Phono Pre-Amp Choices

[ranf1970]

Hey AKers,

Hope all is well. I was looking at two phono pre-amps and I was hoping to get some feedback on them and see if possibly if anyone has had any direct experience with them:

• Thorens MM-008 Phono Preamplifier (non-ADC version)
  
• Cambridge Audio Alva Duo MM+MC Preamplifier

I'm trying to keep my choices below $300. I am also seeing what else is out there beside the Mani and Zen Phono since those seem to be the popular ones right now. I don't have any LOMC carts right now, but I would like to have the MC option just in case.

Any thoughts on the above or any other options in the price range I should consider would be greatly appreciated! My rig is in my signature. I also have a few other TTs (JVC QL-A7, Dual 1009 SK, Pioneer PL-12 and original Technics SL-1200) and amp (Pioneer CA-2010).

Thanks!

 

[justjed2]

Look at the ifi Zen Phono. Excellent specs, MM/MC capable performance exceeding it's $200 price tag. It's extremely quiet and detailed, with plenty of bass, and the rumble filter works. Has 4 different gain settings, and good build quality. Better sound than the Parasound Zphono I used for 5 years previously. And, it's even quieter with the iPower2 noise cancelling power supply. I don't know why this one isn't more popular. It's better than anything under $500 that I have heard.

Edit: I missed the part where you said 'besides' the Mani and Zen. My bad...

 

[ranf1970]

Look at the ifi Zen Phono. Excellent specs, MM/MC capable performance exceeding it's $200 price tag. It's extremely quiet and detailed, with plenty of bass, and the rumble filter works. Has 4 different gain settings, and good build quality. Better sound than the Parasound Zphono I used for 5 years previously. And, it's even quieter with the iPower2 noise cancelling power supply. I don't know why this one isn't more popular. It's better than anything under $500 that I have heard.

Edit: I missed the part where you said 'besides' the Mani and Zen. My bad...

No, no. Thank you for this! I have been leaning towards the Zen of the two if I go that route and this helps!

 

[DavidTT]

I've owned the Cambridge Duo for a couple of years and been very happy with it. Before that I was through phono preamps frequently, including Lounge LCRIII, Mani, Pluto, Little Bear T11, and others I can't remember now. The Duo is just solid, quiet, accurate, good enough to kill the constant urge to switch it out, at least for me. FWIW, Amir over at ASR reviewed it and it objectively scores very well too.

Weirdly, the only phono pre that genuinely disappointed me was the Lounge. At the time I bought it, it was a cult classic on several forums and cost (I think) $400 or $500, which was for me a big purchase. I disliked it almost immediately and sold it shortly thereafter.

 

[Crab33]

When choosing an MM phono pre-amp, you should match it with your cartridge in terms of capacitive load. Every cartridge has a recommended capacitive load range (e.g. for Ortofon 2M cartridges, it is 150-300pF). You don't say which cartridge you have.

Capacitive load on cartridge = capacitance of phono pre-amp + capacitance of phono-cables

If you have multiple turntables and cartridges, a phono pre-amp with adjustable capacitance is useful.

 

[Frank Sol]

.

No, no. Thank you for this! I have been leaning towards the Zen of the two if I go that route and this helps!

Then you probably know , just in case you dont , Mikey Fremer gushes over the ifi Zen

 

[soundmig]

Hey AKers,

Hope all is well. I was looking at two phono pre-amps and I was hoping to get some feedback on them and see if possibly if anyone has had any direct experience with them:

• Thorens MM-008 Phono Preamplifier (non-ADC version)
  
• Cambridge Audio Alva Duo MM+MC Preamplifier

I'm trying to keep my choices below $300. I am also seeing what else is out there beside the Mani and Zen Phono since those seem to be the popular ones right now. I don't have any LOMC carts right now, but I would like to have the MC option just in case.

Any thoughts on the above or any other options in the price range I should consider would be greatly appreciated! My rig is in my signature. I also have a few other TTs (JVC QL-A7, Dual 1009 SK, Pioneer PL-12 and original Technics SL-1200) and amp (Pioneer CA-2010).

Thanks!

Audition (preferably in your system) before you buy if you can. If you can't audition be sure there is a reasonable time period for a return with full refund. Most importantly, buy the BEST phono stage that you can - even if you have to stretch the budget a bit. I've owned a few: Project MM/MC base version, Little Bear Tube (Heavily modified), BAT VK10SE, PS Audio GCPH, Forte model 2 (pre-amp with well regarded phono stage), Audible Illusions (pre-amp with tube phono stage), Parasound JC3+. All that I can say is that the better phono pre-amps allow you to get the best out of you analog source and they are worth the money! Just like microphones and mic pre-amps in the studio, you can't make it any better with anything you do downstream. Scrimp on mics and or mic pre's and you get "average" sound. Your source signal HAS TO start off great at the source if you want great sound.

 

[ranf1970]

When choosing an MM phono pre-amp, you should match it with your cartridge in terms of capacitive load. Every cartridge has a recommended capacitive load range (e.g. for Ortofon 2M cartridges, it is 150-300pF). You don't say which cartridge you have.

Capacitive load on cartridge = capacitance of phono pre-amp + capacitance of phono-cables

If you have multiple turntables and cartridges, a phono pre-amp with adjustable capacitance is useful.

I do have a lot of different carts (Shure, AT, Ortofon, Nagaoka, Stanton and Pickering), so I am looking at adjustable capacitance. I've never had one with this option, so hopefully they're not too complicated to figure out.

 

[ranf1970]

Then you probably know , just in case you dont , Mikey Fremer gushes over the ifi Zen

I did see that and other reviews so this is definitely high on my list, but I would also like to see what else is out there. Surprising (or maybe not) that there isn't a lot of info/reviews on the Thorens phono pre-amp.

 

[ranf1970]

Audition (preferably in your system) before you buy if you can. If you can't audition be sure there is a reasonable time period for a return with full refund. Most importantly, buy the BEST phono stage that you can - even if you have to stretch the budget a bit. I've owned a few: Project MM/MC base version, Little Bear Tube (Heavily modified), BAT VK10SE, PS Audio GCPH, Forte model 2 (pre-amp with well regarded phono stage), Audible Illusions (pre-amp with tube phono stage), Parasound JC3+. All that I can say is that the better phono pre-amps allow you to get the best out of you analog source and they are worth the money! Just like microphones and mic pre-amps in the studio, you can't make it any better with anything you do downstream. Scrimp on mics and or mic pre's and you get "average" sound. Your source signal HAS TO start off great at the source if you want great sound.

Completely agreed and right at this point in time, this would really be the upper tier of pricing that I could really afford. Both of the above, along with the Zen, are available on Amazon, so that is an option as far as being able to test and return if not satisfied. Unfortunately, there are no places around here that offers the abliity to try these particular pre-amps, at least that I'm aware of.

 

[ranf1970]

I've owned the Cambridge Duo for a couple of years and been very happy with it. Before that I was through phono preamps frequently, including Lounge LCRIII, Mani, Pluto, Little Bear T11, and others I can't remember now. The Duo is just solid, quiet, accurate, good enough to kill the constant urge to switch it out, at least for me. FWIW, Amir over at ASR reviewed it and it objectively scores very well too.

Weirdly, the only phono pre that genuinely disappointed me was the Lounge. At the time I bought it, it was a cult classic on several forums and cost (I think) $400 or $500, which was for me a big purchase. I disliked it almost immediately and sold it shortly thereafter.

Thanks for the feedback on the Duo! I did see the review by Amir and that is why I am leaning toward the Duo as opposed to the Solo, even though I will probably never use the headphone jack. I also read that it isn't all that good, anyway.

 

[justjed2]

I wasn't all that impressed with the Cambridge 551p, and it was somewhat static sensitive, which finally killed mine. Haven't heard the Solo or Duo. The Parasound Zphono is a decent pre for less than $250. It was a Stereophile Recommended Component for several years, if that means anything. MM gain is 46dB, MC is 64dB. Presentation is big and dynamic, but not the most detailed. Probably because it's not the quietest pre out there, courtesy of the relatively high gain, but it is a decent sounding little unit, and fairly well built. Has its own internal power supply, too, no wall wart. And it's a much better looking little black box than the vast majority of little black boxes.