external phono pre amp, who uses one?

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danger boy
danger boy Posts: 15,722
edited February 2008 in Electronics
I think they are phono pre amps that I am asking about..

you hook up your turntable to this phono pre amp if your receiver doesn't have a phono input.. are they like DAC's, usually better sounding than most built in phono amps in receivers?


I am asking, since I think i'll be keeping around one or two turntables I got for cheap.. and I want them to sound their best and take it to the next level without buying a new turntable. Phono pre amps seem pretty reasonably priced from what I can tell if you just need a no frills one.

I see NAD, Parasound and Cambridge or Creek Audio make em for not much dinero.
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 8,102
    edited February 2008
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    Yes, they are ususally much better sounding than the built in phono stages in most modern receivers. If you go back to the 70's and early 80's though, the phono stages in receivers and preamps were quite nice.
    See profile for rigs. Nothing else here.
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  • BaggedLancer
    BaggedLancer Posts: 6,371
    edited February 2008
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    I wll own one soon if we can get some details back from Jolida. :(
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,516
    edited February 2008
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    Bottlehead Seduction on the living room hifi. Very nice for the cost, 'specially so if you enjoy slinging solder.

    The innards:
    P1020755.jpg

    The outards (bottom right on the shelf; tt is b&o TX-2, top right on shelf):
    P1020785.jpg
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  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited February 2008
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    I've been using a Hagerman Technology Bugle for a couple of months now. I enjoy it much more then the phono stage built in to my Carver pre. Better height and dimension to the soundstage, bass is a bit cleaner as well. Another kit, it was lots of fun to put together and a steal at under $65.
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,239
    edited February 2008
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    I will second the Hagerman Bugle. Great sound for $150 with the ac power supply. Or battery powered for less than $100. I used one for years and now am using a pre amp with a built in phono section. They sound about the same. I am going to use the Bugle to play 78rpm discs someday. The Bugle sounded better than the built in phono of the TAD, Carver or others I had on hand. I probably would have got a bottlehead but I use a low output MC cartridge and needed more gain. Hagermans piccolo head amp works great for that. His kits are easy and sound great. Someday I would love to get his $500 tube phono amp. If you want a carver ct-7 wireless remote control preamp with a phono section I have one for cheap. Vinyl can sound much better with a better phono section.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI-2170 w Polk LSiM 703/ Pioneer 42" plasma w Flex Streamer, Sangaen HDT-1tuner
    Vinyl: Nothingham Spacedeck->Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm->Soundsmith DL 103R w Contact line stylus->SUT->
    Bottlehead Eros
    Digital: I7 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY
    CD: DIY Shigaclone
    Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192->Goldwave->i7 PC server
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited February 2008
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    I use the phono stage of my Spectral pre as my phono pre.
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited February 2008
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    I use a Bellari- pretty solid for the price, but I think the one in my MF might be a little better. I did the A/B not long after I got the MF, so I wasn't totally adjusted to how it sounds.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2008
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    I use a dynavector P-75 (older model)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited February 2008
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    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Bottlehead Seduction on the living room hifi. Very nice for the cost, 'specially so if you enjoy slinging solder.

    The innards:
    P1020755.jpg

    The outards (bottom right on the shelf; tt is b&o TX-2, top right on shelf):
    P1020785.jpg

    Hey!...is that a sherwood tuner I see?

    Chuck
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,516
    edited February 2008
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    I've been using a Hagerman Technology Bugle for a couple of months now. I enjoy it much more then the phono stage built in to my Carver pre. Better height and dimension to the soundstage, bass is a bit cleaner as well. Another kit, it was lots of fun to put together and a steal at under $65.
    Yes, the Bugle is probably the best-value ss phono preamp out there today. Take a look at this review of budget phono preamps from audioXpress magazine:
    http://www.audioxpress.com/reviews/media/403hansen2090.pdf

    Hey!...is that a sherwood tuner I see?
    Yeah it's an S-2000 (AM-FM mono). It sounds great. Always on call is an S-3000 (FM only). Fabulous, under-the-radar tuners for good FM sound. Funny looking, though :-)
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  • analog97
    analog97 Posts: 328
    edited February 2008
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    I'm using the Hagerman Cornet2, an all-tube phono pre-amp...it's a killer for 1k assembled or about $600 kit (including upgraded caps, RCA's, etc). That rascal Jim Hagerman is quite an engineer, designer and a tremendous guy to deal with. I love to buy my stuff from a really skilled guy who actually excels at communication and all aspects of customer service. :)
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  • Jed Leland
    Jed Leland Posts: 182
    edited February 2008
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    Hello Mhardy6647,
    Quite a dapper rack mount roll-around, you have, for your open reel machines! Would you mind sharing the make and model?
    By the way, I second the motion for using an outboard phono pre-amplifier, I use a Tom Tutay design that made quite a difference.
    Cheers, Jed
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,516
    edited February 2008
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    First, let me note that the Cornet is also a HECK of a phono pre; probably a bit better all around than the Bottlehead Seduction, but also significantly more 'spensive. In the $500-ish range, Mark Deneen's Juicy Music Tercel phono preamp kit is also worthy of consideration. http://www.juicymusicaudio.com/
    Quite a dapper rack mount roll-around, you have, for your open reel machines! Would you mind sharing the make and model?
    Are you asking about the rack or the R2Rs? :-P
    The rack is a 1970s era Pioneer. I have two of 'em.

    P1020782.jpg

    The R2Rs are a TASCAM 22-4 4 track and a Pioneer RT-909 (quarter-track stereo).
    They're the only R2Rs in the house nice enough to live upstairs...

    P1030096.jpg

    sorry for the temporary hijack, there, OP...
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  • Jed Leland
    Jed Leland Posts: 182
    edited February 2008
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    Thank you for the information! They seem to fetch a pretty penny on eBay.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,516
    edited February 2008
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    edit: sorry, OT.
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