AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => The Vinyl Circle => Topic started by: ArmlessAudioMan on 8 Jul 2021, 05:28 pm
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What's your favorite Phono Tube Pre Amp?
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Cary SLP-05
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Dodd, Jolida, Hagerman... all three excellent, each does something a little different from the others.
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PS Audio BHK Signature. This is a hybrid design with a tube input stage and a class A MOSFET output stage
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I own four or five tube preamps, and there's something about each I like. All around sound is the Conrad Johnson, but then again the Quicksilver is right there as well. Plus it's a little bit more forgiving. Detail wise, I like the Odyssey, but it doesn't have a tape loop and just three inputs. I think the CJ is just slightly brighter than the Quicksilver, but neither has the detail that the Odyssey has. I also have an Adcom solid state, and it does make a good door stop. Then I have one of the better ASL preamps that has better caps in it. Funny thing about it is that it's very neutral. Been awhile since I've used it. My least favorite is one from one of the folks on this circle. Very clean, but always leaves me wanting more. To be honest; I need to give that one another chance with better cables. If I can buy what I want again; it'll have CJ written on the face plate!
gary
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disregard the above, as I was thinking regular preamps when I wrote the post. I still like the old George Wright as well as any I've heard (if not better than). Yet it's going to be replaced with a Darlington DP-7
gary
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I'm sure I have less experience than most, but I don't see a reason to ever get rid of my Dodd. I'd like to upgrade the caps and whatever else I can in it when I get the time. The Odyssey Candela was pretty close though. The Dodd is just overall quieter revealing more detail. Especially with a good 7308. May wait a while to find one though.
Would love to find a Dodd phono to use in line with an SUT.
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My old cj pv-5 was a simple tube pre with a great phono section. My first high end system. Many reviewers had this combination (( pv5 with mv50))a few years ago dick olsher mentioned the quality of sound the pv5 phono stage had/has.
Many others have come and gone. But nostalgia is golden
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Sorry, are you asking about phono stages (preamp with tubes), or line stage preamps with a built in phono stage (and tubes)?
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Sorry, are you asking about phono stages (preamp with tubes), or line stage preamps with a built in phono stage (and tubes)?
Oops. I must have just read the title and not the post asking about the phono part.
I have a Parks Audio Budgie phono pre, which for the price has proven pretty good... but I'm sure is the current weak link in my phono chain.
I've been keeping my eyes open for either an Eastern Electric phono (with built in SUT for MC), or a Dodd MM Phono to use in line with an SUT... Or possibly upgrading all the internals of the Budgie and running an SUT in line to use with future MC carts.
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Audio Research Sp-15 has a three tube phono section and is a great preamp for listening to LPs.
I use it with my Kusma Stabi/Stogi TT
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My current tube phono-pre (Fosgate Signature) is plenty satisfying to me ......
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Either way, both my preamps are from Kevin Carter at K&K. The K&K "Maxxed Out" phono pre is a jfet/triode tube hybrid employing amorphous core, LL1674 Lundahl transformers for MM duty. For MC step up, it employs another pair of amorphous core LL1931 Lundahl's for 64 db of gain. :green:
Check it out... http://www.kandkaudio.com/
-Dieter
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preamp vs linestage vs phono stage
details matter
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Manley Chinook,
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I love my Wright Sound tube phono preamp. Mr. Wright was a small manufacture located in the Pacific NW. He passed on a number of years back.
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I like my JuicyMusic Tercel mk2 and Tavish Audio Vintage 6SL7. Both are stand-alone tubed phono sections.
First post wording lacks a bit of clarity, so I'm confused. Perhaps he seeks full function tube preamp, including phono?
For this, I like my JuicyMusic Blueberry Xtreme mk2.
:thumb:
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My ModWright PH 9.0
Great tube phono. :thumb:
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My ModWright PH 9.0
Great tube phono. :thumb:
+1
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My old cj pv-5 was a simple tube pre with a great phono section. My first high end system. Many reviewers had this combination (( pv5 with mv50))a few years ago dick olsher mentioned the quality of sound the pv5 phono stage had/has.
Many others have come and gone. But nostalgia is golden
If I still had my CJ PV5/MV50 combination, I believe I'd be totally satisfied even today. Just match the MV50 with a fairly efficient speaker with a benign impedance curve that stays above 4 ohms. Musicality in spades.
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Shindo Aurieges MM /A23 SUT. Previous to that, a CJ Premiere 3 used as a phono section only via the tape outs. Noisier than the Aurieges, but from a pure musical enjoyment standpoint, they're both winners. Bottom line is that I think there's some wonderful phono stages out there "buried" in many of the full function pre-amps from the 70's and 80's. Remembering that the phono stage was the main design parameter in pre-amps of that era. Fortunately most of these have tape outs for a quick audition as well.
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Hagerman Cornet II Bottlehead Seduction, Wright WPP 200C
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My ModWright PH 9.0
Great tube phono. :thumb:
+1
+2
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I love my Wright Sound tube phono preamp. Mr. Wright was a small manufacture located in the Pacific NW. He passed on a number of years back.
:thumb:
I have the Wright Sound phono stage as well and will never part with it. Have the low output MC module and Amperex Bugle Boy's. Your the only other person I have heard of that has one. Very rare and hard to come by.
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The K&K "Maxxed Out" phono pre is a jfet/triode tube hybrid employing amorphous core, LL1674 Lundahl transformers for MM duty. For MC step up, it employs another pair of amorphous core LL1931 Lundahl's for 64 db of gain.
I'd have to agree with Dieterle Tool, I've had my K&K Maxxed Out phono pre for many years with no urge to change. I have the optional silver LL1647 SUTs and it just sounds right.
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I think a good question to accompany this is "What else have you heard in direct comparison against the one you are recommending?" I bet everyone recommends the one they own and like, which is OK, but a comparison between them is definitely more helpful. How else can you say which one does something better then the other. Manley, CJ, Hagerman, AR, K&K, Write, all make great phono stages but each does something a little different. It's those subtleties that will become important to you in your system, of course.
But then again, you will likely be happy with any of them, as long as you haven't listened to one vs another side by side.
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Emotive Audio Epifania.
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The one I have...a Luxman EQ500. It is absolutely the quietest phono stage I have ever owned owned and also sounds better! I have lived in several places over the years and there was always an issue with phono hum when cranking up the volume, no matter what I tried. I think one "secret" of the Luxman's quietness is that the IEC inlet has no ground with only 2 prongs. I have tried using cheater plugs with the other phono stages and it didn't do much.
Other phono stages I have owned are; the battery powered Sutherlnd PhD, Herron Vtph-2, and Tavish Audio Design Adagio. The EQ500 has out performed them all and is my (dare I say it?)..."end game" phono stage!
I'm sure there are other even better performing phono stages (for more money), but I am tired of being on the upgrade path!
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I only know one tube phono pre, and it is....a cheap Chinese clone of the EAR 834 preamp.
I traded some unused Axiom speakers that I got for free, so it cost me nothing.
While there is the faintest bit more noise than my Benz Micro Lukaschek preamp, I like the clone much better (using it with a K & K Basic SUT and NOS Denon DL-300 cartridge). I wanted an all-tube signal chain for my vinyl, and now that I have it, I am overjoyed.
I wish I could audition a better tube phono pre, but these times make it kind of difficult for such endeavours.
Anyhow, for those on a really low budget, I recommend one of these EAR 834 clones. Mine is by "Zero Zone", FWIW.
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Modwright PH9.0X outstanding
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NVO-SPA II was exceptional.
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I got to thinking the Jolida JD-9 might be the weakest link in the big system so should have this old bruiser in the my hands next week:
conrad-johnson EV-1
Sexy Black Box
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=230931)
Guts
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=230932)
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Coincident pre-amp for SET system
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Had a couple on Tube Pre's. The best available at present at any price is the Pass B1 Korg designed by Nelson Pass & available in kit form through DIYaudio. Occasionally comes up as a S/H item for around $300 to $500, I now have 2.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiJypbsndPzAhWYzjgGHZDFDIAQFnoECCYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2F6moons.com%2Faudioreviews2%2Ffirstwatt4%2F1.html&usg=AOvVaw1EJxc-Z2DiqYyWEAcfQ2FG
Cheers
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Since I reread and saw it was phono-pre, I use the Cary 302 Mk 2 with NOS RCA black plate 6sn7s. It is more neutral and balanced then most Cary gear which tends to be sweet. It is also adjustable for loading and uses Lundahl Transformers for the MC gain stage. Previously had a Nova 2 and a Doge 8 Preamp with phono stage using an SUT for MC gain. All are good in their way, but I think I like the Cary best so far.
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Cary SLP-05
I just realized you were asking about phono preamps. For me it's the EAR 834P.
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Manley Chinook,
Agreed. Manley Chinook--for the money. Hard for me to ever sell it!
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I have an ARC SP11 that was in storage for 20 years so it is almost as new. It is so revealing and does just what a Pre should... gets out of the way of the music. The down sides I would say are the lack of remote, the warmup time, and the inability to easily improve the power cord. I am thinking of upgrading the fuses though.
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I’m very happy with my Vista Audio phono 2. I have it hooked up to a Thorens td125 mkii, with a new dynavector 10x5 low output mc. Microzotl2 for the line stage and Omega speakers. A little Lance Cochrane EL84 tube amp pushes the speakers.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=237025)
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This one
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=237038)
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Luxman EQ-500 until I upgrade to Kevin Hayes’ phono stage for my VAC Master preamp.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=237040)
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I got to thinking the Jolida JD-9 might be the weakest link in the big system so should have this old bruiser in the my hands next week:
conrad-johnson EV-1
You may be surprised at the outcome. I've run some pretty good phono preamps, and the Jolida isn't outclassed. Dodd had slightly richer, deeper bass, Hagerman Trumpet is richer in tone, but all are honestly very similar in overall sound quality. The Jolida probably has the best mid detail. You might simply prefer one over the other.
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I have the first iteration the Herron Audio Tube Phono Pre. Love it and never felt the need to try anything else.
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Yes, the Jolida is pretty good but that EV-1 is a step up, especially in the width and depth of the soundstage.
This morning I put on The Tubes first album and it felt like I was settling into my seat at Radio City Musical Hall.
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I have had 4 tube phono amps.
1. Music Hall something? okay not great
2. Wright WPP 200 great sound a bit too dark for me
3. Bottlehead Seduction nice and sweet too sweet
4. Hagerman Cornet II just perfect full rich