[ecramer]

Any one familiar with the  Musical fidelity A308cr hows the phono section  or the  Linn Kairn phono. I am thinking about picking up a SS pre so my tubes don't fight the air conditioner. Any other brands / models i should be looking at used is better <>$1000

ED

[rajacat]

http://www.avahifi.com/root/equipment/preamplifier/insight_sl_preamp.htm

[woodsyi]

What about tubes on battery?

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preaphon&1239820244&/Dodd-Audio-Battery-Phono-Pre!

[TheChairGuy]

I've read the Quad preamp has a really nice phono section.....and I cannot rave enough about the Pioneer Elite SX-A9 receiver (with pre-amp out jacks).  It's got MM & MC (no loading tho ), and dual mono straight back to the toroid(s).

The tuner is passable and it's remote controlled, too.  I paid $700 or so and it's my main squeeze now

John

[ecramer]

Nice looking piece not sure if it would be any better then the Rogue phono section wihich i have 2 brimar 12ax7 and 2 mullard 12au7 which is pretty sweet.   

http://www.avahifi.com/root/equipment/preamplifier/insight_sl_preamp.htm

[ecramer]

http://www.avahifi.com/root/equipment/preamplifier/insight_sl_preamp.htm

Cant plug my felix power cord in to that  but seriously by the time you add in the phono and remote your at $1400 which both pre's i mentioned have there's a lot of nice equipment on agon in that price range that may or may not be higher up on the food chain YMMV

ED

[rajacat]

http://www.avahifi.com/root/equipment/preamplifier/insight_sl_preamp.htm

Cant plug my felix power cord in to that  but seriously by the time you add in the phono and remote your at $1400 which both pre's i mentioned have there's a lot of nice equipment on agon in that price range that may or may not be higher up on the food chain YMMV

ED

I just purchased an used AVA t7 pre w/phono directly from AVA. I can't give you good review on the phono section since I'm still working out the bugs in my vinyl setup. Also the phono in the T7 has tubes whereas in the Insight it's SS. If you go to the AVA circle I'm sure that there are many that will gladly give their opinions . If you keep your eye on AVA's used page occasionally a deal will appear and factory gear is supplied with a warranty and 30 day return policy. Agon can be a crap shoot especially if shipping is involved.

You'll just have to plug the lamp cord power cord into your felix.

-Roy

ps.....I bet that Frank would sell a lot more gear if he would ditch the lamp cord for an IEC Receptacle. It's a matter of principle.

[doug s.]

i owned a linn kairn w/fono.  it had the brilliant p/s, but not the latest (at that time?) slimline iteration.  it was a fine preamp - for s/s.  after trying tubes, there's no way i would go back to s/s  but, if i had to, the kairn is a great choice, imo.  its built in fono was way better than an outboard musical surroundings phonomena i auditioned, if this helps any...

doug s.

[Wayner]

I'm running 2 AVA Insight EC preamplifiers with the Phono option with my tables, and the pre is great. Maybe the fastest slew rate in the industry (800v/ms) and it has a very "tube like" sound without the tubes. It will also drive any reasonable amplifier to thrilling levels. I also have the Tape Buffer option to keep recording devices tamed down when recording vinyl to CDs for archival. The EC version also has a nice hi/lo filter for noisy lps. Frank has been working real hard on the phono boards and this one is a real winner.

Wayner 

[ecramer]

I'm running 2 AVA Insight EC preamplifiers with the Phono option with my tables, and the pre is great. Maybe the fastest slew rate in the industry (800v/ms) and it has a very "tube like" sound without the tubes. It will also drive any reasonable amplifier to thrilling levels. I also have the Tape Buffer option to keep recording devices tamed down when recording vinyl to CDs for archival. The EC version also has a nice hi/lo filter for noisy lps. Frank has been working real hard on the phono boards and this one is a real winner.

Wayner 

Is the ava phono just MM or can is it MM /MC

ED

[ecramer]

Thanks Doug
I am just trying to narrow my search. I figured some one would have heard these pre's and say if they had a crummy phono or just bad. I am really not trying to replace the tubes in my system just with the  air conditioner running in the window all critical listening is out so why burn the tubes up.

ED

i owned a linn kairn w/fono.  it had the brilliant p/s, but not the latest (at that time?) slimline iteration.  it was a fine preamp - for s/s.  after trying tubes, there's no way i would go back to s/s  but, if i had to, the kairn is a great choice, imo.  its built in fono was way better than an outboard musical surroundings phonomena i auditioned, if this helps any...

doug s.

[Dan Kolton]

Although I have a Supex step-up tranny, I can play my Denon 103 through the Insight phono. pre without it.  Just have to turn it up to 12 instead of 9 o'clock...sounds the same.

[ecramer]

My Rogue is like that you can get it to play by turning up the volume. For me that was an accident waiting to happen I bought a Paris Head Amp from Aspen Amplifiers which works very well with the rogue, but did not like my Rotel RT-1070 at all. Don't know how my head amp would match up with the insight.

ED

Although I have a Supex step-up tranny, I can play my Denon 103 through the Insight phono. pre without it.  Just have to turn it up to 12 instead of 9 o'clock...sounds the same.

[AudioSoul]

  I have a Forte Model 2 that I bought just for that reason. It has a very flexable phono section, an outboard power supply and will take both MM and MC
carts and is very flexable with the loading. Check one out......

[ecramer]

This pre gets a pretty glowing review on audiogon might be interesting to check one out probably be able to pick one up fairly cheap.

ED

  I have a Forte Model 2 that I bought just for that reason. It has a very flexable phono section, an outboard power supply and will take both MM and MC
carts and is very flexable with the loading. Check one out......