Want to try a different phono preamp
gmcman
Posts: 1,806
I'm thinking on comparing something to my CX-1000 because I feel I may be missing something...dunno but I know there is much better but i'm trying to stay under $600.
I have been looking at the Phonomenon II and may consider the Phonomenon if the battery makes all the difference....I may or not be able to discern the difference with my equip.
Another option is the Jolida JD9, Vincent PHO-8, Lehman Black cube, or the V-LPS. Just some ideas but the Phonomenon II is where I have been focused. This will be paired up with a SL-1200 with a Denon DL-301Mk2 of course through the 2B's
Anyone that has used any please chime in, I don't mind used.
I have been looking at the Phonomenon II and may consider the Phonomenon if the battery makes all the difference....I may or not be able to discern the difference with my equip.
Another option is the Jolida JD9, Vincent PHO-8, Lehman Black cube, or the V-LPS. Just some ideas but the Phonomenon II is where I have been focused. This will be paired up with a SL-1200 with a Denon DL-301Mk2 of course through the 2B's
Anyone that has used any please chime in, I don't mind used.
Post edited by gmcman on
Comments
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I use the ProJect Tube Box II and love it. I have no idea if you would or not though.If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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The JD9 sounds nice."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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The JD9 sounds nice.
My 2 main choices are the ph2 and the jd9....i hear the jd9 gets more lively with a tube swap. -
My current favorite (because I am using one and I am thoroughly beguiled) is the JLTi phono preamp. It's almost enough to make one a solid state convert! This is the earlier, very utilitatian version. The current version looks much nicer (and costs more)...
Disregard all that wacky "cryogenetics" I]sic[/I hyperbole and... Just Listen To it (JLTi)! :-) -
Yes, you can swap tubes and output capacitors to match your tastes. It has more gain than most phono preamps and is very versatile too with adjustable loading to suit any cartridge.My 2 main choices are the ph2 and the jd9....i hear the jd9 gets more lively with a tube swap."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
I am running a JD-9 with my SL-1200MK2 and Soundsmith modded Dynavector 20XH cartridge and I couldn't be happier. I've also ran it with a Denon DL-160 and it sounds great with that also. I replaced the stock tubes with Telefunken Smoothplates (too analytical for my tastes) and then later 60's RCA Greyplates. It sounds fantastic with the RCAs. The great thing about the Jolida is it's like the SL-1200, there are lots of mods for it to take it up the ladder one step at a time as one's budget permits.
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I am running a JD-9 with my SL-1200MK2 and Soundsmith modded Dynavector 20XH cartridge and I couldn't be happier. I've also ran it with a Denon DL-160 and it sounds great with that also. I replaced the stock tubes with Telefunken Smoothplates (too analytical for my tastes) and then later 60's RCA Greyplates. It sounds fantastic with the RCAs. The great thing about the Jolida is it's like the SL-1200, there are lots of mods for it to take it up the ladder one step at a time as one's budget permits.
Question on the JD-9 - can you change the input loading?
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
When I started this thread I ended up placing an offer on an almost new Phonomenon 2 and it was accepted yesterday, I think either one will work well.The great thing about the Jolida is it's like the SL-1200, there are lots of mods for it to take it up the ladder one step at a time as one's budget permits.
I do like the idea of customizing the JD-9, that's half the fun, but for the price I couldn't go wrong... we shall see, worst case I can always try the Jolida later.
The only reason I leaned towards the PH2 was the fact my B&K amp is slightly on the warm side and my 301 Mk2 is slightly midrange-forward so I didn't think I should add any more warmth but then that's where I can try different tubes. Had a JD-9 come along at a good price I would have gone that route...just that this one came up first. -
Yes, you can swap tubes and output capacitors to match your tastes. It has more gain than most phono preamps and is very versatile too with adjustable loading to suit any cartridge.
:arrowu:Erik Tracy wrote: »Question on the JD-9 - can you change the input loading?
http://www.uptownaudio.com/jolida/jd9a.htm"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
Ah - missed that other post...I've had my morning coffee now and feel much better!
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
I was going to suggest that too! :cheesygrin:Erik Tracy wrote: »Ah - missed that other post...I've had my morning coffee now and feel much better!"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
The JD9 sounds nice.
Wait, that has tubes and is spec'd at less than .02% distortion THD. A solid state phono stage would have less distortion and sound better.:rolleyes::cheesygrin:
Doug (dkg999) has a Pro-Ject Tube Box SE II Phono pre and it sounds real good. But that one is $750 new. IIRC he had the Pro-Ject Tube Box II prior and it retails for $450 new.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
^^Oh lord here we go again! ;-)^^ Eric, sorry it took so long to answer back so I'll just reiterate what the others have said, you can adjust the input level on it. It's a great pre for the coin. To the OP congrats on your new purchase and let us know what you think of it.
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^^Oh lord here we go again! ;-)^^ Eric, sorry it took so long to answer back so I'll just reiterate what the others have said, you can adjust the input level on it. It's a great pre for the coin. To the OP congrats on your new purchase and let us know what you think of it.
Thanks.
What tubes were you running/happy with when you had the DL-160? And what were you loading the JD9 at?
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
I tried the DL-160 with both the Telefunkens and the RCA Greyplates. I still have the DL-160 mounted on another headshell as a spare and listen to it every now and then. It was a fantastic cart for the cash. I prefered the RCAs with both the Dynavector and the DL-160. The 'funkens were very accurate and dynamic, but I like my vinyl and other sources to have a warmer feel. The RCAs fit that to a T. They have great tone, yet are detailed at the same time. I'm going totally on memery on this, but I want to say I set the loading at 47kohms which is what I run with the Dynavector. Actually all of the settings on the JD-9 are the same between the DL-160 and Dynavector 20XH.
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I tried the DL-160 with both the Telefunkens and the RCA Greyplates. I still have the DL-160 mounted on another headshell as a spare and listen to it every now and then. It was a fantastic cart for the cash. I prefered the RCAs with both the Dynavector and the DL-160. The 'funkens were very accurate and dynamic, but I like my vinyl and other sources to have a warmer feel. The RCAs fit that to a T. They have great tone, yet are detailed at the same time. I'm going totally on memery on this, but I want to say I set the loading at 47kohms which is what I run with the Dynavector. Actually all of the settings on the JD-9 are the same between the DL-160 and Dynavector 20XH.
Thank you, sir.
Good info.
I've read that the DL-160 sounds more neutral with 1k ohm loading vs the more 'detailed' sound at the more typical 47 k ohm loading.
If I do go with a JD9 - sounds like going down the rabbit hole for rolling tubes.....:razz:
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Interesting, I'll have to try the 1 k ohm setting the next time I'm playing with the DL-160. That could very well be the reason I prefered the RCAs over the funkens due to the warmer tone of the RCAs counteracting the more fatiguing sound at the 47kohms setting. Having said that, I tend to prefer the RCA Black and Greyplates in general in 12**7 tubes over most the German tubes I've tried. Be careful Erik, tubes are one very slippery but totally satisfying slope as you know. With tubes, I just didn't slide down the slope, I fell of the cliff!
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Interesting, I'll have to try the 1 k ohm setting the next time I'm playing with the DL-160. That could very well be the reason I prefered the RCAs over the funkens due to the warmer tone of the RCAs counteracting the more fatiguing sound at the 47kohms setting. Having said that, I tend to prefer the RCA Black and Greyplates in general in 12**7 tubes over most the German tubes I've tried. Be careful Erik, tubes are one very slippery but totally satisfying slope as you know. With tubes, I just didn't slide down the slope, I fell of the cliff!
The JD9 is an interesting unit - lots of 'tweaking' potential - it would be my first step down the tube rabbit hole....just the right unit for this...ah...adventure...:cheesygrin:
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Experimenting with loading allows you to fine tune your cartridge/pre amp combination. This is one of them letting your ears decide things. By varying loading, you are messing with the frequency response of the cartridge. By raising input impedance, you shift frequency response to the highs, while lowering impedance will emphasize the lows. Go too far and you might not have much sound at all.
Loading is basically a resistor connected between the cartridge input and ground. With fixed value phono pres, DIY folks have voided their warranty by changing resistor values or adding rotary switches with multiple value loading resistors.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
The Phonomenon II arrived today, once I put the TT on a seperate stand I listened to a few albums and can say the detail was much more pronounced. One thing I noticed was the acoustic guitar notes went from something like hearing the pick across the strings to the hearing the resonating of the body...dunno but it sounded like the guitar was right in front of me in great detail.
All in all, I'm very pleased... still need to play with the gain and loading some more but so far it's a definate improvement.
