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Ear 834p phono bass slow indistinct?

.nilo.

.nilo.

Active Member
Hi

I am considering purchasing the ear phono classic however based on commemts by reviewer Larry Cox at positive feedback I am doubting if I should get it:

“Bass was perhaps a little overfull, perhaps a bit indistinct, leading some to assert it sounded a bit slow.”

“Do you want the airiest treble? The most thunderous bass? Look elsewhere.”


I listen to mostly reggae and bass was one of the key factors when choosing speakers (Klipsch Cornwalls iii)

I am wondering If Iwont be satisfied with the bass resolution

By the way I plan on getting the original not a clone and using it in stock form no mods

Hopefully users of the ear 834p , phono classic or phono box can share their own experience with the gear
 
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Hopefully some that have bought them and built the EAR clones will chime in.
All of the reviews I've read by owners of them here on AK seem to like them.
I bought one of the clones, made some mods to it and it sounds pretty good.
Maybe check the loading? The one I had the loading was off. Something like 62k or 64k. Replacing the resistors with 47K made a difference for the better.
In Cox's review did he stae what cartridge he was using? Almost all MM cartridges are 47K.
 
Have to say I didn't rate it at all. Thick and stodgy. But the speakers used were nothing like Klipsch so it might be different with those.
 
Mart Mccall said:
Have to say I didn't rate it at all. Thick and stodgy. But the speakers used were nothing like Klipsch so it might be different with those.
Click to expand...
Was it a real EAR, or one of the clones? There is one clone that's pretty much identical to the original except for the power supply.
Others are cheaper and are just "clone-ish".
 
Lavane said:
Was it a real EAR, or one of the clones? There is one clone that's pretty much identical to the original except for the power supply.
Others are cheaper and are just "clone-ish".
Click to expand...
No it was a real one. It was amongst a comparison of about 15 phono stages, valve and solid state.

I was only there as I'd donated some equipment to the test system, I had no real interest in the outcome but I voted anyway.

The winner was some elaborate tube stage from Hungary. My vote went to a solid state Aqvox unit that I thought was very sweet and clean sounding, but that and the EAR stage were way down the popularity list.
 
I have an EAR 834P, i got it to use with my AT 50 ANV cart which is 0.12mV output and my other Phono pre-amps couldnt handle something that low of output well. It was no problem for the EAR. Im using RCA 7025 black plates in it and it is absolutely dead quite no matter what i throw at it. I use with Tannoy Berkeleys mostly and the bass is tight and has punch, highs are incredible. I havent noticed anything lacking in bass response. I havent used it with MM. I do like the sound of my Icon Audio PS1 mkii bit more, fuller and more rounded maybe but there is always a bit of hum or back ground noise if i use a cart that is under 4mV with the Icon


system.jpg
 
The tubes used will have an effect on how a tube phono preamp will sound.
Where something like new production JJ's may sound ok, something else in an old stock tube may sound better. I know trying different 12AX7's in mine made a difference for better or worse.depwnding on what I plugged into it.
That goes for any piece of tube equipment really.
I'm one that voices an amplifier or preamp to my liking by trying various different brands and tube types. I tried different power tube types and a hand full of different driver tubes my ST-70 until it sounded the way I wanted it to. I'm still trying a few different 12AX7's in the Erhard Audio PH-20 phono preamp I built. I've done the same with a SS phono preamp I built recently by trying a few different OP amps. I settled on a pair with JFETS.
The difference was very noticable.
 
I plan on using it with my stanton 680 cartridge with 6.0mv of output
Will i have trouble with too much gain??
 
I have an 834p. I love it. The strength in the 834p is it's superb all around frequency responce. There is a livelyness in the sound that is very balanced and engaging. It is a fun a truly pleasing presentation that might get your toe tapping, or more. It does all of this without giving up it's HiFi status. It's as clear as it should be in this class of phono stage ($2kish).

This should work well for reggae. Reggae is dance music. It's buoyant. The 834p will deliver. It's one of Tim DeP's most popular designs and has been for decades. I recommend it it. And you will never have trouble selling it.
 
.nilo. said:
I plan on using it with my stanton 680 cartridge with 6.0mv of output
Will i have trouble with too much gain??
Click to expand...
If my memory serves me correctly, the EAR's gain is 48dB. With 6mV at the input you'll get 1.5V at the output. That should be quite comfortable for the EAR. Most valve designs have high overload margins thanks to the high power supply voltage.
 
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