How good really are the phono stages in the Scott integrateds?

[jaymanaa]

I just took delivery yesterday on a couple filament supply regs.I think I'm fairly certain that active tone controls are killer. I'm maybe thinking HF81 but I've slept since then. Would this be a similar comparison Mike? I have a feeling if it weren't for the tone circuits that wouldn't have sold so many, and I'm glad they did.

 

[2526]

I would love to use the phono section of my restored 222c, but the fat rca plugs of my turntable leads won’t fit. I’m roughing it with a Simaudio LP5.3 and some interconnects that do fit.

 

[jaymanaa]

I would love to use the phono section of my restored 222c, but the fat rca plugs of my turntable leads won’t fit. I’m roughing it with a Simaudio LP5.3 and some interconnects that do fit.

Yeh, that sucks how they put those so close together, and if you ever run any Japanese gear from that era, the RCAs are fatter, and can mess up some types of cables. Sometimes these will get you past the close RCAs.

 

[2526]

Yeh, that sucks how they put those so close together, and if you ever run any Japanese gear from that era, the RCAs are fatter, and can mess up some types of cables. Sometimes these will get you past the close RCAs.

thanks, I’ll find some

 

[larryderouin]

Dave G. did a thread on the FISHER tubed Phono section, which with very minor variations was used thruout the whole line from about 1960 up to the end of the 400/800c/1800 in 1969. http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/the-fisher-phono-preamp-and-riaa.600690/ interesting read. I would presume there would be some similarities with the major players of the time.

 

[jaymanaa]

Dave G. did a thread on the FISHER tubed Phono section, which with very minor variations was used thruout the whole line from about 1960 up to the end of the 400/800c/1800 in 1969. http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/the-fisher-phono-preamp-and-riaa.600690/ interesting read. I would presume there would be some similarities with the major players of the time.

I have some very fond memories of my first tubed Fisher console's phono outfit. I think it was a Dual 1019 or one of the lower end Duals, but it had a V15 III and sounded pretty nice, considering the table was basically in the speaker cab.

 

[bean_counter]

I would love to use the phono section of my restored 222c, but the fat rca plugs of my turntable leads won’t fit. I’m roughing it with a Simaudio LP5.3 and some interconnects that do fit.

Vampire makes some male RCA’s that fit vintage gear, too.

 

[stoutblock]

I use a Scott 299C in my office. It was rebuilt by Craig at NOS valves. Using a AT440mlb cart on a technics SL1200MKII I think the phono stage performs very well and provides an entertaining analog experience. You will need some very quiet tubes in the phono section to get the best out of it.

 

[BinaryMike]

I'm maybe thinking HF81 but I've slept since then. Would this be a similar comparison Mike?

Not sure what you're asking about here... The HF81 preamp section is difficult to analyze because of the complex selector switching arrangement, but it appears to be a straight triode gain stage followed by a second triode with feedback equalization to the second triode grid instead of first triode cathode. This is somewhat similar to the HF81's active tone control system. It looks like final HF rolloff is passive, however, using 1200pF to ground at the second stage anode. This rolloff affects all low-level inputs, even microphone, which seems a bit clumsy.

 

[jaymanaa]

I would agree, clumsy, but very pleasing to the human ear. Prices on basket cases tell the tale. If not that, try to buy one that's been properly restored, people fall in love with these things, and I think a lot of it is the active tone controls.

 

[Brycecb750]

I've had many Scotts up over the years and still have a pile of them. They pass LP sound, some quite nicely. I've never rebuilt that section of the amp though as it is hard to get at and if it worked I left it alone. I'd be very interested to hear from someone that has rebuilt it and how they liked it afterwards. I suspect the improvement is dramatic.

I’ve rebuilt all my Scott’s from the power supply to the phono stage and I love the way the pre sounds. Some I’ve used west-cap pio’s and they sounded great, but on a few I used .022 musicaps and I like those a tiny bit better. Also replace those 270k resistors on the plates with nice metal ones to keep noise down, I always use these Mepco gold ones. You do all that and these pres sounds great I think.

 

[Brycecb750]

I would love to use the phono section of my restored 222c, but the fat rca plugs of my turntable leads won’t fit. I’m roughing it with a Simaudio LP5.3 and some interconnects that do fit.

yeah, the hook ups always are a pain with these. On my personal 222c and 299c, I got fed up and added these. I did cut into the back but I have no regrets about it.