Phono Pre-Amps - Which One?

dkg999
dkg999 Posts: 5,647
edited October 2008 in 2 Channel Audio
Now that I've got the new TT on the way (Pro-ject RM-5 SE), I need a decent phono preamp. My main pre-amp is a Rogue 66 Magnum that has the remote option and does not have a phono preamp section. I need a phono pre that will support a MC cartridge, which excludes the little Belarius tube phono pre that I had my eye on.

My budget would be up to $500 new or used. Associated gear is Rogue 66 Magnum pre, Parasound HCA-1500A amps, and Magnepan 1.6QR speakers with SVS SB12+ sub.

What phono pre's should I keep my eye out for on the used marketplace? What new phono pre's should I look at?
DKG999
HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
Post edited by dkg999 on
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Comments

  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2008
    Project has some nice phono stages at and below your budget; when I had the RM-5 I used a Project tube box 2 and liked it.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited August 2008
    Ricardo - thanks! I was using the Pro-ject pre's when I was listening to cart's last Saturday. They seem to be plentiful on the used market, so that may be a good direction to go. I don't have any basis of experience with phono pre's, so wanted to get some thoughts from the forum.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited August 2008
    How important is the sub-sonic filter on a phono pre?
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2008
    I just picked a used Jolida JD-9 with level 1 mods. I'll let you know what I think in a couple of weeks.

    (The Marsh A400s I got "comes" with a P2000B preamp, and I'm just going to give it a try against my Belles. I dumped my Belles amp for the Marsh amp, so we'll see what happens here. The Marsh pre does not have a phono stage, so I need something for the comparison.) ;)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2008
    Get a used Dynavector P-75,, can be had for about 375.00,, mm and mc,, check agon,, there is usually one around,,small footprint,, easy to resell if you do not like it--good luck--george
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2008
    dkg999 wrote: »
    How important is the sub-sonic filter on a phono pre?


    I don't have one, but I think it can be important if you get a lot of feed back in your TT and get that subsonic rumble in the drivers. I get some of that sometimes. It all depends on the flexibility you have to locate and isolate the TT.

    That from a vinyl newbie; wait for the experts ;)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited August 2008
    I picked up a demo Pro-ject Tube Box II SE at the Music Direct store on my way home from work. Well, it was a little out of my way, but well worth it. I've got plenty of different varieties of 12ax7 tubes, so I can experiment!
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited August 2008
    Wow you are doing it right way. Sweet.

    Congrats dkg999 you are going to love it,
    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2008
    That's a nice one; the stock project tubes are not too bad either.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited August 2008
    I was also going to recommend the Dynavector P75. Retail is $750, but I've been in Music Direct a couple times when they've had a demo they were willing to sell for $500.

    If for some reason the Pro-Ject doesn't tickle your fancy, I would definitely check the DV out.

    Have fun!
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
    Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2008
    I'm content with mine,, for the moment until I upgrade to the Acoustech Ph-1P,, currently replacing the ps caps in mine,, and running it on 12 volt DC,, it's very quiet.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,803
    edited August 2008
    I like the Bottlehead Seduction and Jim Hagerman's phono preamps (Bugle, Cornet):
    www.bottlehead.com
    www.hagtech.com

    Lots of good choices at all price points (e.g., the Manley Steelhead, if you've got the spare change)... I think the two above are leaders in bang/buck ratio, though. Mark Deneen's "Juicy Music Tercel" is probably a contender, too... I haven't heard one yet, but I have seen and heard other examples of Mark's designs and been impressed.
    http://www.juicymusicaudio.com/


    I think I currently have a pair of Amperex 6922s in my Seduction, but I won't swear to it.

    P1020763.jpg

    (an under-chassis view; the top view's pretty bland)
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  • analog97
    analog97 Posts: 328
    edited August 2008
    I second the opinion of mrh. The Hagerman Cornet2 is an unbelievable value for $500 (kit). 4 tubes and 4 lbs of iron!! It beats anything I've heard. One interesting justification for my choice is to try to find a used one!! Nobody is selling theirs. I don't blame them. :)
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  • jchouston
    jchouston Posts: 122
    edited October 2008
    I wish the Bellari's had a power on/off switch other than merely unplugging the unit. Isn't that dangerous for the unit?
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,803
    edited October 2008
    No, only to the plug if you yank on the cord :-)

    Plug it into a switched power strip. My whole living room hifi is one an old-time computer outlet center (the kind that sat under a CRT monitor... some of the oldest members here may dimly remember CRT computer monitors).
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  • jchouston
    jchouston Posts: 122
    edited October 2008
    Ha, with the orange glo on/off switches?
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,775
    edited October 2008
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    No, only to the plug if you yank on the cord :-)

    Plug it into a switched power strip. My whole living room hifi is one an old-time computer outlet center (the kind that sat under a CRT monitor... some of the oldest members here may dimly remember CRT computer monitors).

    Remember CRT's? I still use them on the computer. I won't give up my dual Triniton's until they die. I hate widescreen monitors for computer use, and the larger LCD's don't appear to be available in 4:3 anymore.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,803
    edited October 2008
    jchouston wrote: »
    Ha, with the orange glo on/off switches?
    Sir, yes, sir!
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