How old is your phono stage?

[catman]

G'day all, I don't tend to document a lot of things very well, but looking at my ANT Kora 3T SE phono stage the other day, I note that I've been using it since late 2012.  That's quite a while (for me) I guess, and I still regard it as one of my favourite and best sounding phono stages, not to mention unique, as the circuitry is entirely based on field effect transistors.  I seem to recall that for a while that this particular phono stage didn't seem to 'rock', but over the years now does.  Blame it on the solitary electrolytic coupling capacitor in each channel and long term 'break in'!  How long have others possessed their respective phono stages?  Regards, Felix.   

[andyr]

1 hour ago, catman said:

I seem to recall that for a while that this particular phono stage didn't seem to 'rock', but over the years now does.  Blame it on the solitary electrolytic coupling capacitor in each channel and long term 'break in'!

 

You can cure the 'long term break-in' problem, Felix, if - next time you build another phono stage - you also buy a Hagerman reverse-RIAA board and then run your tuner through it 24 hours a day for 2 weeks.  The order of components is:

• tuner
• Hagerman reverse RIAA board - use the 40dB down outputs
• phono stage
• preamp.

But, please ... don't use an electrolytic as a coupling cap.  Even a Wima MKP10 will sound better! 

 

Andy

 

[MattyW]

Maybe a bit over a year. The Douk Tube Phonobox (EAR 834P copy) was incredible from day 1.

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[GregWormald]

How old?

The same age as my ME 15, although updated when I had the pre-amp serviced. Say, 10 years ago.

 

Greg

[Janjuggler]

Hi All

 

Mine is about 3 months, 100 hours use

 

Vincent PHO - 700

 

JJ

[Full Range]

Still going strong and was built in 1987 

Designed by John Curl 

Has MM and MC with load adjustment 

[Mat-with-one-t]

I've used a Creek OBH-9se since 1997....

[shaky]

One of the original X series Musical Fidelity phono stages. It has to nearing on 20yo, not that I have owned it for all that time.