Owen Y Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Kits available first up, & MM option only for starters... (MC phono requires a full SS or hybrid MC phono pre, or a MC transformer in front.) Transcendent Sound Phono Preamp: US$699 Kit ($999 factory assembled). http://www.transcendentsound.com/PhonoPreamp.htm Audionote: US$1249 Kit http://www.audionotekits.com/prices.html Other...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 Suggestions here also in Audiokarma forum, eg... BottleHead Seduction tube phono kit http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/Seduction/seduction.htm US$279 but needs to be plugged into a Linestage. (Cheap if you already have a nice linestage.) Or, US$749 for their Eros full phono+line phono preamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valvemaniac Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 The Linsley Hood design is still available, see details in this thread http://www.audioenz.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=7962 Kit can be found here- http://www.williamshart.com/index_files/1450phono.htm GBP26 for the pcb or GBP110 for the complete kit I use it myself and find it to be a very capable performer. I also have the Transcendent Sound phono stage. The kit for this is excellent, with everything supplied and very clear and well laid out instructions. I have used it with Sowter step-up transformers for my mc cartridge, and although it works well, I prefer the sound of the Linsley Hood design. Hopefully the valve police won't crucify me for preferring transistors to valves in this application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotokan Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Cheers guys. It's going to take me all weekend just to digest this. :eek: I have no line stage, just using a 640P into Aux on my SM6 and Dynavector 10x5 (2.5mV). My tech abilities end here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gortnipper Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Hagerman Coronet 2 is pretty nice - http://www.hagtech.com/cornet2.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotokan Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Ok guys, here is the first dumb question. Is it preferable to have a dedicated line stage and why is this? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixon76 Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Also probably a dumb question: line stage and phono stage....different things yes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkr001 Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 nixon76;91741 wrote: Also probably a dumb question: line stage and phono stage....different things yes? Yep, as I understand it a preamp is a line stage and phono stage together although many seem to use the terms line stage and preamp interchangeably. Although of course I could be horribly wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gortnipper Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 nixon76;91741 wrote: Also probably a dumb question: line stage and phono stage....different things yes? Yes - a phono stagre has circuits to process RIAA curves encoded on the LP. tkr001;91743 wrote: Yep, as I understand it a preamp is a line stage and phono stage together although many seem to use the terms line stage and preamp interchangeably. Although of course I could be horribly wrong Basically, a preamp is a switchbox and will always include the basic functions of source selection and volume control. It may also include other features such as balance, muting, tape monitor selection, record out signal selection, channel switching, stereo/mono selection, channel reversing, headphone output, etc. Almost all audio source components (CD, DVD, tuner, DAT, etc.) will output a signal which is more than capable of driving a power amplifier. The only device which must have preamplification is the turntable. So, a preamp is always a line stage (either passive - no power required, or active - power required) and may/may not include a phono stage (power required). Of course, I could be horribly wrong as well! :eek: David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotokan Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 US$279 but needs to be plugged into a Linestage. (Cheap if you already have a nice linestage.) Or, US$749 for their Eros full phono+line phono preamp. Yeah it's confusing. So a line stage is a pre amp et al. In my case the SM6 has no phono stage at all, so I plug my stand alone phono pre-amp into the Aux RCA inputs which by default becomes my line stage. Therefore specific to the Bottleneck, I have the necessary line stage but it's not a phono line stage. What's the difference? Again, I've got the feeling I'm way off track....edit, edit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted May 17, 2009 Author Share Posted May 17, 2009 OK, .... In the old days, all preamps had phono inputs (which provided a 1st stage 'pre' amplification & 'equalisation' for the v low level record pickup signal. This brought the signal level up to 'line level' (similar to Aux inputs...eg tape, tuner... later CD). The phono stage therefore preceded the 'Line' (or Aux) inputs & line-stage, which provided a 2nd stage of amplification to drive the power amp (or power stage in an integrated. Nowadays, phono is usually unnecessary & Line-only preamps are commonly manufactured, primarily for CD sources... these are sometimes referred to as Line-stages. So, thus you have Phono stage + Line (stage) preamp/s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotokan Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Thanks Owen, fully understood. Some explanation on the subject, as covered by Owen / Gortnipper. http://www.gspaudio.co.uk/phonopreampstage.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon1553552729 Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Also the K&K audio phono stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted May 18, 2009 Author Share Posted May 18, 2009 Correction: I see that the Bottlehead Eros is also just a (higher performance) Phono stage only... needs to be plugged into a line stage. Owen Y;91647 wrote: Or, US$749 for their Eros full phono+line phono preamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted May 18, 2009 Author Share Posted May 18, 2009 Also... World Audio Designs (UK) http://wduk.worldomain.net/acatalog/AmpKits.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Y Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Another tube preamp option, made in Japan by Elekit: http://www.elekit.co.jp/material/english_product_html/TU-875.php?page=1&ssi=1 With MM/MC phono (hybrid tube/FET). Prices? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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