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Suggestions for adjustable phono tube mm/mc preamps?

N

Neeyareh

New Member
Hi, I'm looking for a solid tube MM/MC phono preamp that's easily adjustable (i hate dip switches, jumpers etc). Want something that will pair nicely with my Technics SL 1200 turntable. I want to be able to easily switch out head shells, both MM and MC. I use a Mcintosh MA5200 integrated amp and have Tekton Double Impact speakers, btw.

I am open to buying used but haven't found many good options. My budget is about $1000. I was considering the Project Tube Box or the Gold Note PH-5. Another option would be to get a Hagerman Cornet MM tube amp w/ Piccolo headamp? Or a Darlington Labs MP7B with the Cornet headamp. I'm not very technically inclined so little worried about going down the Darlington/Piccolo path.
 
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Neeyareh said:
Hi, I'm looking for a solid tube MM/MC phono preamp that's easily adjustable (i hate dip switches, jumpers etc). Want something that will pair nicely with my Technics SL 1200 turntable. I want to be able to easily switch out head shells, both MM and MC. I use a Mcintosh MA5200 integrated amp and have Tekton Double Impact speakers, btw.

I am open to buying used but haven't found many good options. My budget is about $1000. I was considering the Project Tube Box or the Gold Note PH-5. Another option would be to get a Hagerman Cornet MM tube amp w/ Piccolo headamp? Or a Darlington Labs MP7B with the Cornet headamp. I'm not very technically inclined so little worried about going down the Darlington/Piccolo path.
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Oops, the Gold Note PH-5 is not tube but still on my list
 
new easily-adjustible tube MC/MM without dip switches puts you in the $XXXX range.
a used tavish adagio, tho not a budget option, at $XXXX is your budget option. there was a round of mad upgrade-itis from the adagio to modwright in 2023, but its come to an end. they dont pop up for sale so frequently now, but if you check us audio mart daily you'll eventually catch one.

pro-ject makes a few nice hybrid phono amps but no tube phono amps. ive used the S2; by all measure the DS2 is better. again, if youre looking for tube phono this is a hybrid with jfets, opamps and a pair of tubes.

you could get the hagerman trumpet MC, which is also a hybrid (jfets-tube) not tube. thats right at about $XXXX new, $XXX used.

ive send you the unredacted version in private message
 
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When it comes to phono preamps I've never been picky whether they're SS or tube. They just have to sound good and have any features I want or need like adjustable loading, etc. I would think you could get a really nice SS phono preamp cheaper than a comparable tube phono preamp.
I've built several tube and SS phono preamps and it was always cheaper to go the SS route and get a really nice sounding preamp.
They've all been for MM cartridges though.
 
Neeyareh said:
I just bought the tube box ds2! Crutchfield had it on sale for $799 so I went for it. Thanks for all your advice! Guess tube rolling won’t be possible with the DS2 but that’s ok.
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This is the tube I settled on. In this unit, these are the cleanest, best sonic definition tubes. I tried Mullard (UK), Philips Miniwatt (Dutch) ECC83, RCA 7025, and TFK ECC83. For this unit, the Raytheon 5751 windmills were the best. Not even close.

The stock TungSol (Russia) 12AX7 had very poor resolution quality. I was thinking of returning the unit. But I read somewhere that this phono pre-amp is quite sensitive to the specific tube used. So, I rolled the ones that I had in stock until I hit upon the Raytheon 5751. They have remained in the unit for over five years.

There were no RIAA issues.

Pro-ject phono box DS2 (5751) 2 (SMALL).jpg

Raytheon_5751_windmil_(large).jpg
 
Lavane said:
God I hope not!! :yikes:
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They are removable. The Russian-made TungSol is tight, so take your time removing them. Tried not to remove the sockets. ;)

When replacing the tubes, I took the cover and that funky tube protector off. It made it a lot easier to pull.
 
Mr Boochie said:
This is the tube I settled on. In this unit, these are the cleanest, best sonic definition tubes. I tried Mullard (UK), Philips Miniwatt (Dutch) ECC83, RCA 7025, and TFK ECC83. For this unit, the Raytheon 5751 windmills were the best. Not even close.

The stock TungSol (Russia) 12AX7 had very poor resolution quality. I was thinking of returning the unit. But I read somewhere that this phono pre-amp is quite sensitive to the specific tube used. So, I rolled the ones that I had in stock until I hit upon the Raytheon 5751. They have remained in the unit for over five years.

There were no RIAA issues.

View attachment 3193245

Raytheon_5751_windmil_(large).jpg
Click to expand...
Awesome, so I would need two of tthem? They’re from the 1950s? How much do they typically cost?
 
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