Phono Preamp Suggestions?

msg

Hey guys,
Anyone know of any good phono preamps that are surprisingly good for their build/cost/availability? As I understand it from the vinyl pros here, I'm going to need something pretty serious to realize the full potential of vinyl, but I'm just getting started and not quite there yet. Working with a Technics SL-1210MK2 probably into B&K Ref 5 preamp or a small tube integrated.

I'm going to throw out $500 as my current budget max.
Anyone know about the Pro-Ject tube pre's or any other tube pre's?
Parasound Zphono?
Chinese Little Bear tube pre?

PS.
I promise you guys I'll digest and respond to all of the other [overwhelmingly] helpful information provided so far on my other vinyl-fevered requests for info and assistance. Had absolutely no idea how involved this could be, but that's all helped me off to a great start. Work's killing me for the past several weeks, and just trying to get ducks lined up for knowledge consumption and processing for when it finally dies down.

Dennis Gardner

For $500, I would say a Jolida JD9 to start with. Great design, full of mod potential. The only thing that I wish they had was knob controlled capacitance instead of internal dip switches.

jdjohn

I just got a Pro-ject Phono Box DS+ and am very pleased with it. It is within your price range, but solid state not tube. It has lots of phono stage settings/options, which are all handled on the front via an LCD display and buttons.

vcwatkins

Assuming MM only, I'd get the Lounge LCR for $300

dromunds

The zphono is one heck of a bargain at a hundred or less used, non USB version. Dynavector P-75 will cost more but is very good. PS Audio GCPH is also very good.

DollarDave

I've tried a few with my PT-5 and have found the Pro-Ject Tube Box S to be by far the best bang for the buck in terms of sound quality, flexible impedance/capacitance settings, and adjustable gain levels.

And, best of all...it can be had in silver.

MrBuhl

I think the Bottleheads are giant killers for a lot less than that if you're able (I'm not).

I would also throw out that I really like my Vincent Pho-700 and it's within your price range, its 12AU7 based.

voltz

so many great ones....

Parasound Z-phono is excellent as everyone has spoken of, I only replaced mine because I need one smaller to sit beside my TT on the top shelf...

Now I have the Vincent PHO-8 which Ed had also before he upgrade to the PHO-700

there is also the Bugle 2 DIY like Mr.Biron had that Doc Hardy is listening to.

but I would think the one in Parasounds P5 would be as good as the Z-Phono?

I think Park's audio has one I seen when I ordered my SUT from them...

SCompRacer

If you like to build stuff, look at the Bottlehead Reduction. $369. To bump it up a couple of notches, add the Integration upgrade, $169 when purchased with pre. $179 if you add it later. The Integration upgrade adds constant current sources that replace the stock plate load resistors. A significant, worthwhile upgrade.

http://bottlehead.com/?product=reduction-phono-preamplifier-kit

A friend brought one over, I was very impressed with it. I opted for the higher priced Bottlehead Eros ($750).

MrBuhl

voltz wrote: »

so many great ones....

Now I have the Vincent PHO-8 which Ed had also before he upgrade to the PHO-700

Still using the PHO-8 as well Voltz! Its a great phono pre and I use it with the McCormack / Audible Illusions setup!

soundfreak1

No matter what you end up with I recommend making sure it will handle MC cart. as if you ever use one you will be seriously impressed. The tone arm you have works very well with one. Also if your are going to play diff cart an adjustable pre would be advise able just for convince and flexibility. My only experience with stand alone pre's is a vintage (modded) parasound (1000 series I believe) but is was simular but not superior to the pre in my preamp in A/B testing. But were I to look at one I would require these features. This is a critical piece of equip when talking vinyl and cart. Emphasis on the cart!!!! After all the cart is the critical part of the disision when desiding on the pre. They must mate well (senergy here is crucial )

voltz

I followed what Rich was doing and got a SUT from Park's and it helped with my High MC that came with my TT. Even though my Vincent PHO-8 has a MM/MC setting it helped and Someday I may try out a Low MC but so far I really like the Blue point #2 with my TT...

pglbook

The Musical Surroundings Phonomena and Phonomena II get excellent reviews. The newer II model may be a little outside your budget (looks like the II goes for around $700) but they both get great reviews. I have not actually heard it but I have done a lot of online research on phone preamps since I am also looking to get one myself in the near future and the Phonomena is at the top of my list in its price range.

SCompRacer

voltz wrote: »

I followed what Rich was doing and got a SUT from Park's and it helped with my High MC that came with my TT.

+1 for SUT's (step up transformers). Noiseless gain. I prefer an SUT with MM stage over a high gain LOMC phono pre anymore. The SUT tranny handles the cartridge impedance difference by proper matching, and has a 47K ohm output for MM stages.

msg

Hey guys, having a look through your contributions here and gathering some notes on each and doing some reading.

D - you mentioned the Parks Audio stuff. Anyone have any experience with the Budgie? Looks like you can pair one of their SUT's with it? Am I understanding that correctly? Would this be akin to upgrading the power supply?

SCompRacer

I have the Park's audio Budgie SUT. Very impressive for the price. Very quiet. It uses a circuit board with board mounted CineMag transformers. I have no placement issues with it like I did with my DIY SUT with wires. There are some happy folks here with Park's Budgie SUT's.

Based on my experience with Park's I'd say his phono would be worth a try. For what it's worth, I'm staying with MM phono and SUT for my LOMC cartridges. He is very helpful with info before ordering for proper gain/loading.







I could not place my DIY SUT where the Budgie is without picking up nasty hum. Shielding would help of course, and better yet use a ferrous metal case. I love a dead quiet background with my digital and vinyl playback.

voltz

If you got his Phono amp he would always be a big help to you..and if you ever changed your cartridge to a LOW MC then adding his SUT to work with his MM phono amp would be the way to go.

His SUT work very well with my Vincent PHO-8 and my High MC ...I'd change my cartridge to a nice low MC, but its sound to good to miss with right now.

Mikey081057

SCompRacer wrote: »

I have the Park's audio Budgie SUT. Very impressive for the price. Very quiet. It uses a circuit board with board mounted CineMag transformers. I have no placement issues with it like I did with my DIY SUT with wires. There are some happy folks here with Park's Budgie SUT's.

Based on my experience with Park's I'd say his phono would be worth a try. For what it's worth, I'm staying with MM phono and SUT for my LOMC cartridges. He is very helpful with info before ordering for proper gain/loading.







I could not place my DIY SUT where the Budgie is without picking up nasty hum. Shielding would help of course, and better yet use a ferrous metal case. I love a dead quiet background with my digital and vinyl playback.

I've read nothing but raves on the Budgie and want to try one

msg

Any particular piece, Mike, or the line in general?

Mikey081057

The phono pre... I sold my Phonomena II some time ago after I got my P5 and have been doing a lot of research... The Budgie stands out as a great value and nice performer.

msg

Gotcha.
Oh, speaking of - how does the P5 compare to the Phonomena II?

Mikey081057

The Phonomena II is a fine pre for the price. I sold it to help pay for the P5. The PII had a lot of settings/options that I did not need and was 1 more component in the signal chain. It was very detailed and integrated nicely with the New Classic 2200 pre i had also sold to pay for the P5. I tried the PII with the P5 and somehow convinced myself that the gain in SQ was minimal (which is what most decent hi fi upgrades do). Did my vinyl sound better with the PII in the chain? Definitely... But in reality I only get to listen to vinyl occasionally and could not justify it with the P5. Plus the blue LED was annoying.

hochpt21

I just bought a budgie today

Mikey081057

hochpt21 wrote: »

I just bought a budgie today

Anxious to hear your impressions....or maybe i wont wait

msg

Maaan, I'm right there with you guys on that. Kinda want to do a comparison to see for myself how some of these pre's and technologies differ, but not sure the rest of my system is there for it at this point.

Hoch - you get just the pre, or one of the SUT's too?

Mikey081057

Just ordered the budgie... can't wait for @hochpt21

hochpt21

msg wrote: »

Maaan, I'm right there with you guys on that. Kinda want to do a comparison to see for myself how some of these pre's and technologies differ, but not sure the rest of my system is there for it at this point.

Hoch - you get just the pre, or one of the SUT's too?

Just the pre. I sent him a list of my gear and he said my integrated would have plenty of gain. He even recommended the setting best for my cart.

hochpt21

I've had my eye on some tube phono pre's for a short time now and this thread pushed me over the edge. I couldn't find one bad review out there on this unit, and for the price range, I thought it was worth the buy.

SCompRacer

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Just ordered the budgie... can't wait for @hochpt21

Kewl! Anxious to hear your impressions!

msg

gyaah, you guys are a bad influence. I gotta stop hanging around here. I swore I was gonna be patient and controlled with this project. I sounded believable at the time...

dromunds

Paul, I'd be interested to know how your new one holds up against the GCPH.