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Phono pre-amp opinions needed

stereo_dog

stereo_dog

Well-Known Member
I'm looking at adding a phono preamp to my Dodd ELP tube pre. I am looking at the Bellari VP130 tube pre and a Cambridge Audio 640P. Both are moderately priced, but the Cambridge has both MM & MC inputs, although at this time, a MC input is not necessary.
I would appreciate any input on these two phono pre's or suggestions on alternatives. I would like to keep the cost to $200.00 or under.

Thanks
 
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I just tried the Bellari and it's going back to the store. I had serious issues with hum and grounding (no matter what I connected it to, and no matter which socket in my house I used) and apparently I am not the first. I may have gotten a bum unit, but it was enough to leave a sour taste in my mouth. There are some recent threads on the topic if you look them up.

I just looked at the CA 640P online (haven't heard of it until this post) and the specs seem to be all there, and the MM/MC option is a HUGE plus as it allows you to experiment with MC later down the line without having to upgrade your pre.

You have my .02 cents worth,

James R.
 
The next pre I am trying is the new NAD. Apparently it has all the bells and whistles, including MM/MC as well as a USB out if I ever decided I wanted to transfer my vinyl to my computer...which I can't see doing, but it's nice to know it's an option. It is also at the $200 price point. Project also puts out a line of phono pre's that are very well thought of, and for another $100 or so you can get into their tube phono pre's.

James R.
 
I had a Bellari which I sold because of hum problems. It was a nice looking, affordable, and when not humming, good sounding phono amp, but the hum got to me when I wanted to crank.

I also would suggest that you do get a phono stage that does both MC and MM. You can still use high output MC cartridges with a MM stage, but a lot of times MC stages gives you loading options.

I'll tell you what was a great phono stage and I sold it like a dope, the first Pro-Ject tube box. It was abou $500 and it did both MC & MM with loading dip switches accessible from the outside. (I believe the dip switches were on the bottom ) If you can find a good used one, it's a gem. It is all black, blue front light, sturdily built, sounds great.

I also had the new Pro-ject tube box II. I did not like it. You had to open the box to change the loading options, it was tiny and it only comes in the aluminum gray color. I sent it back.
 
I've been looking at the Pro-Ject tube box, a little more dollars than I wanted to spend, but it looks like a very good unit. This is a harder decision than I thought. I'm pretty much sold on the MM & MC option, I only have one MC cart. and it is a high-output model, but it never hurts to be prepared. I've also run across a used Pro-Ject Phono box SE, this one looks pretty decent, also, and it's more in my pricepoint.
 
If you are OK without having so many darn tubes, look into the Clearaudio Nano. It is quite simple, has MM and MC, and an optional subsonic filter. Quiet as a mouse, too.

I plop this one between my TT and a tube linestage.

Ken
 
I also had the Bellari and it sits on a shelf until I send it to them to fix the hum problem, which might not ever happen as I'm using the phono pres in my tube preamps that I've acquired since buying the bellari.

I can't believe a manufacturer would release a product with such a glaring problem. The hum is not at all an isolated incident. In mine, it started out gradually and then one day just went berserk, and I've tried everything mentioned online to cure it to no avail. Piece of JUNK.
 
The only other phono stage seperate that I had besides the ones mentioned in my last post was a Rotel. Now before everyone yells at me, it is solid state, does MC & MM and is quiet as a mouse. (no load options though)When I bought it years ago, it was $200 dollars. Nothing fancy, but Rotel is a solid company and underrated in my opinion, besides that, it sounded fine to me. If you wonder why I sold it, that's my nature, I like to move and try out different components. Phono stages are fun to sample because they do make a difference and you can hear it.

The number 1 feature for me with a phono stage however is quiet. At the very least, the Rotel had that feature when played in my system.
 
I'm thinking the Bellari is out, I don't need more headaches in my audio system. I'm kinda torn between the 640P and the Pro-Ject Project Phono Box SE. I found one on A-Gon for $180.00, the 640P is around $169.00 on the net.
 
When I was looking over a year ago almost bought the Bellari but the low gain and the hum reports scared me off so I bought the 640 P and couldn't be more pleased.

Very musical, dead quiet and to my ears sounds better than the Creek OBH 8 I have (as part of the Creek 4330 int amp). As mentioned the MC option is a big plus and I ended up getting a Dennon DL 103 (Low output MC) which sounds very very good thru the 640 P. Haven't heard the Project units - no opinion there.
 
Anyone tried out the grado unit? My local audio dealer has them and I'm so tempted. Haven't heard of anyone owning and using one yet though.
 
I have the Bellari VP129, a Hagerman Bugle Kit,the Cambridge 640P,a Pro-ject Phonobox II USB and 3 different phonpreamps.com models the TC450, TC753LC and a TC754 that serves as my workbench preamp.
The best value is the TC450 when run on battery power [not with the wallwart, it's better than you could ever imagine for under $40 including shipping). but the best sounding of my low priced phono preamps is the Cambridge 640P. Great flexibility, well built and very neutral. Oh, and I am primarily a tube guy! The Cambridge 640P is used with a Cayin A70t tube integrated. The TC450's (at $40 each it's pretty easy to afford 2 of them) with both a [are you sitting down:<) ] Audio Research CA50 Integrated and a Jolida 102B. For a reference to tastes my two main systems have built-in phono preamp sections a McIntosh 2275 and an Audio Research SP9MKIII. Good luck, have fun and remember that system compatibility is all important.
 
geraldm121 said:
I have the Bellari VP129, a Hagerman Bugle Kit,the Cambridge 640P,a Pro-ject Phonobox II USB and 3 different phonpreamps.com models the TC450, TC753LC and a TC754 that serves as my workbench preamp.
The best value is the TC450 when run on battery power [not with the wallwart, it's better than you could ever imagine for under $40 including shipping). but the best sounding of my low priced phono preamps is the Cambridge 640P. Great flexibility, well built and very neutral. Oh, and I am primarily a tube guy! The Cambridge 640P is used with a Cayin A70t tube integrated. The TC450's (at $40 each it's pretty easy to afford 2 of them) with both a [are you sitting down:<) ] Audio Research CA50 Integrated and a Jolida 102B. For a reference to tastes my two main systems have built-in phono preamp sections a McIntosh 2275 and an Audio Research SP9MKIII. Good luck, have fun and remember that system compatibility is all important.
Click to expand...

That's a lot of great info , thanks !
 
One of the best values has to be the used Musical Surroundings "Phonomena", it will load MM and MC and has over 30 adjustments to actually tune the sound to what makes you happy...last year they reatiled for $600.
My father and I both owned them and also tried Bellari, Creek, NAD and even a tube unit from Lite audio and non were as good as Phonomena.
 
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