[lcrim]

Since getting my new bedroom system up and running,  the modest nature of my analog section has become more apparent.  I have a Decware Select Triode driving Parker 96 MKII's with no preamp but a rotary switch box.  The present Rotel RQ-970BX phono section may be the most replaceable link in the analog chain.  I have an older Rega P3 (low class belt drive) w/ an SME III arm mounting a Benz Micro MC20E2 cart.  
The new Grado phono section has gotten great press and lists for $400, I saw a used Lehmann Black Cube, stock power supply on A'Gon for $300, the Gram Slee II SE goes for $359 and I think Kevin over @ KAB has a nice phono pre @ around the same price point, in addition to Channel Islands which is a bit more when you add in the power supply upgrade.  
Anybody have any personal experience of any of these or suggest alternatives. (other than replacing the Rega w/ a Technics or massive power side upgrades.)
Larry Crimmins

[Psychicanimal]

Anybody have any personal experience of any of these or suggest alternatives. (other than replacing the Rega w/ a Technics or massive power side upgrades.)  ...

Wrong.

A TT has no place in my bedroom.  A CD changer, yes...

[JoshK]

PA...I suggest you read the Posting Guidelines.

[Rocket]

Hi Icrim,

I don't have any actual experiences with the phonostages you are looking at buying.

You should check out the latest reviews on tnt audio as scott fuller has done a comparison of the graham slee phonostages

I have a perreaux phonostage and have had Major hum issues so i wouldn't recommend that one.

I did listen to a musical fidelity phonostage which i thought sounded similiar to the perreaux but without the hum issues.

I also note that mgalushu is selling a musical fidelity xlps (modified) for about $150us which you should check out.

regards

rod

[Marbles]

If your handy you could build a really killer Hagtech Cornet for about that money.

I'm guessing it would be better than those you mentioned and would be the strength of your system.

If your not handy with a solder Iron, I'd skip it or look for a used one on Agon.

As far as a TT in your bedroom, I had one in my bedroom from when I was 13 until I was 22 and loved every minute of it.

[lcrim]

One of the reasons I wanted to try a better quality solid state phono section is because the Toshiba 3950 DVD (and CD) player and Samsung 360 HD receiver which are the other sources, do not react well to heat.  I left about a foot and a half over the Decware Select, (which isn't a big heat generator anyway) and the rest of the components to avoid heat issues.
The Hagerman kits are a little beyond my soldering skills, I'm afraid.  I just looked up the MF X-LPS and the reviews seem mixed. But thanks for the suggestion, Rod.

[mcrespo71]

I've heard the VPI scout hooked up to a Lehman Black Cube and I thought it sounded quite good.  Quiet, detailed, and extended is how I'd characterize its performance.  I didn't realize it was going for $300, but it's a lot of performance for that $.

Michael

[lcrim]

Just bought an Antique Sound Labs Mini (tubed) phono pre from Brian @ Venus HiFi.  Open box that had the ASL logo stenciled upside down, great price.  Does the sound come out upside down?  
Looking forward to hearing it.

[JoshK]

Good luck, let us know what you think of it.

[lcrim]

I received the ASL mini yesterday and installed it right away.  My initial impressions (well after 3-4 hours of burn in) are that there is so much more treble and bass info on the vinyl that I just never heard before.  The other side of the coin is that surface noise is also more abundant.  I have an EV-1 record cleaning machine from KAB, and I rewashed several LP's in hopes that the noise would clear up but no, its there forever.

The gain thing is in a word-sufficient.  I do have to crank the Select gain higher than for my CD player and also throw the presence toggle on things like the Stones but reggae and Bach's Brandenburgs don't need it.  The music gets louder than I'm comfortable with at full gain so there is enough headroom.  Small room , efficient speakers, its fine.
All in all , a step forward and I expect it to improve in time.

[Tonto Yoder]

 Open box that had the ASL logo stenciled upside down, great price.  Does the sound come out upside down?  

I believe the sound will come out OK, but fortunately heat from the tubes will FALL rather than rise.  Or it MAY be attracted towards the gravitational pull of Venus (be glad Brian didn't name his store "Uranus HiFi" since you DON'T want heat attracted towards Ur anus).

To address your surface noise issue, could you lower your VTA a bit???
That definitely would help noise, but as you know, could compromise the treble detail if carried to extremes.

[lcrim]

Tonto:
Hey, forgot to check this thread for awhile.  
I am seriously considering purchasing a Technics 1200.  Kevin at KAB is a great guy and has a reasonably priced ($625) model w/ a Stanton 681EEE cart that has my interest.  I think I may hold off on the power conditioning for the present however.