Help me decide on a phono-pre for my new TT

charles28722 · « **on:** 24 Oct 2011, 04:09 pm »

I have just purchased a Thorens TD-166 mkII that is coming with a Goldring Eroica LOMC. This TT will be for an ambient music system so will not be used for critical listening but I still want something that sounds nice and will not cripple this very decent sounding cartridge. It will need to have adequate gain for a Low output of 0.5mv. My budget is $200-350.00 for something used. All opinions appreciated.

Charles

charles28722 · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Oct 2011, 11:33 pm »

Bump. Come on guys. I'm shooting in the dark, here.

bogiedr · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 12:07 am »

Hello Charles. I currently have a Bellari preamp mated with my vintage Luxman PX-100 TT and a ClearAudio Aurum cartdrige ... sounds very good. My ClearAudio Emotion TT has a Maestro cartdrige and it is mated with a Parasound Z preamp... also sounds very good!! Amp is an NAD C375BEE and speakers are Von Schweikert VR2's. No complaints here! Good luck.
Hit them straight!!!

jjc1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 12:18 am »

Clearaudio makes a pretty good one that's in your price range. My audio dealer uses it with his TT demo. Check Musical Surroundings websight.

sebrof · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 12:26 am »

Musical Surroundings Phonomena usually sells for $300 or so used. I have the Nova version with batteries and I like it.
The Phonomenas have dip switches for gain, capacitance, and resistance which allow lots of different cartridges. I use mine with a LOMC Denon DL-103r.
The DIP switches for resistive loading make a huge difference.

Nick77 · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 12:27 am »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=96624.0

Got to sample this Lounge tour unit which sounded really nice. Maybe you can audtion it first.

SteveFord · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 12:32 am »

Jolida with some tube rolling might work well for you.

glrickaby · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 12:48 am »

The Musical Fidelity V-LPS is on $98 close out with various vendors and should
beat anything else in your price range.I just got one and am quite impressed!

putz · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 12:56 am »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=69793.0

I have one. I like it. Other owners seem to as well. For more details read the threads.

sebrof · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 02:20 am »

Quote from: glrickaby on 25 Oct 2011, 12:48 am

The Musical Fidelity V-LPS is on $98 close out with various vendors and should
beat anything else in your price range.I just got one and am quite impressed!

I have heard good things about this guy.
What did you compare it to?

Gopher · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 02:25 am »

Quote from: putz on 25 Oct 2011, 12:56 am

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=69793.0

I have one. I like it. Other owners seem to as well. For more details read the threads.

Its a nice little phono pre and I'll second the recommendation. Theres one being sold by a fellow ACer for $250 and its what I would buy in that budget. I recently set out to downsize my analog investment and was about to buy a Vista when a preamp with phono built in came up and I decided on it. The Vista is no slouch though, I've heard it many times.

doug s. · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 04:15 am »

Quote from: sebrof on 25 Oct 2011, 12:26 am

Musical Surroundings Phonomena usually sells for $300 or so used. I have the Nova version with batteries and I like it.
The Phonomenas have dip switches for gain, capacitance, and resistance which allow lots of different cartridges. I use mine with a LOMC Denon DL-103r.
The DIP switches for resistive loading make a huge difference.

the nova may be really nice. but, i auditioned a standard phonomena in my rig, and it couldn't hold a candle to the fono stage built into my linn kairn preamp i owned at the time. i was thankful i was able to take adwantage of audio adwisor's 30 day return policy.

ymmv,

doug s.

simoon · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Oct 2011, 11:50 pm »

My cousin owns a Korora and claims it 'trounces' his previous phono stage (can't remember what it was) at 3 times the price. With shipping, it would be at the upper limit of your range.

It runs on batteries with a built in recharging circuit.

www.audiophileproducts.com

midfi · « **Reply #13 on:** 26 Oct 2011, 03:45 am »

buy a NIB Cambridge Audio 640P (179 smackers) , hook it up... fuggettaboutit!!!!

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #14 on:** 26 Oct 2011, 03:53 am »

Quote from: simoon on 25 Oct 2011, 11:50 pm

My cousin owns a Korora and claims it 'trounces' his previous phono stage (can't remember what it was) at 3 times the price. With shipping, it would be at the upper limit of your range.

It runs on batteries wImpressive design and flexibilty. Anyone know of any reviews?ith a built in recharging circuit.

www.audiophileproducts.com

Impressive design and flexibilty. Reviews can be accessed at the site.

S Clark · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 Oct 2011, 03:57 am »

Quote from: midfi on 26 Oct 2011, 03:45 am

buy a NIB Cambridge Audio 640P (179 smackers) , hook it up... fuggettaboutit!!!!

And when you get a chance, bring it up a level or two by replacing the cheap capacitors with decent Panasonics and upgrade the op amps- another $35-40... still cheap and a good sound.

putz · « **Reply #16 on:** 26 Oct 2011, 05:36 am »

Quote from: S Clark on 26 Oct 2011, 03:57 am

And when you get a chance, bring it up a level or two by replacing the cheap capacitors with decent Panasonics and upgrade the op amps- another $35-40... still cheap and a good sound.

More specifics please or is there a thread somewhere with details?

sebrof · « **Reply #17 on:** 26 Oct 2011, 02:04 pm »

Quote from: doug s. on 25 Oct 2011, 04:15 am

the nova may be really nice. but, i auditioned a standard phonomena in my rig, and it couldn't hold a candle to the fono stage built into my linn kairn preamp i owned at the time. i was thankful i was able to take adwantage of audio adwisor's 30 day return policy.
ymmv,
doug s.

Interesting Doug. My understanding is that the Nova and standard are essentially the same except for the batteries in the Nova, but I could be wrong. What cartridge did you run the unit with? I run a Denon DL-103r and I think it sounds great, but I have had only a couple of other lower priced units to compare.
Maybe I'm missing out and don't know it.

tomytoons · « **Reply #18 on:** 26 Oct 2011, 03:52 pm »

I had the Nova it is a very nice Phono Pre better than an RS I had tried. I have a DL103R but did not have it at the same time. Should do fine with the Nova's MC output. As far as I know and have read on reviews the regular Phonomena II is the same except for the battery PS. The II is a steal at the used price of $300 or so I have seen it go for. I do think my Jasmine is better but that is my bias. Don't believe everything you read form other so called experts here.

S Clark · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Oct 2011, 04:00 pm »

Quote from: putz on 26 Oct 2011, 05:36 am

More specifics please or is there a thread somewhere with details?

Nick77 upgraded a non working 640P that I gave him several months ago, even more extensively than I have mine. Over at AudioKarma, a fellow called Hypnotoad has apparently done several. See http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=321083