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Suggest an inexpensive phono stage?

C

C-Dubb

Active Member
I'm purchasing a Technics SL-1600 as a gift for a friend who wants to get into vinyl. However, his receiver has no phono stage. My question is: is there a phono preamp in the $50-$75 range that can do this turntable some amount of justice? If not, I would maybe go with a Cambridge 540P, but that's getting a bit expensive. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
 
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I've heard good things about the $100 Audio-Technica AT-PEQ3.

I have a couple of Behringer PP400 phono preamps ($22) which are actually pretty decent cheap preamps. Don't expect to hear deep, wide soundstage imaging or terrific detail from one, but they get the job done and thankfully do not introduce hum.

For $150 you can get something that is truly audiophile-quality, ie: the Cambridge that you mentioned or a UK-made Rega Fono Mini.
 
Check out the ART. I don't think a lot of people would believe how good this thing sounds for the money.

I bought an Audio Technica PEQ3 and the ART is FAR more balanced and smooth sounding, the design is more advanced and the included power supply is much beefier...

http://www.amazon.com/ART-Pre-II-Phono-Preamp/dp/B000AJR482/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The version with the USB output sounds great too, if that's a feature that might interest your friend.


EDIT: To state my opinion of the ART more clearly... My Jolida JD-9A has been sitting idle because the ART has a similar even tonal balance and "musical" sound, but with slightly better "presence" and bass weight IMO. The ART seems to sound a touch more realistic and just as smooth as the Jolida. Only downside is no low-output moving coil capability. My Audio Technica PEQ3 went in the garbage when I moved. Maybe when something is discontinued soon after being released it's not a great sign?
 
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The NAD pp2 isn't bad for the money. That said, a phono stage is really a component that make a difference in a system, if you can splurge a bit, do it in the phono stage.
 
royphil345 said:
Check out the ART. I don't think a lot of people would believe how good this thing sounds for the money.

I bought an Audio Technica PEQ3 and the ART is FAR more balanced and smooth sounding, the design is more advanced and the included power supply is much beefier...

http://www.amazon.com/ART-Pre-II-Phono-Preamp/dp/B000AJR482/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The version with the USB output sounds great too, if that's a feature that might interest your friend.
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I'm with royphil345 on this. I have the ART with the USB interface and could not recommend it more highly. In fact, I have two of them! :thmbsp:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...NOPLUSV2_USBPhonoPlus_v2_Audio_Interface.html

It is SO worth it! :)
 
Frank Sol said:
100 people will have 85 different answers ;)

I say: Get the AT-PEQ3 at the closeout price while you can
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You could narrow things down a bit by discarding recommendations for gear by people who "heard about it" and haven't even heard the gear ;) I've owned every phono stage mentioned here except for the Yaqin. The ART stands head and shoulders above the rest, even the NAD PP-2 which can sound a bit closed in with the stock power supply and still a tad bass shy with an upgraded power supply.
 
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you could also try a used nad pp-1...
its very quiet and fairly dynamic sounding with enough resolution that can highlight the differences in quality between say a pioneer pl12d , a rega planar 3 and an ariston rd60 or ar eb101...

i find the bass punchy with decent depth a fairly open and detailed midrange the treble quite free of harshness..
it was one of the first aftermarket phono stages in the uk to be sold for less than £40 at the time of its release..and even ken kessler(mr 'esoterica' himself) was quite impressed when he stuck it on the end of a £1400 analog rig...
to go any higher than a cambridge 540p or 640p i think you would be better off sinking the extra funds into the turntable and cartridge itself..:scratch2:
 
royphil345 said:
You could narrow things down a bit by discarding recommendations for gear by people who "heard about it" and haven't even heard the gear ;) I've owned every phono stage mentioned here except for the Yaqin. The ART stands head and shoulders above the rest, even the NAD PP-2 which can sound a bit closed in with the stock power supply and still a tad bass shy with an upgraded power supply.
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My first external phono stage (except for a radio shack one i had years and years ago) was a PP2 and I thought it pretty decent for the price. If you think the ART stands that much taller than it seems like a really good deal.

The DB-systems DB-8 at $175 is really nice as well, but that's well over the stated budget. It held its own against the stages in my vintage tube preamps from ARC and Fisher and was much better than almost anything in my receiver collection.

http://www.dbsystemsaudio.com/budget.html
 
G'day all, yes I concur +1 :thmbsp: Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
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JohnVF said:
My first external phono stage (except for a radio shack one i had years and years ago) was a PP2 and I thought it pretty decent for the price. If you think the ART stands that much taller than it seems like a really good deal.

The DB-systems DB-8 at $175 is really nice as well, but that's well over the stated budget. It held its own against the stages in my vintage tube preamps from ARC and Fisher and was much better than almost anything in my receiver collection.

http://www.dbsystemsaudio.com/budget.html
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I do feel the ART is an extremely good deal. I tried a LOT of solid-state phono stages in the budget price-range and nothing sounded better to me at many times the price of the ART. As a matter of fact, I sent back a DB-8 and kept the ART. The DB-8 was a very simple circuit and nothing really justified the price besides the fact it's hand made in the USA. I liked the sound of the DB-8 better than most of the phono stages I tried, but I felt both my Jolida and the ART sounded a little better.

There was another member who posted a photo of the ART with the cover removed. The design is more advanced than many and good capacitors are used where it counts. It also comes with a 9V, 1000mA (1 whole amp!) power supply I suspect is one of the reasons it sounds crazy good for the money. It has a switchable subsonic filter and a 100pF / 200pF capacitance switch. I definitely recommend anybody with $39.00 burning a hole in their pocket check one out. I think it would surprise anybody for the money... or significantly more...

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=4669080#post4669080
 
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The Art is a very nice budget option if diy isn't a possibility (for reasons mentioned before in this thread). :thmbsp:
 
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