phono

Stephen L · « **on:** 12 Sep 2010, 11:13 pm »

I am looking to return to vinyl and am thinking I should upgrade my BP25 with a phono stage and I am also thinking of purchasing a Rega P3-24 TT.. I would love to purchase a BP26 but I cannot afford it at this time. Would it be worth my while to get the mc version or do you think the mm version would be the best bang for my buck? Any advice is appreciated.

My current system consists of 4bst, Rega Planet cd player and NHT 2.9 speakers.

Steve

PierreB · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 12:34 am »

Hi Steve
I buy the Rega Fono MM and I'm very happy with it. You can have it MC if you prefer.
Yes I know it's not state of the art but for the money, it's very good.
I listen to my LP just 2 hours (max) a month compare to about 25 hours for my CD.
Maybe someday I will upgrade but for now I'm very

Elizabeth · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 12:55 am »

On the point of Moving Magnet or Moving Coil: It depends on the type of cartridges you plan on buying.
There are 'high output' moving coils you can use with a moving magnet setting. The difference of the moving coil setting is for lower output cartridges. The gain is much higher, and thus also the inherent noise gain is more also.
So you only need a moving coil phono if you really plan on using lower output moving coil carts.

Stephen L · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 02:32 am »

Thanks for the replies. I am leaning towards moving magnet as it is $745.00 cheaper than the moving coil upgrade. I can use the money I save to get some better speaker cable and maybe silver faceplates for the amp and bp25.

Steve

vegasdave · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 03:45 am »

Stick with the Bryston phono stage...you will not be disappointed!

Anyway, MM cartridges are traditionally not as open and detailed sounding as MCs. There are exceptions like the Ortofons, Clearaudios, and Audio-Technicas.

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 03:51 am »

I have an MM stage in my B60 and run a Dynavector 10x5, which is a high output MC. No problems what so ever. It takes a few more degrees on my volume knob than my MM cart did, but not very much. Unless you plan on getting a lower output MC, stick with MM IMO.

The P3-24 is a great deck. With the money you'd have spent on the MC stage, buy a Dynavector 10x5 and a Rega TTPSU. That combo just sings.

vegasdave · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 03:54 am »

That's interesting! But, if it works, cool. There's also great MM carts like the Ortofon Black and the Audio-Technica 150MLX.

dspgolf · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 03:55 am »

Hello,

I recently upgraded to a 4B SST sq amp and BP26 pre-amp with a MM phono section built in. I also recently got back into record albums and purchased a rega P3-24 in green with the outboard power supply. I had been using a 150 dollar project phono preamp and after I got the new bryston pre-amp I thought the sound was a huge improvement over the project. The Rega TT is a great unit and I'm really enjoying my old and new albums again after all these years! I can't believe I'm actually buying and seeking out albums again! Crazy as that sounds?
Just thought I share that with you and hope you get the Bryston with the mm built into the bp6, I really think it's worth the extra money and I can say it's a big step up in sound quality!

Dave

Stephen L · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 07:26 am »

I think I will probably ship the preamp back to Bryston and have the mm stage installed, $550.00 plus shipping.

Not 100% sure about the Rega yet but it is at the top of my short list.

I was looking at the Dynavector and read somewhere that you had to shim the tonearm to compensate for the height difference. Not really a big deal.

Thanks for the great replies, it's a great help, keep them coming

Steve

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 01:45 pm »

You have to shim any Rega tonearm for just about any non-Rega cartridge. It's not a unique thing to Dynavectors and/or the RB-301 (P3's arm).

1ZIP · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 05:22 pm »

Same as several posted...I have a 4Bsst sq with a BP-26 MM, Rega P3 plus TTPSU. It sounds exceptional. The only change I would like to make is adding a Dynavector cart..

Elizabeth · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 06:07 pm »

I have the 4B-SST2 and BP-26 with 1.5 phono, a Rega P5 with Benz Glider and I had to buy two Rega arm shims to have it be good.
I also have a Dynavector 17D3 on a Kuzma Stogi S.

rob80b · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 06:35 pm »

Rega P3, one shim for my Sumiko Blue Point II, high output MC to the BP25P MM input, and 4BSST.

Robert

Stephen L · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 07:13 pm »

Quote

Rega P3, one shim for my Sumiko Blue Point II, high output MC to the BP25P MM input, and 4BSST.

Sweet ride!

Stephen L · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 07:22 pm »

Now that I know that I can use a high output mc cartridge I think the mm upgrade is the logical choice for me. It's been 30 years since I owned a turntable.I am going to get some of my moms old lp's that I listened to when I was growing up and I have a few of my own laying around somewhere. I can't wait to listen to vinyl once again.

Steve

rob80b · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 07:28 pm »

Quote from: Stephen L on 12 Sep 2010, 11:13 pm

I am looking to return to vinyl and am thinking I should upgrade my BP25 with a phono stage and I am also thinking of purchasing a Rega P3-24 TT.. I would love to purchase a BP26 but I cannot afford it at this time. Would it be worth my while to get the mc version or do you think the mm version would be the best bang for my buck? Any advice is appreciated.

My current system consists of 4bst, Rega Planet cd player and NHT 2.9 speakers.

Steve

Hi Steve

To be cost effective the MM will be fine as there are a lot of cartridges available, I've had good results with the Sumiko Blue Point I & II MC, Dynavector 20x also come highly recommended as another high output MC, although you'll have to advance the volume control a bit more with both of these. The MC stage is one of the best but the cost is a lot more as well as the cartridges.
The Regas are basically plug and play, so if you do not want to fiddle too much they may be the way to go, but there are a lot of good turntables out there.
I would not loose sleep over getting the BP26 which may have a slightly lower noise floor than the BP25 but probably lost with vinyl, I'd stick with what you've got and get the MM phono board.

Robert

1ZIP · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 09:06 pm »

Steve:

I sent my 26 back to Bryston (USA) last Spring to have the MM installed. It was a fast turn around. Including FedEx 3 day shipping and return from Seattle it was back in my hands in 10 days. It sounds excellent, I don't think you will be disappointed.

alexone · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Sep 2010, 06:21 am »

Quote from: Elizabeth on 13 Sep 2010, 06:07 pm

I have the 4B-SST2 and BP-26 with 1.5 phono, a Rega P5 with Benz Glider and I had to buy two Rega arm shims to have it be good.
I also have a Dynavector 17D3 on a Kuzma Stogi S.

Liz,

what other mc cartridges did you try? what are the differences to the Benz Glider?

al.

95Dyna · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Sep 2010, 02:45 pm »

Quote from: Stephen L on 13 Sep 2010, 07:22 pm

Now that I know that I can use a high output mc cartridge I think the mm upgrade is the logical choice for me. It's been 30 years since I owned a turntable.I am going to get some of my moms old lp's that I listened to when I was growing up and I have a few of my own laying around somewhere. I can't wait to listen to vinyl once again.

Steve

Hi Stephen,

Just a consideration, the Bryston MM internal stage will come from the factory set at a 35 db gain. It has the option to switch to 41 db but must be done at the factory. High output MC cartridges tend to have a lower output than moving magnets do so the output of your HOMC will be important as it relates to the gain setting on the Bryston stage. If it gets too low say around 2.5 mv or less you may have to turn the volume up higher than you like to hear properly at the 35 db setting. I have personal experience with this so I'm not just speculating. Sounds like you have a good plan and it should work out well for you. This is just something to be aware of.

Bill

vegasdave · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Sep 2010, 06:22 pm »

Good advice here.