[Quiet Earth]

Looking for a better phono preamp

Better than what? You might get better suggestions if you tell us what you have now, and what you don't like about it. Also, it might be helpful to the rest of us to hear about your phono pre, and why it does not work for you. That's the flip side of asking for advice. The rest of us get something out of it too.

Trying to recommend any piece of equipment, particularly a phono preamp, without more information is kind of like playing "Pin the Tail on the Donkey."

Yep. It's hard enough to make (or accept) a recommendation when you have all of the information in front of you.

[neobop]

No tubes, no batteries. I recommend this one:
http://www.walkeraudio.com/Phono-Amp.html

It's less than $20,000.
neo

[mix4fix]

budget?

Under $1K (in reallity about $700-ish)

I have a Nottingham Innerspace Jr. turntable with a Shelter cartridge; I'm upgrading from a Parasound Z-Phono that I just sold.

I want one that is adjustable on both MM & MC.

[dlaloum]

musical surrounds phonomena (the original you can now sometimes find used with the optional battery power unit - should be under $600)

Firestone Audio Korora - with battery power built in, around $300.

Both are giant killers - with top notch performance and value at their price points, and both have what is required for macximum loading flexibility.

I did think Neo was showing a touch of restraint with that $20k limit....

[irish 51]

I have not heard it, but many really like the Jasmine Audio LP 2.0 MkII. Under $600 shipped.

[dlaloum]

I did look into the Jasmine due to the sheer number of fans...

But in terms of loading flexibility it is limited - and loading will (in my opinion) make a greater difference to the overall sound than the phono stage will. (given that a certain minimum quality is reached - obviously!)

So it - along with a plethora of others - got crossed off my shortlist due to an inability to provide loading flexibility required for MM / MI cartridge optimisation ie the ability to drop capacitance to nothing, and raise resistance to values between 47k and 100k inclusive, as well as having the ability to lower resistance values from 47k ohm down to 10 ohm... regardless of gain (gain and load should be seperate) thereby allowing for optimisation of HOMC's LOMC's, and the plethora of MM and MI designs (including Low Output MM's).

If this type of flexibility is of any import to you, then most off the shelf phono stages will not cut the mustard.

With the Korora I contacted the manufacturer, and they told me they could fit a 1M ohm resistance into the spare slot, facilitating the use of external loading plugs via a double adapter (in addition to the internal dip switch settings).

The Phonomena has dip switch settings which include 47k and 100k ohm, values between and below these can also be achieved with loading plugs and double adapters.

The JLTI I ended up purchasing has adjustable load by default below 47k ohm but not above 47k.... a conversation with the designer/manufacturer in Australia, led to a customised version supplied to me with a 500k ohm resistance (lowerable via loading plugs to anything I want) - as well as switchable RIAA equalisation - so I can use the unit as a flat phono stage, facilitating Digital RIAA, and alternate EQ curves for older records and 78's.
But I believe current price on the JLTI is running at around $1600...

Sometimes it is worth asking the manufacturer of your preferred phono stage whether they can adjust it slightly to your needs... some are remarkably accomodating! (of course you first need to be able to clearly communicate what it is you want!)

bye for now

David