[Aman]

I want to upgrade my system. I have a MB-15 micro seiki turntable, a Perreaux SXH-1 .5 rev amp, Grado SR225 headphones, and still waiting on a phono stage and interconnects.

What should I get, keeping the price under 250 dollars, for a cable AND a phono stage? If possible, (not VERY important), but I'd like to buy both from the same online store.

By the way, if it will help, my sound preferences are musical mids and impactful bass (basically, anything musical. analytical means _almost_ nothing to me).

Thanks a bunch for any help!!
Andrew

[Marbles]

A hagtech bugle would be a good start on a phono pre.

[Aman]

I need one that isn't a kit (assembled) and, if possible, one that doesn't have a preamp with volume control and etc. Just a regular black box that switches from phono to aux.

Thanks!

How about a cable?

Appreciate the response!
Andrew

[JoshK]

In that price range of course I would look used first, you'd probably get more for your money but Graham Slee apparently has a good phono in your price range.  You might try to get someone to build you a hagerman too.  Cables I would start cheap and put all your money into the phono.  You can always upgrade the cables later.  You should always accustom yourself to the component before picking cables to match IMO anyway.

[Aman]

I just visited ToddTheVinylJunkie and I came out with this (this will be a family purchase and, as a result, I will pay for some, and the rest of the family will pay for the rest):

Product Name           Price     Quantity     Total     Delete
Grado Black       $40.00       $40.00    Delete
Grado PH1       $500.00       $500.00    Delete
DiMarzio High Definition Interconnects    3 ft.    $89.00       $89.00    Delete
     $629.00    Total

[Psychicanimal]

It's important you stay away from tube phono stages...

[mca]

It's important you stay away from tube phono stages...

Can you tell us why??

[zybar]

For $400-500 for a phono stage, I would highly recommend a used 834P phone stage.

It sounds good stock, and can get even better with NOS tubes and mods.

Looks like the budget has gone up...

George

[JoshK]

It's important you stay away from tube phono stages...

Can you tell us why??

I think Francisco is a big believer that for that kind of money it is darn near impossible to find a tube pre that can contend *without noise* with a solid state phono.  I might have to agree but my Audio Experience Concerto phono I do like a great deal more than my prior Monolithic that was tricked out.  I think Francisco owns the Monolithic.  The AE Concerto was a paltry $450 shipped and provides a supple platform to mod.

[Psychicanimal]

It's important you stay away from tube phono stages...

Can you tell us why??

Noise.