Tube phono pre-amps

duff138 · « **on:** 31 Jan 2003, 04:40 pm »

Anyone have any comments on tube phono pre-amps. I'm helping my brother-in-law upgrade his sytem into a mid-fi system. He's waiting for his Rega 3 to come in. He has an Audio-Technica cartridge he'll be using.
He likes the idea of tube amps. Unfortunatley now he's using a Technics receiver. I suggested getting a nice tube phono amp, which he could run into the tape jack on his receiver. This would have to be an improvement other the phono input preamp in the Technics. Eventually he'll be able to then ungrade to a nice integrated amp, and have a good phono tube amp already.
This new Antique SoundLab looks like it maybe the one for him. Hard to bet at this price. Any other idea or suggestions would be appreciated.

http://www.divertech.com/aslminiphono.htm

http://www.divertech.com/antiquesl.html#PRE

jcoat007 · « **Reply #1 on:** 31 Jan 2003, 05:27 pm »

Check this out:

http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/phono4.htm

Sells for $255.00

duff138 · « **Reply #2 on:** 31 Jan 2003, 06:16 pm »

Quote from: jcoat007

Check this out:

http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/phono4.htm

Sells for $255.00

I saw those, but don't you need to buy the power supply for that? That adds another $195.

eric the red · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Feb 2003, 02:11 am »

Doesn't norh make a tubed phono stage for @ 250.00?

jcoat007 · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Feb 2003, 06:16 pm »

Yep, missed that PS.

I have a Gram Amp 2SE and an eAR834p. Both are really nice, but the Gram Amp is not tube.

Here is a Gram Amp for sale for $225:

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?preatran&1047141325

and an 834p that has the Hoveland caps which are said to send this unit to a whole new level. $600 though:

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?preatube&1049245957

Have fun.

duff138 · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Feb 2003, 09:53 pm »

Thanks guys. I found a site offering a demo unit Antique Sound Lab mini phono for $186.75 + shipping, so my brother-in-law bought it. I'll let you know how it sounds once it's hooked up.

Rocket · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Feb 2003, 02:17 am »

hello,

do you have the website address where you bought the asl phono preamp. i would also be interested in finding out your impressions of this unit, i currently have a nad phono stage and it is terrible.

looking at upgrading the phono stage later this year.

regards

rod

JoshK · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Feb 2003, 11:38 pm »

Duff,

I wonder. Why do you necessarily want a tube phono pre if you haven't even heard or have in mind a particular one? I mean it is far easier to screw up a budget phono stage with tubes than with SS, imo. The RIAA re-eq'n is VERY sensitive to noise and tubes inherently have a higher noise floor. If not done well can cause problems. A dealer of mine (tube & vinyl aficionado) has even gone so far as to say that he would avoid tube phono's at all cost in lieu of SS phono's. He said something to the effect that they have their place but "not in my damn phono". I think this is just a result of bad experiences with tube phono pre's done wrong. I can't say I have tried all that many myself, but I love my monolithic and it doesn't have tubes.

duff138 · « **Reply #8 on:** 3 Feb 2003, 12:21 am »

Quote from: Rocket

hello,

do you have the website address where you bought the asl phono preamp. i would also be interested in finding out your impressions of this unit, i currently have a nad phono stage and it is terrible.

looking at upgrading the phono stage later this year.

regards

rod

Here's the link:

http://www.scsoundgallery.com/

duff138 · « **Reply #9 on:** 3 Feb 2003, 12:26 am »

Quote from: JoshK

Duff,

I wonder. Why do you necessarily want a tube phono pre if you haven't even heard or have in mind a particular one? I mean it is far easier to screw up a budget phono stage with tubes than with SS, imo. The RIAA re-eq'n is VERY sensitive to noise and tubes inherently have a higher noise floor. If not done well can cause problems. A dealer of mine (tube & vinyl aficionado) has even gone so far as to say that he would avoid tube phono's at all cost in lieu of SS phono's. He said something to the effect that they have their place but "not in my damn phono". I think this is just a result of bad experiences with tube phono pre's done wrong. I can't say I have tried all that many myself, but I love my monolithic and it doesn't have tubes.

JoshK,
It was for my brother-in-law. I think he was just looking for an inexpensive phono pre-amp at first, then the idea of tubes interested him. I'm using the monolithic sound w/ power upgrade too. I'll try do comparison once he gets it.

akshobhyavajra · « **Reply #10 on:** 3 Feb 2003, 01:52 pm »

Quote from: JoshK

Duff,

I wonder. Why do you necessarily want a tube phono pre if you haven't even heard or have in mind a particular one? I mean it is far easier to screw up a budget phono stage with tubes than with SS, imo. The RIAA re-eq'n is VERY sensitive to noise and tubes inherently have a higher noise floor. If not done well can cause problems. A dealer of mine (tube & vinyl aficionado) has even gone so far as to say that he would avoid tube phono's at all cost in lieu of SS phono's. He said something to the effect that they have their place but "not in my damn phono". I think this is just a result of bad experiences with tube phono pre's done wrong. I can't say I have tried all that many myself, but I love my monolithic and it doesn't have tubes.

I do agree in part - it is difficult to find a quiet tube phono - at least at a low price. My concern with the ASL Mini Phono has always been the high gain setting of 57 db - which would reduce the overload margin of carts which are MM or HOMC.

Tube phonos like the Art Audio Vinyl One or Herron Audio VTPH-1 are not only quiet, but are some of the most exquisite phonos around (I've had the opportunity to audition a Vinyl One for several hours) and surely ought not to be ignored.

I, too like the Monolithic for the money, but not nearly as much as the tubed V1.

In the under 1K category SS may indeed be a more viable option.

Regards,

~Michael~

duff138 · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Feb 2003, 01:28 am »

akshobhyavajra,
i too was concerned about the 57db gain, but i called the seller and he said he has not had any problems even with very high output cartridges. i even had my my brother-in-law call the Canadian distributor and they told him it was built for mm and homc cartridges. hopefully i can get to here it in a few days.

akshobhyavajra · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Feb 2003, 01:10 pm »

Quote from: duff138

akshobhyavajra,
i too was concerned about the 57db gain, but i called the seller and he said he has not had any problems even with very high output cartridges. i even had my my brother-in-law call the Canadian distributor and they told him it was built for mm and homc cartridges. hopefully i can get to here it in a few days.

I guess I am a bit cynical when it comes to human nature - here is a link to a decent basic guideline for MM & MC settings:

http://www.kabusa.com/pregain.htm

I am sure that the phono will work - heck - I'd look for a 0.5 mV or so MC - since the gain will be nearly perfect for it.

Regards,

~Michael~

duff138 · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Feb 2003, 05:57 pm »

Quote from: akshobhyavajra

Quote from: duff138
akshobhyavajra,
i too was concerned about the 57db gain, but i called the seller and he said he has not had any problems even with very high output cartridges. i even had my my brother-in-law call the Canadian distributor and they told him it was built for mm and homc cartridges. hopefully i can get to here it in a few days.

I guess I am a bit cynical when it comes to human nature - here is a link to a decent basic guideline for MM & MC settings:

http://www.kabusa.com/pregain.htm

I am sure that the phono will work - heck - I'd look for a 0.5 mV or so MC - since the gain will be nearly perfect for it.

Regards,

~Michael~

that's why i not sure it's 57db. if that was true they would be designing a $250 phono amp for very exotic, not so common low output cart.

akshobhyavajra · « **Reply #14 on:** 5 Feb 2003, 05:00 pm »

Quote from: duff138

that's why i not sure it's 57db. if that was true they would be designing a $250 phono amp for very exotic, not so common low output cart.

Let us know how it works out for you - I'd be interested to know.

Regards,

~Michael~