Another Recommendation Thread... phonostage AND interconnects

SteveRB · « **Reply #20 on:** 1 Feb 2013, 10:30 pm »

Quote from: Devil Doc on 1 Feb 2013, 10:27 pm

Keep in mind the product had just been released. They were pushing it. I don't think the guy had even read the instruction manual yet, but I'm certain he said I would have to acquire resistors and solder them on, otherwise I would have considered buying it. Could have been a misunderstanding, but I don't think so.

Doc

I think you add resistors to the "custom Loading Plugs (provided)" so the resistors are external: no soldering to the board. That's how I read it.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #21 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 01:46 am »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 1 Feb 2013, 07:24 pm

I have an Avid Pulsus, which does not have an SUT and is out of your price range unless you find a great used deal on one.

But based on my experience with the Pulsus, I'd look into their Avid Pellar. Sold by Music Direct if there isn't a dealer nearby. They have a great return policy, so you could give it a shot for just the cost of shipping. No substitute for an audition, preferably in your own system.

They have a demo for $800.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-110736-avid-pellar-phono-preamp-demo.aspx

SteveRB · « **Reply #22 on:** 2 Feb 2013, 02:19 am »

Quote from: Ericus Rex on 2 Feb 2013, 01:46 am

They have a demo for $800.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-110736-avid-pellar-phono-preamp-demo.aspx

Trust me. I'm all over it.

Thanks.

SteveRB · « **Reply #23 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 12:25 am »

Anyone have experience with the Eastern Electric MiniMax Phono?

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/minimaxphono/phono.html

sunnydaze · « **Reply #24 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 01:23 am »

A quick search on "eastern electric" in the vinyl circle yields two pages of results.
Searching on "minimax" also returns two pages. There might be some overlap.

I'm sure if you search, there are also many comments on AG and AA forums.

vortrex · « **Reply #25 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 04:08 am »

An almost new Avid just went up on audiogon.

tipatina · « **Reply #26 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 04:47 am »

Consider the PS Audio GCPH.

SteveRB · « **Reply #27 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 05:47 pm »

Quote from: tipatina on 3 Feb 2013, 04:47 am

Consider the PS Audio GCPH.

thanks, I'm looking into the unit now. there are a couple used units for sale in Canada that I may go after.

what's your experience with the GCPH?

roscoeiii · « **Reply #28 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 06:28 pm »

No personal experience with it, but seems that the GCPH is a versatile, well thought of phono stage.

SteveRB · « **Reply #29 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 06:38 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 3 Feb 2013, 06:28 pm

... the GCPH is a versatile, well thought of phono stage.

agreed... I like the oversized power supply in the GCPH. I feel that anything with an acdc wall-wart is out of consideration at this point.

I have placed offers with the two units listed up here. I feel that in the sub $1000 price range there are a few units that do the job well -- If i can pick up a gently used unit and save a couple hundred, all the better. ...just means I can upgrade the cart sooner.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #30 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 07:03 pm »

No luck with the demo Avid?

SteveRB · « **Reply #31 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 07:07 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 3 Feb 2013, 07:03 pm

No luck with the demo Avid?

It's more expensive (new) and its always a little tougher to get it across the border. I feel it's kind of a wash with the GCPH as far as performance.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #32 on:** 3 Feb 2013, 07:18 pm »

Quote from: SteveRB on 3 Feb 2013, 07:07 pm

It's more expensive (new) and its always a little tougher to get it across the border. I feel it's kind of a wash with the GCPH as far as performance.

Those first two reasons make good sense.

But as for the third, let me caution you about assumptions about performance without having heard the phono stages. While the trumpeting of the next greatest "giant killer" does get a bit tiring, only comparing the two components directly will give you an idea if things are a wash in terms of performance.

I promise I am not being paid by Avid, but my route to the Avid was eye opening in terms of expected and imagined performance vs. actual performance. I had narrowed things down to the SimAudio LP5.3 and the Avid Pulsus, and e-mailed a prolific, respected poster on audio forums who had heard both, but not side by side. His response was that he thought they would be a wash, and to go for whichever I could get the better deal on. So I jumped on an LP5.3 with optional external power supply(total MSRP ~$2800). When I finally got a chance to hear the Avid (MSRP ~$2000) in direct comparison, it was by no means a lateral move from the SimAudio. Clearly and definitively better, which was particularly evident in the bass.

Moral of this story isn't to "buy Avid" but instead it is a cautionary tale about making presumptions about performance without having listened to the gear in question.

SteveRB · « **Reply #33 on:** 4 Feb 2013, 07:57 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 3 Feb 2013, 07:18 pm

Moral of this story isn't to "buy Avid" but instead it is a cautionary tale about making presumptions about performance without having listened to the gear in question.

I agree completely. When I said that performance is a wash, I was referring to their: build quality, positive reviews, features, and general expectations. I will have no idea how they sound in my system in my room until I try them.

SteveRB · « **Reply #34 on:** 5 Feb 2013, 07:39 pm »

Relating to this topic...

anyone able to recommend interconnects for deck to phono stage and phonostage to amp?

i'm fine with DIY cables recipes (again, budget in mind -- i'd like to stay under $150 for all 4 cables).

I do have an old DIY pair: 8" solid core silver -- I think that might be pretty good for deck to phono stage... but I'm not sure what properties are ideal in each section.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #35 on:** 5 Feb 2013, 08:06 pm »

Steve, what sort of connector do you need from deck to phono stage? RCA-RCA or DIN-RCA?

Due to the size of the signal from deck to phono stage, this is the more important IC. I would spend disproportionately more on it than the ICs from phono stage onward.

SteveRB · « **Reply #36 on:** 5 Feb 2013, 08:11 pm »

coming from the VPI Classic to the phonostage is a RCA>RCA connection.

Not too sure what properties are better for this run. I can keep the run pretty short: 12"-16"...

JackD · « **Reply #37 on:** 5 Feb 2013, 08:18 pm »

The lower capacitance the better between deck and phono stage. If you want to buy from a dealer, look at Blue Jeans or Morrow Cable or any site sponsor that carries low capcitance interconnects, otherwise you can just buy a set of low capcitance video cables from Monoprice or the like. Between the phono stage and preamp the capacitance doesn't matter and you can spend what you will or use what you have on hand. You would prefer the first set to be as far under 100pf for a meter pair as possible.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #38 on:** 5 Feb 2013, 08:20 pm »

You will also want a shielded cable from Deck to Phono

JackD · « **Reply #39 on:** 5 Feb 2013, 08:35 pm »

A lot of the guys on Audiokarma are using a pair of these. Only 66pf for a three foot pair and cheap.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236&cs_id=1023603&p_id=2681&seq=1&format=2