[jackmonkeyhat]

Gents help!

I need some of your brain power thinking through component options in my system. I recently picked up a Vinyl turntable (technics 1200 mk5) but to date have been using the W4S Dac-2 into the Job 225 amp with the Song Towers. My other sources are TV, Xbox and PC (all 2-channel). I think my options for hooking up the turntable are:
1. to get a tube- pre-amp with gain and connect it to the W4S Dac-2 in home theater bypass mode which would go straight into the Amp.
2. Take out the W4S Dac-2, and connect a pre-amp straight to the Job amp. Then I would have to get a different Dac to go into the pre-amp.
3. Somehow incorporate a phono pre-amp with gain if something like this exists.

I really like the Job amp and Salk Songtowers and was ideally hoping to find a tube based pre-amp that would match these components, but maybe that isn't possible.
Which option would you take (maybe there are others, and which components would you use)?

Thanks,
Jack

[toddc2]

You need a phono preamp stage. It's probably easiest if you get a line stage preamp with a phono stage installed. You don't need to replace the DAC in this configuration, just use the DAC in fixed volume mode into the preamp.

I don't have a recommendation for the preamp with phono but there are many out there.

Todd

[Tomy2Tone]

Rogue Perseus is a great preamp with phono with 4 12au7 tubes and has ht bypass. Every once in a while they'll pop up used for a descent price.

[dbx]

I have a Technics SL1200 MK2 SE Turntable with an Audio Technica AT33E MC Cartridge.

I use a SS PS Audio GCPH Phono Preamp with upgrades by Underwood Wally.

The sound is fantastic!!!!

[jimdgoulding]

If you don't object to using an outboard phono-pre, Hagerman's Bugle 2 is but $189.00 and serves the music and staging of it very nicely, IME.

[ArthurDent]

Hey 'Jack', good to see you back !  Still doing the DJ gig ? Hope all is well with you & yours.  You heard my AVA T-8 back in the day, which had a phono pre in I, but didn't have my TT setup at that time. Pulled my old Thorens out of the cupboard about 4 years ago now, leveled it, plugged it in, and haven't turned back, though my library is much diminished from the old days. Anyway, if you can remember if you liked the sound of the T-8, I can recommend the new CF model pre from AVA. I had the old T-8 upgraded, and added Frank's new adjustable phono section as well. Definitely major upgrades in both departments.

If interested, and you can remember mostly how to get here, shoot me a PM, we'll schedule a listening session. Bring along some vinyl if you have something in particular you want to hear, otherwise I've got a modest spread of rock, jazz, & classical to pick from. Mr. Steed passed in '10 from cancer, so feel free to bring the 'pup' if you want.

Best Regards........

[jackmonkeyhat]

Thanks for the thoughtful suggestions. I cannot imagine how fantastic vinyl would sound with your set-ups. Arthur nice to hear from you, I upgraded my old amp from the emotive xpa-2 to the Job 225  and it made such a huge difference with the Salks! I missed out on a used Technics 1200 and a Thorens 125 but I hope there will be others. I must admit I'm not familiar with many of the good tube pre-amps so if you have any other suggestions I should look for on audiogon feel free to chime in.

[ArthurDent]

I don't have much varied experience with phono pres, stand-a-lone or otherwise. A friend has a Belari which sounds pretty good and I believe is a budget price. Frank's Vision pre is available in a stand-a-lone version @ $500. I've used a friend's Parasound, but quite honestly to my ears it was only marginally better than Frank's old phono pre, if not a push in my system. You'll probably find as many varied opinions as there are systems. I will say I have the highest regard for the esteemed Mr. jimd, and would trust his recommendation on most anything vinyl, along with some others here who I 'know' well enough to accept their recommendations.

If I'm following the thoughts in item 1 correctly, and the HT by-pass is available on the W4S, your plan should work. Simply connect the phono pre to those inputs, and your off to the races. Not sure I follow item 2, with regards to removal of the W4S from the system. I think that would depend on what system pre you choose. I you choose a pre/processor it may have a built-in dac, but if you simply use a basic pre I don't see it would be necessary to remove the dac from the system. In both my systems I route digital signals (PC & CD player) to an Inday switcher, then to the dac (both mine are older units with single coax inputs), then RCA to the pre-amp, to amp. Is there a reason you are thinking that wouldn't work in your case ? As toddc2 notes, you'd simply set the dac at a fixed volume, then control volume from the pre. As well as ebay, agon, and the other usual suspect locations you might keep an eye on AVAs used equipment page. They get a fair number of gently used tube or hybrid pre-amps in, some with built-in phono pre-s. All of their used gear comes with a 30 day guarantee, & 1 yr warranty (or the balance of the original owner's if over a year), which is nice insurance. Just a thought.

Good luck with the hunt, and I'd think you'll get some more suggestions on units in time. Hang in there.

[toddc2]

If I'm following the thoughts in item 1 correctly, and the HT by-pass is available on the W4S, your plan should work. Simply connect the phono pre to those inputs, and your off to the races.

Careful, you loose the W4S volume control on the HT by-pass input so the stand alone phono pre would have to have a volume control. Re-reading option 1 a little more closely, it looks like the OP was going down the path of a tube preamp. Assuming the preamp had a phono stage this would work but I'm not sure why he would put the DAC in the path after the pre.

Todd

[ArthurDent]

Careful, you loose the W4S volume control on the HT by-pass input so the stand alone phono pre would have to have a volume control. Re-reading option 1 a little more closely, it looks like the OP was going down the path of a tube preamp. Assuming the preamp had a phono stage this would work but I'm not sure why he would put the DAC in the path after the pre.

Todd

Agreed, on both points. The dac would still be upstream of the pre, with dac out to pre CD/other digital source ins, then to the amp.