PHONO Stage suggestion
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ghazzer
Senior Member
My suggestion is that you read thru this thread to see what you can accomplish with a DIY phono preamp. The thread contain some info about other PP's plus links to a lot of related info.
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Kenwood C1 is great! I've heard good things about the C2 also. NAD PP2 is pretty good.
If you're happy with your present preamp you should look at an outboard phono pre. You don't have to go too high up the ladder $$wise to beat a vintage phono section with a modern outboard.
TerryO
Super Member
I know what you mean, it took me years to get over my addiction to substandard sound.
When you finally try a simple diy project, your life will improve tremendously, but you must be ready.
Best Regards,
TerryO
thunderroad
Life begins at 140 mph.
I'm thinking that for you to get some truly valuable feedback that you can actually use, you'll need to give us a little more information to work with. For example: what is your budget, is this your first move into vinyl, do you want to use MM or MC cartridges or both, is your system presently built around a receiver, separates, or what, etc., etc.
Personally, I'd probably be looking at standalone phono stages if I was in the market, but that really says more about where I am at in the development of my system and my level of audio "maturity(?)" than anything else. To date, my phono stage experience has been pretty much limited to those in recievers, integrated amps, and preamps and largely with MM cartridges. But, I have gotten excellent results with the phono stages in Pioneer, Yamaha, Kenwood, Sony, and McIntosh gear. So there are bunches of good choices out there for not a lot of $$$!
My one foray into the world of MC phono cartridges has been with a Benz Micro Gold LOMC using the phono stage in my Kenwood Basic C2 preamp and that has been a revelation for me. Outstandingly good results! I can't say enough good things about that preamp and considering that it was only $125 off ebay, it's a steal!
So, please give us a little more info to go on and I'm sure our fellow AKer's will come through with lots of good recommendations!
Personally, I'd probably be looking at standalone phono stages if I was in the market, but that really says more about where I am at in the development of my system and my level of audio "maturity(?)" than anything else. To date, my phono stage experience has been pretty much limited to those in recievers, integrated amps, and preamps and largely with MM cartridges. But, I have gotten excellent results with the phono stages in Pioneer, Yamaha, Kenwood, Sony, and McIntosh gear. So there are bunches of good choices out there for not a lot of $$$!
My one foray into the world of MC phono cartridges has been with a Benz Micro Gold LOMC using the phono stage in my Kenwood Basic C2 preamp and that has been a revelation for me. Outstandingly good results! I can't say enough good things about that preamp and considering that it was only $125 off ebay, it's a steal!
So, please give us a little more info to go on and I'm sure our fellow AKer's will come through with lots of good recommendations!
I'm sure DIy will produce great results, I just dont want to mess with making the case, and sourcing all the parts required. In the end, the cost would prob. be equal to buying a vintage preamp. I'm trying to keep my system as simple as possible. Currently I'm not using a Preamp. I have a PS Audio DLIII DAC connected to a Kenwood 700M amp. I recently acquired a Pioneer PL-3F turntable ( ortofon X5-mc Cart) and now i need a phono stage so I can use the turntable. I was wondering if it is better to get an outboard phono stage like the PS audio GCPH or if i should look for vintage preamp. Would a modern day phono stage sounds better than a vintage preamp?
TerryO
Super Member
The basic problem is that not all phono stages are created equal. Some vintage gear had excellent ones and sound very good even today, but there were a lot of rather Ho-Hum units as well. Right up to the advent of CDs, most receivers or integrated amps had "servicable" phonostages.
Two or three years ago the Pacific Northwest Audio Society had a Phonostage Shoot-out with quite a few that were brought in and, IIRC, most were only a year or two old. At the end of the evening it was generally agreed that one member's Custom $10,000 unit sounded the best. Most of the other units were in the $1500-2500 range, although someone had brought in (more as a joke I guess) a Hagtech "Bugle" battery powered phonoamp. At the time you could put one together for around $50 and an hour or so of your time.
To get back to the Shootout, do you wish to guess which one was voted 2nd place for overall sound? There were certainly a lot of "very surprised" people that night.
(BTW: I ordered my board that weekend.)
Best Regards,
TerryO
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May be bad form to resurrect such an old thread ... apologies in advance.
Thinking of wading deeper into vintage, perhaps to the point of abandoning modern hifi merry go round. One concern is quality of onboard phono stages. Looking for recommendations or advice about which vintage integrateds or receivers have good to very good stages.
First, while I will keep searching, please advise if I should perpetuate this thread, or start a new one?
Thinking of wading deeper into vintage, perhaps to the point of abandoning modern hifi merry go round. One concern is quality of onboard phono stages. Looking for recommendations or advice about which vintage integrateds or receivers have good to very good stages.
First, while I will keep searching, please advise if I should perpetuate this thread, or start a new one?
