Phono pre amp

Z

zoleprole

New Member
I have amplifier Primare I30, without phono stage,
I want to buy vintage turntable about 300 Eur, like Tehnics Q or D series and phono stage.
Who gives a better sound:
something cheep phono pre amp, like Art DJ Pre II or
Fosi phono preamp X2,X4 or
something vintage amplifier with phono stage and pre out, who can connect to my amplifier Primare I30,
like Akai AM-UO2 or Aiwa AA8300 or samething like this,
or maybe to buy new turntable AT LP120X with phono stage?

Thank you
 
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What budget are allowing for a phono pre? If you take the time to search AK you'll see much enthusiasm for the new SOTA Pyxi, the various Darlington Lab units, in particular, as well as various others. (Edit: The AK Search function is still disabled; you'll have to scroll down through all the threads. Sigh)
A stand alone phono pre should easily out perform any phono stage built into a turntable. Without any experience with those amps you mentioned, I would still think most any phono pre you acquired would be a better alternative to one built in those units, or any other amp of similar quality.
Given the quality of your amp (what speakers are you using?) you should give thought to purchasing a quality phono pre.
I'm sure there will be responses regarding the items you mention as well as useful alternatives'
Welcome to AK! :thumbsup:
 
Thank you,
Turntable not my first source of music, I want sometimes to listen to my old records, I plan to spend about 80 Eur for phono stage, or vintage amplifier with preamp option, if that is a better option.
I have Jamo D870.
 
zoleprole said:
I have amplifier Primare I30, without phono stage,
I want to buy vintage turntable about 300 Eur, like Tehnics Q or D series and phono stage.
Who gives a better sound:
something cheep phono pre amp, like Art DJ Pre II or
Fosi phono preamp X2,X4 or
something vintage amplifier with phono stage and pre out, who can connect to my amplifier Primare I30,
like Akai AM-UO2 or Aiwa AA8300 or samething like this,
or maybe to buy new turntable AT LP120X with phono stage?

Thank you
Click to expand...
I use both the Art and Fosi preamps. Both sound very good but if had to pick just one, the Art sounds more refined and allows for more adjustments. My 2 cents.
 
zoleprole said:
vintage turntable
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You did not mention cartridge preferences.
IME, electronics with perceptible character lose their charm,
and audibly accurate/neutral phono preamps are no longer neither rare nor costly.
Phono cartridge sound is significantly affected by loading.
Different cartridges want different gain and loading; with various resistance values for moving coil
and different capacitances for moving magnet. Schiit Mani 2 works for me,
but alternatives are claimed to better mitigate LP ticks and pops.

zoleprole said:
AT LP120X with phono stage?
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I prefer direct drive, but AT LP120X rumble is audible, unlike e.g. Technics.
LP120X built-in phono stage is IMO not great, even with bundled cartridge.
 
I still haven't turntable, but I have cartridge Ortofon 2m Blue, and i will probably buy some vintage turntable, and not new LP120X.
 
The 2M Blue will play nicely on almost any quality deck. I have one on a 45 year old direct-drive, it's a very good sound.
 
Quite frankly, if you do not own say more than 200 LP in great condition. It is not worth the money on your budget. You will get better sound from Spotify premium going through a decent Dac like the Toppy D50s.

Sorry to disappoint, Chees
 
I have the ART and I like it. Sounds nice with a quiet background. The gain control is handy. In case you ever get the bug and want to upgrade, I believe Primare make phono stages too. At least they have done. Won't be cheap though.
 
The phono stage in the LP120X is pretty modest (but the TT itself has a ton up potential). I suspect even one of the $20 Pyles would trump the AT's phono stage.

What sounds best is always going to be subjective and will vary with each system, but the ART DJPRE II sounded wonderful for several minutes, until I realized that it was missing a lot of the inner detail stuff like room ambience and instrument sustain, which really kills the sound stage. It sounded synthetic as a result....the life and magic was missing. Not really sure why (negative feedback perhaps?) ...I loved the tonal balance, but couldn't deal with the lack of transparency.

The Hagerman Bugle 3 was pretty nice right from the start. ($200 new, $100 used which makes it slightly beyond your 80 Euro budget, but worth considering) Upgrading op amps is simple, cheap, quite audible, allows you tailor the sound to suit your tastes, and fun. It also revealed improvements from a simple inexpensive power supply upgrade. If you're ambitious, there are some resistor and capacitor mods that bring to another level. By the time you're done, you'd need to have a fairly serious phono stage to better it IMHO. :cool:
 
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80 euro is pretty limiting...if you can stretch that to a bit over 100, you'd widen your options.

Agreed that a turntable's built-in phono stage would be lacking.

Not sure what they're going for now, but a used Hafler DH110 might found for a bit over $100, and has a nice phono stage especially at it's price point.

If you can solder and follow directions, buying the Akitika phono stage and power supply kits and furnishing your own box would net you an EXCELLENT, configurable phono pre for a total of maybe $150, dependent upon cabinet choice.

Nothing wrong with the other options already mentioned.
 
oristo said:
...
I prefer direct drive, but AT LP120X rumble is audible, unlike e.g. Technics.
LP120X built-in phono stage is IMO not great, even with bundled cartridge.
Click to expand...

The LP120 had a louder motor. They replaced it with a very quiet motor on the LP120X and you can even play LOMC with it (tho it doesn't make a lot of sense as a plan A). Are you thinking for LP120? Either way, I would not pay the current $400 asking price for a new one.
 
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