[rajacat]

I'm looking for advice on a phono stage to pair with my Beogram RX turntable. Of course I'm searching for the best price/performance ratio possible.

Thanks,

Roy

[Jazz and Baroque]

What cartridge??

Mike

[rajacat]

What cartridge??

Mike

It has the stock MMC 4 cart.

[TheChairGuy]

RajaRoy - got a budget in mind?  Inexpensive is a w-i-i-i-i-id range to choose from

John

[rajacat]

Less than $200. I was just over on the Hagerman site and the Bugle looks tempting for just $129.

[dmckean]

You also have the Cambridge 640p, Parasound Zphono, Project Phono Box MkII and the Bellari VP129 in that price range. I went through this six months ago when I switched out my amplifer to something without a phono stage. I ended up going with the cambridge because the noise floor was lower and it had better specs then most of the budget stages. I've been happy with it.

[WGH]

Less than $200. I was just over on the Hagerman site and the Bugle looks tempting for just $129.

If you can solder you can get one for $57.
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?preaphon&1193537677

Great tech support if you get into trouble, but I doubt you will need it. Jim's kits are very well designed.

Wayne

[rajacat]

Hmm....only 18 minutes to decide on the Audiogon auction. I must think this over some more. Perhaps it will come up again. Thanks to all for the suggestions. I can see that there are some viable options at the economy level that are not just toys.

[TheChairGuy]

. I can see that there are some viable options at the economy level that are not just toys.

There are indeed.  There are also vintage full-line preamps, too, for that price.  But, most of them are golden oldie SS models from the 70's and early 80's, tho. 

But, vinyl doesn't beg for tubes quite as sincerely as digital does (or at least, that's what I've found  ).

I'd take the Bellari off your list of contenders...I think the B & O cartridge have fairly puny voltage outputs (under 2.5mv) and the Bellari is a Pro Audio/DJ preamp now selling to the audiophile community.  Most DJ cartridges are 5 mv+ ....and thus, the Bellari, only has about 30db gain stage.  You'll likely need closer to 40 db (room, amp, preamp gain dependent and speaker efficiency all play it's part). 

But, the Bellari is likely not gonna' swing it with your current B & O cartridge (tho it's unusual for the price as it includes a rumble filter - a pretty useful thing to have with many vinyl systems)

John

[Airborn]

I'm another vote for the Cambridge 640p in that price range. Mine works great with a Dual 601 TT and AT 440 MLa cart. I haven't heard the Hagerman Bugle, but it also gets good recommendations here.