[Yomaha]

Hi,

I was curious for some user recommendations on an external phono tube amp. I recently purchased a music hall 2.2mmf which is my main source. Speakers are old Polk s6's & Grado sr125 headphones. Amp is older onkyo solid state.

There are alot of things that need to be upgraded in that chain, but I want to start with the phono stage. I listen to alot of different kinds of music, but I have a preference for rock (Brmc, Black Angels). I love a full low end and the fuzzy warmth of good tubes. What do you think?

Thanks!

[doug s.]

i'd recommend a tube preamp and a s/s phono stage...

doug s.

[Delta Wave]

You may want to tryout an older "broadcast" phono stage, you'd be surprised of how good they sound and for how cheap you can get them. I have an old RTS Systems Model 405 and it's sound is nothing short of superb (it sounded much better than an ARC SP9). I also recently picked up a NOS Micro-Trak I have yet to try. I got the latter for $25.

[lazydays]

been saying for years and years now! Buy a Wright WP100 or a WP200 phono stage and be done with it. I bought my WP100 for less than $500, and you can find used WP200's for less than $800 if you look around.
gary

[roscoeiii]

I agree that there are compelling reasons to go ss for a phono stage. But for tubes, the ones that stand out are the Quicksilver phono pre (MM only)  and the Eastern Electric.

[Gopher]

I recently had the opportunity to hear a Juicy Music Tercel in my system and it was a really fantastic mm phono pre.  I'd recommend it higher than others in the budget range I've suggested in the past.  Beautiful tone, dense images, really engaging 'juicy' music.

[sunnydaze]

Just to clarify...

Fred / Gopher heard my Tercel 2.  I believe it has SS rectification vs tube for  the v1, and nicer cosmetics.  No idea how the sonics compare.

And yes, the Tercel is very nice.  I specifically sought it out with confidence as I'd previously owned the Blueberry Xtreme w Cream MC option.  I often regret selling that piece!  It just lets you hear past the gear and into the music.

[Quiet Earth]

-Quicksilver phono pre is way over budget at $3995. Plus it is a full function preamplifier, not a stand alone phono stage.

-JuicyMusic is retired now. They are no longer making new units or doing upgrades.

-Wright PH-2 looks way cool. $450 over budget with PS-2 power supply.

-Eastern Electric looks pretty nice too, but also $499 over budget.

Graham Slee Era Gold V is also a popular choice and squeezes in budget at $999. It is an op amp based phono stage that has been in production for many years, so it has plenty of reviews and chatter about it on the web. It's definitely worth looking into within the $1000 price range.

I had the Era Gold Reflex ($1240) in my system a few years ago, and I really liked the way it sounded. It didn't have a tube-like or solid state-like sound to it, it just had its own sound. It is small, simple, and dead quiet. You just plug it in and leave it on with no worries. Ready to go.  The only thing I didn't care for was the power supply / umbilical cord configuration. But once I got it all nicely situated in the rack it was no big deal.

[sunnydaze]

Where is his budget mentioned?   

-JuicyMusic is retired now. They are no longer making new units or doing upgrades.

Who cares? 

In my 3-4 years of owning JM products they have been extremely reliable and not required any service.  And if they do, any competent tube tech can handle it.  Defunct companies don't scare me.  Quite the opposite, it creates budget prices w/o any effect on SQ -- sounded great when company was alive, still sounds great now.

[Quiet Earth]

The subject title of the thread is "recs for sub $1k ext. phono tube amp". 

I did not mean to imply that there is anything wrong with buying a used JM product. I know that they were a good company and have an excellent reputation. I just wanted to point out that they have gone out of business and I think that is a factor to consider when you buy something new or used. Especially if you are new to all of these choices, which I think the OP is.

Probably inserted my foot into my mouth again. 

[sunnydaze]

oooops, my mistake!  Sorry. I read and re-read original post and didn't see budget.  Ugh, right there in the title --  another senior moment!      

And the points you raise are good ones and relevant for some folks.  Me?  I'm a bargain hunter who strives for the best sound for the least bucks...new or used, ongoing or defunct concern, I don't care.

[Poultrygeist]

I have a JD9 on order ( 6 days Fedex from China ) which I hope to mod to a higher level but the new upgraded SE's are already there. Google the huge threads on this highly regarded tube phono stage.



http://www.jolida.net/products/jolida%20JD9-SE.htm

[Ericus Rex]

-Quicksilver phono pre is way over budget at $3995. Plus it is a full function preamplifier, not a stand alone phono stage.

Quicksilver did make a stand-alone phono pre a few years ago that looks very similar to their linestage.  It's not even listed on their "past products" page - though it appears that page hasn't been updated in quite some time.  You should be able to find them used for around $600.  I would imagine it's mm only.

Products from companies out of business usually isn't a problem since most designs don't use proprietary parts.  A good tube tech will be able to repair 95% of the gear out there.

[cheap-Jack]

HI.

i'd recommend a tube preamp and a s/s phono stage...
doug s.

Nope, I'd suggest all tubes, from phonostage to linestage.
Tubes, I mean triodes, sound so much better than any SS, brandnames or DIYed, price regardless.

c-J

[cheap-Jack]

Hi.

Me?  I'm a bargain hunter who strives for the best sound for the least bucks...new or used, ongoing or defunct concern, I don't care.

Simply build one yourself (provided of course you know enough the business like me) to get the loudest bang of your buck!

FYI, I've built probably the simplest tube phonostage on earth - one stage phonostage which sounds su..perb yet cost me little money.

If you know enough audio electronics, not many vendors can fetch yr money!

c-J

[sunnydaze]

Hi.
Simply build one yourself (provided of course you know enough the business like me) to get the loudest bang of your buck!

FYI, I've built probably the simplest tube phonostage on earth - one stage phonostage which sounds su..perb yet cost me little money.

If you know enough audio electronics, not many vendors can fetch yr money!

c-J

Wish I could...don't have the technical know-how.

I'll tell ya what...I'll commission you to build me one!     

[WGH]

Wish I could...don't have the technical know-how.

That is too bad, I was going to recommend a Hagerman Cornet2. Available only as a kit, the Cornet2 compares very well to some very expensive phono preamps. Built with Sonicaps, Mundorf silver/oil, Russian FT-3 caps; Kiwame, Tantalum, or nude Vishay S102 resistors, AC member tubesforever thinks the Cornet2 is at the same level as a Manley SteelHead, a BAT, a LAMM or a Wave Light. Total price for the preamp: $850 - $1000 parts only, you supply the labor.

Wayne

[Delta Wave]

That is too bad, I was going to recommend a Hagerman Cornet2. Available only as a kit, the Cornet2 compares very well to some very expensive phono preamps. Built with Sonicaps, Mundorf silver/oil, Russian FT-3 caps; Kiwame, Tantalum, or nude Vishay S102 resistors, AC member tubesforever thinks the Cornet2 is at the same level as a Manley SteelHead, a BAT, a LAMM or a Wave Light. Total price for the preamp: $850 - $1000 parts only, you supply the labor.

Wayne

Are they really that good? I've been thinking of building one.

[doug s.]

HI.
Nope, I'd suggest all tubes, from phonostage to linestage.
Tubes, I mean triodes, sound so much better than any SS, brandnames or DIYed, price regardless.

c-J

ask gordon rankin, owner of wavelength audio - tube designer extraordinaire - what he thinks of inexpensive tube fono stages.     at the price suggested, i will stick with s/s fono stages.  of course, if you can diy, then something like the hagtech cornet2 mentioned above, might be worth a look...

ymmv,

doug s.

[neobop]

You might want to check out Music Reference. Roger Modjeski is a very talented designer. This comes in close to budget:
http://www.ramlabs-musicreference.com/rm4+.html