phono pre amp recommendations needed

pglbook
pglbook Posts: 2,222
edited November 2013 in Electronics
I am looking for suggestions on what would be an excellent phono pre amp to match with a Parasound P/LD 1500 pre amp and a Parasound 1500A power amp. This is for a strictly 2-channel system for my Polk SDA 2B TL speakers and Rotel RCC 1055 CD player.

I just purchased the Parasound P/LD 1500 pre amp from a fellow PF member yesterday and will get it next week. I had been looking for a pre amp with a phone stage but I heard great things about the Parasound P/LD pre amps and decided to get the P/LD 1500 pre although it doesn't have a phono stage. So now I will need to get a separate phono pre amp.

I like to spin vinyl at least a few days a week so I would like to get an excellent phono pre amp. My budget is around $200 - $300 so please let me know if there are some good phono pre amps that would be within my budget. I think vintage is the way to go to maximize quality and cost.

I'd appreciate suggestions on what phono pre would be a good match for my Parasound pre and power amp and also would be within my budget.

Thanks.
Post edited by pglbook on
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Comments

  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited October 2013
    Might as well look at the Parasound ZPhono if you haven't
    For the money I've read it's pretty good.
    For vintage at that dollar level I haven't any idea what you can find.
    Just watch the audio boards.
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited October 2013
    Bellari - VP130 - DONE!

    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BLVP130&gclid=CNWVvvuvs7oCFadFMgodDX4Acg
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited October 2013
    Congrats on eight grand Enders.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited October 2013
    hochpt21 wrote: »
    Congrats on eight grand Enders.

    Huh????
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited October 2013
    ^ your post #, wake up
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,222
    edited October 2013
    Thanks for the recommendations, brgman and EndersShadow.

    Does anyone have any experience with the Music Hall PA 1.2 phono pre amp? I have been doing some online research on phono pre amps and that one also gets good reviews.

    Thanks again.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited October 2013
    I've got a first generation stock Jolida JD9 if you want to consider that.....

    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.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,222
    edited October 2013
    Thanks, Erik. The Jolida JD9 seems like a great unit but it would be beyond my budget (under $300).
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited October 2013
    pglbook wrote: »
    Thanks, Erik. The Jolida JD9 seems like a great unit but it would be beyond my budget (under $300).

    Check your PM....

    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.
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited October 2013
    Bugle- $139
    If mine ever shows, I could let you know how it sounds.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,500
    edited October 2013
    pglbook wrote: »
    Thanks for the recommendations, brgman and EndersShadow.

    Does anyone have any experience with the Music Hall PA 1.2 phono pre amp? I have been doing some online research on phono pre amps and that one also gets good reviews.

    Thanks again.

    My friend Rob has one. He was looking to upgrade from his Pro-Ject 2.9 table. He always lusted over my Nottingham Space 294 and the time came I was selling it. I took it over there, the idea being only if he heard an improvement that he should buy it. We first installed his Sumiko Blue Point cartridge on the Space for a more apples to apples comparison and then my Karat 17D3. I was not expecting much but the PA 1.2 clearly showed the improvements a better table and then a better cartridge can make. I was really impressed.

    The PA 1.2 has a fixed MC loading of 100 Ohms so you have to match a cartridge to it. Higher priced offerings will allow for different MC loading settings. MM is standard 47k Ohm loading.
    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 *
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,222
    edited October 2013
    Thanks mrbiron and SCompRacer.

    I am still researching phono pre amps so the info is much appreciated.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited October 2013
    You can get the Belari cheaper than that from Amazon:

    http://www.amazon.com/Bellari-VP130-Preamplifier-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B002TD4GME

    One criticism of it that I've read is that it can use a power supply upgrade, but with a better power supply it's supposed to be really great.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • vcwatkins
    vcwatkins Posts: 1,993
    edited October 2013
    Re: Bellari, I can't speak to VP130 per se, but I've used the 530 to rip vinyl and listen to records in my study. I really like it for that purpose, but am waiting to see if something like the new PS Audio unit would be worth the the $. There's no power switch on the Bellari - a little weird - and I can easily imagine a better power supply would benefit it. With a NOS Mullard, it's detailed and smooth with adjustable gain. I would imagine the 130 is similar in performance minus the ADC. I do see 530's going at a discount occasionally. I paid $350 at Amazon.

    I was happy with a Project Tube Box II ($280 used) which I thought was noticeably better than the Phono Box II ($100 used). I ended up replacing the Tube Box with a JD9ii. Haven't modded, but love it still.

    Craig
    b]Beach Audio[/b]: Rega RP6 (mods) - AT33PTG/II - Parks Budgie SUT - PSAudio NPC * Eversolo DMP-A6 * Topping D90iii * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Pass Aleph 30 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl (mods) * PSAudio PPP3
    Beach Study: Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra & Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * DH Labs SS Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354 * PSA Dectet
    Beach Master: WiiM Pro * Dayens Menuetto * Zu Libtec * Dynaudio Audience 50
    Beach Den: Bluesound Powernode 2i * DH Labs SS Q10 * Zu Omen DWII * Richard Gray RGPC
    Town Study: WiiM Pro * Chord Qute (Pardo) * Elekit TU-8600 * MIT S3 * Revel M22 * Beyer DT-990 * Shunyata Hydra 2
    Town Den: Music Hall mm5.1se - Denon DL-103r - Jolida JD9ii (mods) * WiiM Pro * Cary xCiter * Rogue 99 Magnum * Schiit Aegir * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2tl (mods) * Dectet * Bottlehead Crack - Senn 600
    Town Porch: WiiM Pro Plus * Sunfire Sig II * Canare 4S11 * Magnepan 1.6 * Dectet
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited October 2013
    Check out the used Dynavector P-75
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited October 2013
    Also look at needle doctor, audio advisor, MusicDirect, etc, etc for "demo" or "open box" deals on better pres. I picked up a new Sim Audio Moon pre for almost 1/2 retail some years ago. I think it retailed for $525, and I got it for $275.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,222
    edited November 2013
    Thanks for all of the input.

    I have been researching a lot of the suggestions, as well as other phono pre amps, and I am now leaning towards getting the Clearaudio Nano phono pre amp. It gets great reviews.

    Does anyone have any experience with it?
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  • 4xoddic
    4xoddic Posts: 372
    edited November 2013
    The Rogue Audio Stealth/Magnum was replaced recently by the Triton. A Magnum sold on ebay recently for $425 (incl ship). I got a Stealth for ~ $368 (incl ship) this year. American made, Rogue Audio still has the parts to upgrade to Magnum level.

    I spoke with Jim Pendleton, owner of Osage Audio, when I was pursuing a CA Nano (evidently replaced by Clearaudio Nano V2). He mentioned a couple of other brands @ that price point he thought were better suited for my TT; but did say the Nano sounded better than CA's next higher model.
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