Hi everyone. I'm ready to upgrade my phono preamp. I currently have a Musical Surroundings Phonomena ii, which I bought used a few years ago. I do not have the linear power supply. I would also like to find something that would allow me to easily toggle between an MC and MM. I'm currently using an Orofon MC X40 as my main cartridge. But I also have a Shure V15 type IV with Jico stylus. My budget is $2,000. Any suggestions?
Phono preamp upgrade
- Thread starter JDY
- Start date
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What are you looking for that the current setup doesn't have? Would the Phonoemena III with a linear power supply work?
Pro-Ject Tube Box S3b:
www.project-audio.com
Tube Box DS3B:
www.project-audio.com
Phono Box DS3B (without tubes):
www.project-audio.com
Tube Box S3 B – Pro-Ject Audio Systems
www.project-audio.com
Tube Box DS3B:
Tube Box DS3 B – Pro-Ject Audio Systems
www.project-audio.com
Phono Box DS3B (without tubes):
Phono Box DS3 B – Pro-Ject Audio Systems
www.project-audio.com
Thanks for that! I like Pro-ject phono pre-amps. Many ppl associate Pro-ject with their questionable, at best, turntables (in my experience and opinion). The phono pre-amp seemed to be made by another division of Pro-ject with a different and better product philosophy.Pro-Ject Tube Box S3b:
Tube Box S3 B – Pro-Ject Audio Systems
Tube Box DS3B:
Tube Box DS3 B – Pro-Ject Audio Systems
Phono Box DS3B (without tubes):
Phono Box DS3 B – Pro-Ject Audio Systems
I hesitate to recommend hi-fi products, especially anything related to turntables and phono stages.
They are so listener-dependent.
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I love my Tube Box DS2, well built and sounds great.Thanks for that! I like Pro-ject phono pre-amps. Many ppl associate Pro-ject with their questionable, at best, turntables (in my experience and opinion). The phono pre-amp seemed to be made by another division of Pro-ject with a different and better product philosophy.
I hesitate to recommend hi-fi products, especially anything related to turntables and phono stages.
They are so listener-dependent.
Another shameless video upload.
Tubed DS2 loaded with Raytheon 5751 Windmill tubes.In my experience, the cartridge, accurate setup, and the phono pre-amp make the biggest difference in the final sound. AND of course, the quality of the vinyl.
Eddie Holman - "Hey There Lonely Girl." ABC Records. SR-393. Test pressing. King Records pressing (Japan). 1970.
Run-out: 〄 SILBT 2726 - 1
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with phono there are so many options. with a 2K budget here are a few:
1. used Manley chinook.
2. EAR clone MM only and buy the Technics 305 SUT for MC.
3. used ARC PH3 and step up
4. Parasound JC Jr.
5. Marantz 7 clone with a SUT.
there are many more. If you are going to jump into LOMCs, get a better step up trans and it will open the door to what you can use for a phono stage.
1. used Manley chinook.
2. EAR clone MM only and buy the Technics 305 SUT for MC.
3. used ARC PH3 and step up
4. Parasound JC Jr.
5. Marantz 7 clone with a SUT.
there are many more. If you are going to jump into LOMCs, get a better step up trans and it will open the door to what you can use for a phono stage.
The cartridge has been set up as accurately as possible. Took a while of course. But it's all dialed in.
Thank you for all the suggestions. I've been reading up on SUTs. So many varying combinations. Go either with a higher end MC/MM phono preamp or a MC preamp with a SUT. Or a MC/MM with a SUT. I would like to keep the cost as much under $2000 as possible.
Making a choice like this is a shot in the dark. It's not like I can borrow a new or used unit to see what kind of improvement I get.
The Manley Chinook looks interesting. I've also heard a lot about the Parasound JC Jr. And new, the price is more to my liking.
Thank you for all the suggestions. I've been reading up on SUTs. So many varying combinations. Go either with a higher end MC/MM phono preamp or a MC preamp with a SUT. Or a MC/MM with a SUT. I would like to keep the cost as much under $2000 as possible.
Making a choice like this is a shot in the dark. It's not like I can borrow a new or used unit to see what kind of improvement I get.
The Manley Chinook looks interesting. I've also heard a lot about the Parasound JC Jr. And new, the price is more to my liking.
Austin AudioWorks Black Swan
Solid state would be better.
doctor fuse
Super Member
I ordered this SUT from aliexpress out of curiosity (total with shipping came to $99 USD). It sounds excellent with a Zhige 102, a Linn TRAK and a retipped elliptical Denon 103. I hope they haven’t stopped selling them as I tried posting this link somewhere else and it wasn’t accessible. If the link works, check out the finished 1:10 model.
I use it with a cheap EAR 834 clone and the sound is silent, dynamic, very 3D and lusciously detailed.
I use it with a cheap EAR 834 clone and the sound is silent, dynamic, very 3D and lusciously detailed.
You know, I thought this at first and bought a couple of solid-state units. They definitely can have a very clean sound. With good separation of instruments and vocals. But, they can also put this "edge" to the sound. It's hard to describe, but tubes in the buffer stage seem to give a more natural tone. Especially to acoustic instruments and vocals.
Finding the tubed unit that maintains clarity and separation while preserving the original master's natural harmonics is the key.
Okay, this is all my opinion. I'm off the soapbox now.
FWIT, I sold both my Parasound JC3+ and JC3 Jr and replaced them with the better sounding (and far less expensive) Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 in one system and a Schiit Skoll in the other. The Jr sounded better than the JC3+, but both were more of what John Curl wanted you to hear, not what I wanted to hear.
How do you enjoy the Schiit Skoll? Any favorable comments?