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The Realistic 42-2109, The Licorice Component

How do you feel about the 42-2109?

  • It's the greatest preamp in the whole world

    Votes: 2 33.3%

  • Meh...

    Votes: 1 16.7%

  • Garbage

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Never heard of it

    Votes: 3 50.0%
  • Total voters
    6
  • Poll closed .
Nothing I'm aware of. I recently placed an order for a modded Realistic 42-2101a on eBay , fully recapped and modified to use a wall wart. I may get a Linear Power Supply at some point to see if it's even better ;)

The same fellow makes one powered by batteries.
 
mjw21a said:
Nothing I'm aware of. I recently placed an order for a modded Realistic 42-2101a on eBay , fully recapped and modified to use a wall wart. I may get a Linear Power Supply at some point to see if it's even better ;)

The same fellow makes one powered by batteries.
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Nice! I’m still super curious about this 50Kohm output impedance spec. Is this likely a misprint?
 
SeattleHiFi said:
Nice! I’m still super curious about this 50Kohm output impedance spec. Is this likely a misprint?
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No idea, and I don't worry myself about it. I don't know what it means. My ears are the final judge of things.

The Realistic is more transparent than the low end Valab OP-Mini phono, though the Valab LCR-1 phono is noticeably better than the Realistic.

The OP-Mini is still a good budget offering for someone wants to run LOMC's and doesn't want the expense of a quality SUT.

Personally I'd rather the Realistic + SUT over the OP-Mini.
 
I'm sure the output impeadance isn't 50k, more like 100 ohms. Mine's been in a drawer for 5 yrs. Should see if it stll works maybe recap it.
 
oldman54 said:
I'm sure the output impeadance isn't 50k, more like 100 ohms. Mine's been in a drawer for 5 yrs. Should see if it stll works maybe recap it.
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Thats what I would think given its relatively simple Solid State design. But all the specs I see/find state a 50Kohm output impedance. Anyway, I should have mine by the end of the month, just looking to have some fun to see what $20 ultimately can deliver.
 
I’m pleased to see this thread revived. In the interest of transparency, I have to admit I’m now rocking a NAD 1300 in the chain and even though the MC pre is kinda sick, I’m using it’s MM pre with a home made JFET 30db pre-preamp to drive my new Denon DL-103. I’ve also played around with a Parasound ZPhono and long story short, the 42-2109 lives in my daughters system working a Technics SL-230 wearing a Stanton 680. It’s not really that I outgrew the Realistic, I think it’s more that my system is now coming out of a rapidly changing , organically developing state that resulted from a lot of overtime and a few local purchasing opportunities that could not be passed up. Now I’m playing records on a Kenwood KP-990 with the DL-103 which is a serious step up from my Sansui FR-3060 (most likely on its way to the daughter’s room as well), into the step up amp to either the NAD as phono and general preamp, or the ZPhono with a Schiit Vali 2 or Little Dot 2+ as pre, and an Acurus A150 as power amp. All things will change again very soon when I build a new phono preamp from DIY Audio, the Salas Folded Simple Phono Board with whatever components I decided on built for 63dB gain. Anyway, I feel I’m getting closer to a dream system one piece at a time and having an incredible time doing it. I could never have really gotten far without a ton of advice here on AK. @mjw21a , for example turned me on to the Xiang Shen that I still use in the digital portion of my system. I am very lucky to be able to enjoy music on a very high level thanks to folks like y’all. In fact, I’m a gonna put on some Violent Femmes right now and relax. Have a merry or happy whatever you celebrate this time of the year if indeed you celebrate anything at all.
 
Hey do you guys have a parts list for the recapping of the Realistic? I've been having a side conversation with mjw21a, and should probably follow his advice and buy a refurb/mod'd one, but I was thinking of just picking up a cheap one and doing some of the mods myself as a project. It'll be like all my projects. I'll get it started, and it'll remain half baked for all of eternity.
 
Where's the; I've heard so many great things about this preamp that I just had to get one one right away, but that was 6 months ago and I haven't tried it yet, option?
 
mjw21a said:
If it's not had the caps replaced it will need a weeks warm up at the very least.... I've found the recapped units don't need to warm up.
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Electrlytics are self healing, up to a point. I have a GE radio, precurser to the Superadio, that sounds like crap if I haven't turned it on in a while. After a few hours turned on, volume down, it sounds great. I'm sure this won't work forever but its 40-50 yrs old. The preamp is too. I'm going to plug it in now, listen tomorrow. Had to go out of town for a week. Left it plugged in. Hope it doesn't burn the house down.
 
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Hi all

So if I’m measuring correctly on digital multimeter, it looks like I’m getting about 35mv of DCV coming from each output, with preamp plugged into the wall and nothing hooked up to it. Is this a safe amount of DC for my integrated amplifier?
 
If your integrated is DC coupled I'd definitely measure the DC is offset at the output at a reasonable volume setting before assuming it's okay.

35mV at the input could be a whole lot more after some gain.
 
First impression, sounds good. Left it plugged in 2 weeks. Its at least 35 yrs old, unmodified. Replaced an Art djpreII, if anything bass is more solid. I guess I'll listen for a while and then take it apart. Got to try a couple carts with it. Right now a RS V-15 with an n25c. That cart works with n70, n92, n95, n97, sc35c and probably others I haven't tried. Really rocks with the n92 and n25.
 
My initial impression is that it is a little more detailed than my Pioneer SX-626's (recapped) phono stage, but seems a bit thin. The 626 is lush, but during busy sections, some of the detail that I can hear with the Realistic can get lost on the Pioneer. Not much tho, and you're giving up that warm rich sound. Mine's been plugged in for two weeks so maybe it will improve with time. I'm going to recap it, but wanted to hear it stock. I'm using a Stanton 881E. I can see how a Shure cart would be a better match. I'm waiting for a stylus from Jico for my V15 III and will report back once that arrives. In the mean time, I'll keep it plugged in. :)
 
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William907 said:
Am I going to need something like this for my Dual 1257 or 1009?
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You wont *need* it if your receiver/integrated amp has a phono input. Your tag has a Realistic STA-65 listed, which I think has a phono pre (and might even be built on the same design as the external phono pre being discussed).
 
Flounder said:
You wont *need* it if your receiver/integrated amp has a phono input. Your tag has a Realistic STA-65 listed, which I think has a phono pre (and might even be built on the same design as the external phono pre being discussed).
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It has a couple of phono inputs. Three really but only two positions on the switch. One of the inputs says “XTAL”. I learned that that meant crystal.
My Dennon may not have an actual phono input. I’ll have to look.
 
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