super Member
The latest victim of our extremely dry, cold, staticky weather conditions is my Tube Box DS that I've had for about two years. My new VPI Prime Scout sent a charge downstream tripping the power switch on the Tube Box and that was the end. It's under warranty so I'll send it in for service. My backup Schiit Mani died a few weeks ago, so what to do?
My main cart is a Grado Statement Master 2 (1.0 mV output) moving iron, so it needs 47kOhms load and at least 50 db of gain (60 is ideal) which is not as easy to find in a phono stage as you would think. The Tube Box was perfect.
For now, I'm going direct from my VPI into the MM phono stage of the Yamaha AS801 Integrated Amp. It serves up 100 watts of extremely clean power to my B&W 705 S2's and REL sub.
Overall, I'm extremely impressed with the capabilities of the Yamaha AS801, and in this faux emergency situation, it's really earning its stripes. Volume is about ½ way up and there is nary a hint of any background noise. It helps that the Grado Master 2 and the VPI Prime Scout are nearly invisible in the system.
In fact, the Yamaha intie has the lowest noise floor of any amp I've ever owned or operated. It's just dead quiet through the entire range of its volume. If you were sitting in my studio right now listening to Jethro Tull's "...Brick" on 180 gram vinyl through my system, you'd never know that I was using a low output MI cart through a phono stage designed for an Ortofon Red. That is, unless you are familiar with REL subs. You see, the only hint that my cart is slightly power starved is the tiny amount of "bloom" on bass notes below 100 Hz or so. Basically, it sounds more like a normal sub rather than a REL.
THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE HERE FOR AWHILE BUT I CHANGED MY MIND
Going with a Sutherland KC Vibe which is a good match for my Prime Scout. I'll let you know how everything goes. Should have it by the end of the week.
In the meantime, all hail the mighty YAMAHA AS801 and its ability to handle high volume levels with no noise. None. Seriously. Maybe in an anechoic controlled room. But it's freaky quiet, which I took for granted until today.
My main cart is a Grado Statement Master 2 (1.0 mV output) moving iron, so it needs 47kOhms load and at least 50 db of gain (60 is ideal) which is not as easy to find in a phono stage as you would think. The Tube Box was perfect.
For now, I'm going direct from my VPI into the MM phono stage of the Yamaha AS801 Integrated Amp. It serves up 100 watts of extremely clean power to my B&W 705 S2's and REL sub.
Overall, I'm extremely impressed with the capabilities of the Yamaha AS801, and in this faux emergency situation, it's really earning its stripes. Volume is about ½ way up and there is nary a hint of any background noise. It helps that the Grado Master 2 and the VPI Prime Scout are nearly invisible in the system.
In fact, the Yamaha intie has the lowest noise floor of any amp I've ever owned or operated. It's just dead quiet through the entire range of its volume. If you were sitting in my studio right now listening to Jethro Tull's "...Brick" on 180 gram vinyl through my system, you'd never know that I was using a low output MI cart through a phono stage designed for an Ortofon Red. That is, unless you are familiar with REL subs. You see, the only hint that my cart is slightly power starved is the tiny amount of "bloom" on bass notes below 100 Hz or so. Basically, it sounds more like a normal sub rather than a REL.
THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE HERE FOR AWHILE BUT I CHANGED MY MIND
Going with a Sutherland KC Vibe which is a good match for my Prime Scout. I'll let you know how everything goes. Should have it by the end of the week.
In the meantime, all hail the mighty YAMAHA AS801 and its ability to handle high volume levels with no noise. None. Seriously. Maybe in an anechoic controlled room. But it's freaky quiet, which I took for granted until today.
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