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Looking for a new phono pre

ajward549

ajward549

Super Member
i am in the market to add a new phono pre to mate with a thorens TD 165. I would really like a tube phono pre and would like to remain under $500. Any suggestions?
 
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I have been looking in the yaqin, the budgie and the cornet2.

The yaqin seems like a great choice based on price and ease of tube Rolling. The budgie seems to get rave reviews as does the cornet. Has anyone ever compared any of these three side by side?

I hate to make a decision based on aesthetics alone, but I really do not like the plastic encasement of the cornet. Any cornet owners out there want to chime in and comment on the sound?
 
I mentioned in another thread earlier the iFi "2" $499 within your budget.
Extremely nice Phono Pre read Fremers review on analog planet.
 
Thanks baconbits and needlestein. I read Fremer's review of the iFi also, but really want to move towards have a tube arm on my system. I will continue to run my 80's NAD 5120 through my current NAD integrated built in phono, but would like to add a tube pre for my Thorens 165. I've thought about the little bear kit, but my soldering skills are probably not good enough to pull that off. And again, I'm not crazy about the clear acrylic case look. I hadn't given much thought to the Bellari, I'll look that one up.
 
Vincent PHO-700 $499. http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=VIPHO700

Review from over at Vinylengine....http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=81843

vipho700_blk_life.jpg
 
stevoz said:
Took the words right out of my mouth, slippers-on.....I have the Vincent PHO-8 (non tube model) and it is an outstanding phono-stage. PHO-700 would be well worth a look!
Click to expand...
Yes...they are great for the money....punches well above the price!
 
slippers-on said:
Its only MM...and no power cord.
Click to expand...
I didn't see that MC requirement stated by the OP, still don't. Yes, power cords are very difficult to come by...of course that is sarcasm, and it is not an issue for anyone unless they want it to be.

A couple of points on a couple that have been mentioned, the Yaqin is a hybrid (tube/SS) not a tube only stage, and be aware that the Budgie has a high output impedance in case this is a mismatch with whatever is being placed after it. (Output Impedance: 6K ohm)

Anyway, we are spoiled for choice with so many phono stages on the market, can only be a win for end users if chosen well.
 
Oasis8 said:
I didn't see that MC requirement stated by the OP, still don't. Yes, power cords are very difficult to come by...of course that is sarcasm, and it is not an issue for anyone unless they want it to be.

A couple of points on a couple that have been mentioned, the Yaqin is a hybrid (tube/SS) not a tube only stage, and be aware that the Budgie has a high output impedance in case this is a mismatch with whatever is being placed after it. (Output Impedance: 6K ohm)

Anyway, we are spoiled for choice with so many phono stages on the market, can only be a win for end users if chosen well.
Click to expand...
YoI wouldnt spen a dime on their product.
Oasis8 said:
I didn't see that MC requirement stated by the OP, still don't. Yes, power cords are very difficult to come by...of course that is sarcasm, and it is not an issue for anyone unless they want it to be.

A couple of points on a couple that have been mentioned, the Yaqin is a hybrid (tube/SS) not a tube only stage, and be aware that the Budgie has a high output impedance in case this is a mismatch with whatever is being placed after it. (Output Impedance: 6K ohm)

Anyway, we are spoiled for choice with so many phono stages on the market, can only be a win for end users if chosen well.
Click to expand...
You spend you good hard earned money on their product and they dont give a power cord?! I wont spend a dime for their product!
 
skriefal said:
The Douk is a 220V unit. Not suitable for use in the USA unless you have a step-up transformer to convert the line voltage to 220V+.
Click to expand...

I just asked them about this today as I had been looking at it a month or two ago and could have sworn there was a 110V version. They replied that there was "a problem" with the 110V version that they had to rectify before offering it again. Which made me wonder what happened to all the 110V versions they had previously sold.
With that, it's most likely going to be the Budgie for me, "starved plates" be damned.
 
I've had the Yaqin and have tried the Bellari. I personally thought the Bellari was the better of the two. I did feel though there wasn't enough to either of them for my tastes and went back to a ss phono pre with the tube amp. better clarity with the ss. I also didn't do any of the upgrades to the tube phon pres, so there may be something more to them that I missed out on.
 
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