ebay bummer (phono pre's)

beat · « **on:** 16 Mar 2003, 08:24 pm »

I recieved a pair of NOS calrad phono tubed pre's...poo poo. They look pretty cool but VERY NOISY. Not in the audiophile sense that the noise floor is not black enough but big hum. I guess you live and learn right? I guess I'll start saving some dough! I have a couple hundred so far..any suggestions?

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Mar 2003, 09:01 pm »

beat,
do the other members realize you have the vintage Marantz receiver's phono section that can be pressed into service??

In addition to the Bottlehead Seduction, you might check out Hagerman's stages--various levels of sophistication, the top one of which was favorably reviewed by Stereophile. They're available assembled or as "half-kits."
http://www.hagtech.com/

beat · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Mar 2003, 02:15 pm »

Thanks Tonto,
That hagerman looks great. That half kit looks like a defintite option for me. I'd love a test ride on the trumpet. Yes, I put away those calrad and have been using the old marantz as a pre only. Actually sounds alittle (if not alot) better than the old yamaha I was using. Works for now, Only problem is it is huge and clutters up my TT table. Any other suggestions in the 2-300 dollar range?
beat

jcoat007 · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Mar 2003, 02:52 pm »

I'm not sure if you are looking specifically for tubes, but you might want to check this out.

$299.00 plus $15.95 S&H in the US.

http://www.elexatelier.com/gram2se.htm

Sometimes you can find these used on A'gon, but they go quickly.

Good luck and "Long Live Vinyl"

Steve

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Mar 2003, 10:23 pm »

Quote from: beat

Yes, I put away those calrad and have been using the old marantz as a pre only. Actually sounds alittle (if not alot) better than the old yamaha I was using. Works for now, Only problem is it is huge and clutters up my TT table.
beat

You're using JUST the Marantz phono section, right??? TT should be connected to phono inputs on the vintage Marantz and interconnects from a TAPE OUT to your new receiver. Using the TAPE OUT bypasses the volume control of the vintage Marantz (which COULD make for cleaner sound).

TY

bubba966 · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Mar 2003, 10:34 pm »

How 'bout one of these for $299? http://www.ciaudio.com/vpp1.html

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Mar 2003, 01:23 am »

beat,
if you like the look of the Calrad phono pre's, the Mapletree should appeal.
$175 for the phono/$175-95 for the power supply. Doesn't look like any members have the phono yet, but you might check out that section of the forum for opinions??

JoshK · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Mar 2003, 02:07 am »

I haven't tried MAD's phono but there stuff that some of us have tested is top notch and cheap for hi-fi. This puts a pretty good probability that their phono is pretty darn good too.

beat · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Mar 2003, 05:20 am »

man, so many choices now.
Yes Tonto I run it through tape out, thanks. Those all look cool and have heard good things on the graham slees, The ciaudio has a well built appearance, but that MAD has my interest (as does the bottlehead still) but I like the idea of a remote powersupply. Thanks as always guys, I appreciate your input.
beat

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Mar 2003, 01:41 pm »

beat,
a post on another forum mentioned an Audio Xpress review of budget phono preamps.
http://www.audioxpress.com/
I THINK they're talking real budget gear like the Radio Shack & Hagerman Bugle, but you might find it instructive (the review isn't online--you'd have to track down a copy of the mag).

doug s. · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Mar 2003, 04:39 pm »

keep yer eyes peeled for a used aragon 47k or its little brother, the acurus p10. a couple years back, i was inwestigating a cheap fono-stage, & three people, who had direct comparison w/the p10 & the highly-regarded lehmann black cube, *all* preferred the p10. i ended up w/something quite a bit more expensive...

doug s.

beat · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Mar 2003, 09:45 pm »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3012860858&category=14974
does anyone have experience with YS? It seems his buyers have been happy. Looks like a clean internal design. I've got my eyes on a couple potentials you all have suggested on the audiogon also.

doug s. · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Mar 2003, 10:53 pm »

beat, search the audio asylum for more info pn ys - seems quite a few folk like it...

doug s.

mgalusha · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Mar 2003, 02:59 am »

My copy of AudioXpress showed up yesterday with a review of 7 low cost phono preamps. As someone previously posted these are all very low cost and for the most part appear pretty bad. The Hagerman Bugle became the reviewers new reference, besting the phono section of their Sony ES inetegrated and of course all of the other low cost phono sections.

I haven't heard it but for the cost, around $50, it seems like a great deal. I have built Hagerman's FryKleaner and can attest to the quality of his design and PCB's.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Mar 2003, 01:45 pm »

Quote from: mgalusha

The Hagerman Bugle became the reviewers new reference, besting the phono section of their Sony ES inetegrated and of course all of the other low cost phono sections.

When you say "reference," I assume you mean something like "budget reference"?? It would take the Hagerman Trumpet phono to contend for a state of the art reference I would think. Or am I missing something (since I'm not at all familiar with Audio Xpress)?

mgalusha · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Mar 2003, 03:55 pm »

Quote from: Tonto Yoder

Quote from: mgalusha
The Hagerman Bugle became the reviewers new reference, besting the phono section of their Sony ES inetegrated and of course all of the other low cost phono sections.

When you say "reference," I assume you mean something like "budget reference"?? It would take the Hagerman Trumpet phono to contend for a state of the art reference I would think. Or am I missing something (since I'm not at all familiar with Audio Xpress)?

The reviewers didn't really say but I believe it was in comparison to their previous "reference" of the phono stage in the Sony ES integrated. I agree, Hagerman's Trumpet is more of what I would view as a reference phono stage.

I would like to hear the Bugle, as he uses an interesting design for an op-amp based unit. He is using passive RIAA EQ, which requires a lot of gain but in this design he distributes the gain and the EQ into sections so that any one section does not have to provide as much gain.

Mike