[Tailwind1]

Greetings everyone,
This is my first post and I'm interested in Op-amp phono preamps. As a scratch build or a purchase product I feel I would like to go this direction. I'd like to hear pros and cons on the idea.
Thanks,
Dave

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC Dave   

[Tailwind1]

Thank you Arthur,
I'm a builder, I built a couple sets of 300B monoblocks over the last 12 years. The reason for this post is to gain a better understanding of op-amps for use in preamps. I have been using a Boozhound Labs preamp for several years with very good results. It's developed problems over the last week and I retired it until I can test it out. This preamp is based on the Le Pacific phono preamp.
This gives the opportunity to look at new designs to buy or build. I've been a fan of Nelson Pass designs but would rather build or modify something if possible. This brings me to the Sparkos Labs op-amp chips. I'll stop there and see if anyone has a comment for me to move forward.

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome. I will move this topic to the Vinyl Circle.

[Tailwind1]

Thank you, still learning the ropes here!

[I.Greyhound Fan]

If you are looking for the very best sounding phono preamps, do not limit yourself to those that only use op amps.  Look up the Wyn Plamer 4 DIY phono preamp.  It bested phono preamps in the $35K and up supposedly and measures extremely well.

This is supposed to be an excellent phono preamp

https://akitika.com/akitikastore.html#PR1024WAYS

Or this Pass Labs Pearl 3 phono preamp kit-

https://diyaudiostore.com/products/pearl-3-phono-preamplifier

The Pearl uses op amps.

Here is a tube preamp kit that is well respected-

https://www.tubes4hifi.com/PH16.htm

[1965]

Will 2nd the Palmer pre with a provision…..the Pyxi is optimized for MC use…..I hit the overload stops using MI. Muted trumpet can be hard to reproduce clean. I did get a chance to listen to the MM only version that Sota has not offered as yet and it was clean as a whistle.

[Tailwind1]

Thanks for the Tips! I.Greyhound you gave me some great ideas as I really enjoy building stuff. The Palmer amp is very interesting, hopefully others will reply as well. The Pearl 3 using an op-amp is of interest also, Id like to try the Sparkos products as they have had good reviews.
https://sparkoslabs.com/discrete-op-amps/

[galyons]

I can highly recommend the  PH16 phono preamp kit from Tubes 4 Hifi, https://www.tubes4hifi.com/PH16.htm.  Don Sachs builds his phono stage from this board. His products are highly praised on this forum. http://www.dsachsconsulting.com/custom%20tube%20phono%20stage.html.

I too, am a builder.  I built a bunch of Bottlehead kits including 300B Paramount monoblock amps, 300B BeePre line stage and Eros, both phono and tape stages.  I have still have Paramour 2A3's  and 45's, maxed out Foreplays in use in a 2nd system.  The PH16 bested the Eros in detail, lower background noise and dynamics.  The Eros is a bit warmer and fuller, which can be attributed to the lack of solid state devices in the signal path.  I built the PH16 with boutique components and it sounds just marvelous with my VPI TNT MkIV, super platter, JMW-12 3DR Tonearm Arm and Benz Micro LP cartridge.  The PH16 is MM so I step up the MC signal with Hashimoto SUT's.

Cheers,
Geary