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MC Phono Pre Noise Floor

Legrace said:
Why I like battery powered designs.
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Batteries can eliminate certain hum problems but will have no effect whatsoever on hiss.

VintageVibe said:
I've been using the Music Hall PA 1.2 with Denon 103r LOMC with great results. Absolutely dead quiet.
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doctor fuse said:
I went with a Benz-Micro Lukaschek PP-1 T9 MC phono preamp. Just MC, no MM. Dead quiet.
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I've seen these claims on forums before but it is a physical impossibility for any circuit to be "dead quiet". All circuits have noise - it's a law of the universe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson–Nyquist_noise
The signal-to-noise ratio is what is important and for an MC phonostage 70dB is good. "Dead quiet" would give a signal-to-ratio of infinite dB. They don't exist.
 
Your VPI Classic deserves a better phono stage. I would shoot for something that has S/N in the mid 60s MC and mid 70s MM with the greatest loading options available. In the $500 price range, I would recommend a new phono stage (a SUT will not get you cleaner sound from the zPhono). The Lehmann Audio Black Cube (which you can get for the price of the Black Cube Statement) comes to mind (S/N 63 MC, 71MM) and 36, 46, 45, 66 gain (which can even work with LOMCs) with a socket for custom capacitor/resistor loading. If going used, you will have a lot more options, like a Musical Surroundings Phonomena II, etc.
 
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edwyun said:
Your VPI Classic deserves a better phono stage. I would shoot for something that has S/N in the mid 60s MC and mid 70s MM with the greatest loading options available. In the $500 price range, I would recommend a new phono stage (a SUT will not get you cleaner sound from the zPhono). The Lehmann Audio Black Cube (which you can get for the price of the Black Cube Statement) comes to mind (S/N 63 MC, 71MM) and 36, 46, 45, 66 gain (which can even work with LOMCs) with a socket for custom capacitor/resistor loading. If going used, you will have a lot more options, like a Musical Surroundings Phonomena II, etc.
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I was looking at this unit also, but was turned off at the low S/N ratio of 63, it is not much better than the 58 of the Parasound zPhono. The loading options do sound nice, but is it at the cost of more noise, which is the originator of this thread? Also, where are you shopping? Seems like ~$630 is the going rate for The Black Cube.
 
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joshvito said:
I was looking at this unit also, but was turned off at the low S/N ratio of 63, it is not much better than the 58 of the Parasound zPhono.
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The Black Cube's SNR specs are unweighted values. The weighted SNR values (e.g., dB A-weighted) would be several dBs higher. Unfortunately, many phono pres don't even list SNRs.

I will sent you a PM on the Black Cube.
 
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Just because a device is passive, Resistor, Capacitor, coil, transformer, etc doesn't mean that when electrons pass thru the device noise isn't created. Its a false assumption in all cases.
 
You will be much happier with the Black Cube.
I worked my way up through cheaper phono pre amps and they are what they are. But they just can't compete.
Enjoy the BC.
:thumbsup:
 
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