Tube Phonos???

chgolatin2 · « **on:** 10 Dec 2008, 04:54 pm »

Is their such a thing as a tube phono without any hizz or noise to it? If their is such a thing it will probably cost in the thousands, dunno

toocool4 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 05:05 pm »

Check out the Nara VPS yes it is expensive but it's very very good. http://www.nagraaudio.com/highend/index.php

It was reviewed in Tone Audio issue 17 http://www.tonepublicatioans.com/ToneAudio/Home.html

Chris

chgolatin2 · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 06:01 pm »

Has anyone heard of Bottle Head Seduction?

boead · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 06:14 pm »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 10 Dec 2008, 06:01 pm

Has anyone heard of Bottle Head Seduction?

Yes, both Decware is better.

Model ZP3
http://decware.com/newsite/ZP3.htm

Look for them used on Audiogon.

BobM · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 06:40 pm »

One secret for reducing hiss in a tubed phono stage is to get one with higher gain. This means an increased signal to noise ratio. You will have to turn up the volume less, and therefore will pass less tube noise through your amp. This is not so easy with tubes, that's why most are OK for MM's but not MC's without a step up device of some sort.

Of course, I'm assuming a clean implementation and a circuit design which minimizes noise to begin with. And yes, sometimes that means ponying up some additional cash.

Good luck,
Bob

fsimms · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 06:47 pm »

My Minimax Phonostage is very quiet. It will handle MM and MC. It is excellent for tonality. If you are willing to get a MM or High output MC only phono preamp then the Dodd is even better. It is an awesome phono preamp. With the right equipment, you can hear a gnat fly by the microphone with the Dodd.

Bob

Brown · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 07:00 pm »

To date we have owned quite a few tubed phonostages. From expensive to budget. They can sound wonderfull but will always be subjected to some sort of noise be it the tubes, gain, synergy and so on. Try a SS phonostage with a tubed Pre, no noise. Klyne is one to check out.

woodsyi · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 07:42 pm »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 10 Dec 2008, 04:54 pm

Is their such a thing as a tube phono without any hizz or noise to it? If their is such a thing it will probably cost in the thousands, dunno

Clean design with quiet tubes will get you there. Modwright SWP for instance. Quietness is not the panacea though. You can choke the hell out of noise to the point of killing the signal. My IO II has no feedback and has the most background noise but it get the most music through.

WGH · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 08:02 pm »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 10 Dec 2008, 06:01 pm

Has anyone heard of Bottle Head Seduction?

Yes I had one. The Seduction is just OK, if you are still shopping I would spend a little more and get a Hagerman Cornet2, it is in another class even in stock form. The Cornet2 is a much better design, it's bigger iron results in much more powerful and defined bass, also the imaging and soundstage is superior to the Seduction.

The Cornet2 is also completely silent.

Wayne

boead · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 08:02 pm »

Quote from: BobM on 10 Dec 2008, 06:40 pm

This is not so easy with tubes, that's why most are OK for MM's but not MC's without a step up device of some sort.

Yes, like this one:
http://decware.com/newsite/ZMC.htm
I hear the Decware is very quite.

lazydays · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 08:44 pm »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 10 Dec 2008, 04:54 pm

Is their such a thing as a tube phono without any hizz or noise to it? If their is such a thing it will probably cost in the thousands, dunno

Take a look at the new one from Odyssey. Some folks think it the best there is under $5K. Built like a tank right here in the USA except for the tubes. I have an AVA (their best; whatever number that is) that's dead silent. Works best with high output cartridges (mine is setup for Grados). Music is very transparent. They're about a $1K, and made in the USA as well. I'm currently using a Wright WP100, and it's not as quiet as the other two. But the music is very warm and lush. In the end I'll be switching over to the Odyssey as it's probably as good as it gets for the price range.
gary

doak · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 09:04 pm »

My EAR 834P is dead silent.
Has gotten pricey new, but gettable for a reasonalble price on he used market

Airborn · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 Dec 2008, 09:28 pm »

I really like the phono section in my Mapletree Ultra 4A tube preamp, but you have to buy the whole pre to get the phono, which still is a good deal!

However, since you seem to be asking about a stand alone tube phono stage, I'd suggest checking out the Jolida JD-9A. It's relatively inexpensive and apparently does a great job. The reviews I've read certainly have me desirous about getting one.

Obligatory rave review here: http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/jolida3/phono.html

Miney · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 Dec 2008, 01:40 am »

Quote from: Airborn on 10 Dec 2008, 09:28 pm

I'd suggest checking out the Jolida JD-9A. It's relatively inexpensive and apparently does a great job. The reviews I've read certainly have me desirous about getting one.

Been looking at this myself... just fell in love with & bought a JD-100a CDP (blasphemy I know

but damn you gotta hear it!) which got me looking @ the rest of their line-up.

BTW another good review here.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #14 on:** 12 Dec 2008, 03:21 am »

I had a Hagerman Trumpet that was fantastic. If I wouldn't have needed variable gain
and loading to review a lot of cartridges, I would have kept it forever. If you can find
a used one somewhere, pick it up. Great phono pre!!

Currently use the Nagra VPS and love it, but it is on the spendy side...

Only two tubes, a 12ax7 and 12au7.

Super quiet!

The Modwright Phono is very quiet too.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Dec 2008, 03:28 pm »

I think that JoLida is only around $450 and one that I am personally interested in to go with my ARC line stage. If I am not mistaken, member AliG has a Dodd. I'm taking some albums to his crib on Saturday. I'm using a Monolithic Sound stage at present.

Mariusz · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Dec 2008, 07:45 pm »

I would wait for Vinnie Rossi of RWA and his upcoming tube/battery powered phono.
It might be quite good. Dodd also has one and I am hearing that it is also very nice. I might get one of the two above mentioned sometime in the future.

Mariusz

bluemike · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Dec 2008, 07:56 pm »

Yup just spoke to Gary Dodd and he gave me the specs on his Dodd Phono
Looking good and i'm sure sounding good as well

Scottdazzle · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Dec 2008, 09:46 pm »

Quote from: Miney on 12 Dec 2008, 01:40 am

Quote from: Airborn on 10 Dec 2008, 09:28 pm
I'd suggest checking out the Jolida JD-9A. It's relatively inexpensive and apparently does a great job. The reviews I've read certainly have me desirous about getting one.

Been looking at this myself... just fell in love with & bought a JD-100a CDP (blasphemy I know but damn you gotta hear it!) which got me looking @ the rest of their line-up.

BTW another good review here.

The Jolida JD-9 phono preamp is for real. Mine arrived last week and it's still breaking in - plus I haven't upgraded the tubes yet -- but I can tell you it's musical and very, very quiet. The phono preamps I had been using previously included the EAR 834, the Music Reference RM-5 mk.II and the TAD-150. I can tell you that the Jolida belongs in that company.

toobluvr · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Dec 2008, 10:01 pm »

Juicy Music Tercel

I can't vouch for it being dead quiet, but I sure as heck can vouch for its tone, timbre and musicality.

It is basically the same unit as what's inside my Blueberry Xtreme full-function pre. Handcrafted here in the USA and hard to beat for the price. Mark Deneen is a pleasure to work with, and he stands behind his products.

While I won't say it's tomb-like quiet (I can hear some tube hiss with ears pressed to drivers), I can say that it sure as heck doesn't interfere with the music and doesn't bother me from the listening seat!

For some perspective, I've owned (Manley, Graaf, Joule) or borrowed (K and K, EAR, Wright, Wavelength) some pretty good phono sections , and the JuicyMusic is my favorite. Wellllllll, on second thought, the K and K is probably better, but that is a different price point, and it is close!

There are two up on AG now:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preaphon&1233940057&/Juicy-Music-Ii-Tercel--tube-ph

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preaphon&1234269350&/Juicy-Music-Audio-Tercel-tube-

Have fun in your search!