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Coming soon to AK! Phono Preamp Shootout!

Hopefully someone with experince of the two will comment. I will not be seeking out the nano or any others for a while, unless I win the lottery!:D
Regards,
Jim
 
ehoove said:
The DB8 was introduced in 1985 according to David at DB systems. I must say that the power supply upgrade while almost as much as the DB8 is worth the money! Everything is more focused and smoother! Defiantly worth the money upfront.
Regards,
Jim
Click to expand...

There's a lot to be said for products that are good enough to justify this kind of an upgrade.

One of the others on my short list is the Blue Circle Fon Lo Thingee for the same reason.

It's cool to see small manufacturers offering solid entry level stuff with an upgrade path for broke folks like me. :D
 
I know this is an older thread, but how about a comparison between the DB-8, and the Musical Fidelity V-LPS. I guess it comes highly regarded too. And both are, (initially), in the same price range.
 
I read the entire thread and am still a bit lost. Question: Do you need one of these things in addition to having a phono setting on your vintage tube amp(s)? :scratch2:
 
libertycaps said:
I read the entire thread and am still a bit lost. Question: Do you need one of these things in addition to having a phono setting on your vintage tube amp(s)? :scratch2:
Click to expand...

No, they are essentially an external phono amp.

Your amp has an internal ( build in ) one.:music:
 
Add to it the Thorens MM-005 and mak it another three-way. Slightly more pricey, but it also has both MM and MC.
 
jimreeves said:
Then dig the goop out of it so we'll know what opamps are hiding in there. :D
Nevermind, gotta go flip the album. :music:
Click to expand...

I got your package and had just installed 8 Schottky diodes in mine so will give the new chip/s a run over the weekend. You are the OpAmpMan!

The diodes seem to make it easier to pick out things in the background if that makes sense. Or it just could by my overactive imagination.

You know you are going to have to send me another one for some new upgrades, I wouldn't go as far as replacing all those RIAA and bypass caps like I did, even I admit that was a bit of overkill. But I would certainly do the regular mods with the diodes, Nichicon Muse Bi-Polars and some proper RCA connectors that I have on the way if they make the difference others say.:banana:

I also have the Phonoclone 3 boards on the way.
 
Patch-Cord said:
I know this is an older thread, but how about a comparison between the DB-8, and the Musical Fidelity V-LPS. I guess it comes highly regarded too. And both are, (initially), in the same price range.
Click to expand...

It's been six months. Has anyone compared the DB-8 and the V-LPS yet?
 
No, but here are my latest rankings:

I have used several phono preamps, here is the ranking using a Denon DL304 LOMC and Sumiko Blackbird HOMC IMHO

1. Musical Surroundings Phonomena (Total Adjustability)
2. HypnoToaded Cambridge Audio 640P
3. DB Systems DB8 w/PS upgrade (MM only)
4. DB Systems DB8 (MM only)
5. Bellari VP129 with Mullard Re-Issue tube (MM only)
4. Cambridge Audio 640P Stock
5. Nad PP2

These are my thoughts in my main system.
Regards,
Jim
 
goldwax said:
It's been six months. Has anyone compared the DB-8 and the V-LPS yet?
Click to expand...
My ranking is based mainly on using moving magnets ( Garrott Bros 'Optim' FCS with ruby cantilever. Shure M75E with Jico 'SAS" stylus - I seldom use mc's these days)
1. Sutherland PH 3D. - - better bottom end than anything else but nowhere near the 'goose bump' factor of :-
2. Manley 'Steelhead' so I suppose, on my system, this really should be at No 1. It's the one I choose to live with.
3. Boulder 2008. Very impressive but also somewhat clinical.
3. Musical Fidelity LP2. An underrated phono preamp if ever there was one but hard to come by these days, even on eBay.

What's a 'DB-*8? Rings a bell but I just can't remember.
 
Peter Walker said:
My ranking is based mainly on using moving magnets ( Garrott Bros 'Optim' FCS with ruby cantilever. Shure M75E with Jico 'SAS" stylus - I seldom use mc's these days)
1. Sutherland PH 3D. - - better bottom end than anything else but nowhere near the 'goose bump' factor of :-
2. Manley 'Steelhead' so I suppose, on my system, this really should be at No 1. It's the one I choose to live with.
3. Boulder 2008. Very impressive but also somewhat clinical.
3. Musical Fidelity LP2. An underrated phono preamp if ever there was one but hard to come by these days, even on eBay.

What's a 'DB-*8? Rings a bell but I just can't remember.
Click to expand...

The DB-8 is the phono stage sold by DB Systems. It has the same specs as the stage that comes in the DB-1B preamp. It was introduced in 1977 (DB-1) as the first precision preamp. It set many benchmarks in RIAA accuracy, S/N ratio
etc. Was one of several preamps used by Mobil Fidelity, Sheffield Labs, etc. to drive the cutting heads. The company is moving towards only supplying small devices such as phono stages, headphone amps etc and moving away from full line products such as full preamps and power amplifiers. Probably has the least "sonic signature" of phono stages. I have no idea of what my DB-1B sounds like as I believe it doesn't add or subtract from the information fed into it. I know what my ARC preamps sounded like, The Conrad Johnson, the Advent, the GAS, etc I've used.
 
Here's my latest ratings out of ten:

12 - Phonoclone 3 with Simple Preamp straight into power amp. (Unbelievable)
10 - Phonoclone 3 (Beats the others easily)
7 - Modded 640P
6 - ProJect Tube Box II
 
I must be doing something wrong, or the cartridge synergy in my system is very different. Or my ears are broken. I am a detail freak after all.
1) Hypno-mod 640P ~ DV Karat ~ AD823, LM49720 opamps, PS upgrade
2) Phonoclone3 ~ Glider M2 ~ AD797, LM49710 opamps, battery powered
3) Bel Canto Phono 1 ~ either cart ~ AD797, OP2132 opamps - even with multple loading and gain settings I could never get it just right. I blame OP2132s.
 
jimreeves said:
I must be doing something wrong, or the cartridge synergy in my system is very different. Or my ears are broken. I am a detail freak after all.
1) Hypno-mod 640P ~ DV Karat ~ AD823, LM49720 opamps, PS upgrade
2) Phonoclone3 ~ Glider M2 ~ AD797, LM49710 opamps, battery powered
3) Bel Canto Phono 1 ~ either cart ~ AD797, OP2132 opamps - even with multple loading and gain settings I could never get it just right. I blame OP2132s.
Click to expand...

How about trying the Karat with the Phonoclone 3?
 
I think you're on to something, but then I'd have to change resistors in the PC3, and the 640P isn't a suitable load for the Benz either. Besides, they both sound fantastic! Hypnotoad deserves to be a brand name IMHO. :thmbsp:
 
Since the DB Systems DB8 was introduced in 1985, has this phono been upgraded by DB Systems? Better electronic parts are available now that were
not available in 1985. How about some mods for the DB Systems DB8? Last
question. Why don't DB Systems introduce a new phono stage for 2012?
 
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