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Good outboard phono preamp to use with marantz 2245 - around 200$

S

Scooter56

New Member
Hello all
I need to get a separate phono stage for my Marantz because the integrated one within the receiver is going.. I'd really like to spend around 200$,, the one I've been hearing the best around that price range is the Cambridge 651p..Also Musical Fidelity V-LP.. I guess my question is which would be the best obviously and also will I be losing quality as compared to the onboard phono stage in the Marantz receiver because I know those are highly touted and admittedly it sounds great but is on its way out. If i had the cash i would go for a tube preamp for ex - Project Tube Box S. My main thing is I do NOT want to lose the sound quality of the Marantz 2245 phono stage,, looking to stay the same if not better

Thanks in advance
 
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You could probably get the 2245 board reworked and recapped by a pro for under that, if you see yourself sticking with it for a long time...just a thought.
 
J English said:
You could probably get the 2245 board reworked and recapped by a pro for under that, if you see yourself sticking with it for a long time...just a thought.
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Unfortunately that isn't an option,, I brought the unit in and they couldn't find the issue with the PHONO stage,, looong story..I would need to get a sep phono stage
 
I have played around with some phono stages lately....cambridge audio...one from Great Britain...and most recently an Emotiva Xps-1. For the money....about 150 bucks...the Emotiva handles both MC and MM cartridges and allows different loading options when using the MC cartridges. It's a great phono stage with some great reviews. Check it out. I love the one that I have. Its not as nice as the tube phono stage to tube preamp combo that is my main system, but it really sounds better than a lot of phono stages that cost much, much more. Read up on it....I think you will be impressed.
 
dmsheehan said:
I have played around with some phono stages lately....cambridge audio...one from Great Britain...and most recently an Emotiva Xps-1. For the money....about 150 bucks...the Emotiva handles both MC and MM cartridges and allows different loading options when using the MC cartridges.
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Same experience here - I thought the Cambridge and Emotiva were close on MM, but the Emotiva won out on the MC side - better sound and adjustable loading. (Believe the Cambridge has fixed loading for MC cartridges).
 
Thanks for the responses! I have a MM cartridge (atl440mla).. So I narrowed it down to either the Cambridge or the Emotiva..
I'm bringing my Marantz to another tech to see if they can fix the phono stage issue,, if not it looks like I will get either of those two..Again thanks to everyone who had a suggestion :)
 
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