shaky Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 Bugger!! I bought a turntable recently and when I hooked it up to my system I then discovered an issue with the phono stage in my Cyrus Pre that I had never used before ( I did buy this second hand about 5 years ago). The plug-in MM board seems okay upon inspection and testing with a meter. So that leaves the actual Pre. Considering there has been a few other one off issues with the Pre recently, I am adverse to spending lots of money on it (also due to age) so am toying with the idea of connecting an external phono stage to it. Any suggestions for this would be welcome. My budget is the under side of $300 for this but like everyone else here, feel free to blow my mind with other alternatives. Thanks all. 1
Upfront Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 http://bit.ly/1a2qBRV Yaqin MS-22B $200 landed. Might be worth a look for you mate. It'll be interesting to see what else pops up. Good luck with the search!
betty boop Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 the mf v-lps is in your budget and gets a pretty good wrap maybe worth checking out, http://www.hifitrader.com.au/prod141.htm there is also the cambridge phono pre here thats well regarded http://www.audiotrends.com.au/Cambridge_Audio_651P_Black.html?action=viewProduct&itemId=545
buddyev Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 (edited) I have a Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 SE bought from cheekyboy (vinyleye). I don't have a lot of experience with different phono amps but I like it and know they are very well regarded round here. I think they still have a loaner program - try before you buy. http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/35476-graham-slee-projects-equipment-loaner-program/ Edited June 12, 2013 by buddyev
at68 Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 I found the Musical Fidelity a bit strident for my taste. I had the X-lps v3. No good if sibilance is an issue for you. It drove me bonkers. Last year I rang David at Caxton Audio Brisbane, and he suggested a Heed phono stage for around that price which he was able to post me. I have been pretty happy with it since. Have fun Adam
tesla13BMW Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 Graham Slee also release the Genera which was done as a DIY kit. Have a look on Ebay there is one available in Australia and Geoff is good to deal with. This is a built version. This is what I might get for my second system. I have tried it and it wasn't too shabby compared to the Graham Slee Reflex. Cheers, Chris.
cheekyboy Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 I have a Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 SE bought from cheekyboy (vinyleye). I don't have a lot of experience with different phono amps but I like it and know they are very well regarded round here. I think they still have a loaner program - try before you buy. http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/35476-graham-slee-projects-equipment-loaner-program/ Yes, Russ, the Slee Gram Amp 2SE is available under the loaner program, but it is one of the most popular phono stages and there is a bit of a queue to borrow it. I have sent the OP a PM. Cheers, Keith
betty boop Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 Yes, Russ, the Slee Gram Amp 2SE is available under the loaner program, but it is one of the most popular phono stages and there is a bit of a queue to borrow it. I have sent the OP a PM. Cheers, Keith best way to get hands on feel for something like this. what better way to experinece than in your own system
shaky Posted June 12, 2013 Author Posted June 12, 2013 I have a Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 SE bought from cheekyboy (vinyleye). I don't have a lot of experience with different phono amps but I like it and know they are very well regarded round here. I think they still have a loaner program - try before you buy. http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/35476-graham-slee-projects-equipment-loaner-program/ Pming as we speak!! thanks buddy!
shaky Posted June 12, 2013 Author Posted June 12, 2013 Nice work! I'll say. A bunch of ideas not even an hour after my original post. Thanks all!!
Candyflip Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 http://bit.ly/1a2qBRVYaqin MS-22B $200 landed. Might be worth a look for you mate. It'll be interesting to see what else pops up. Good luck with the search! Anybody actually rate this? - I've read everything from 'a complete waste of money', to, 'it caught fire after the first week!'
Upfront Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 (edited) Anybody actually rate this?- I've read everything from 'a complete waste of money', to, 'it caught fire after the first week!' People like to mod. Not all are capable it seems. There a few floating around SNA, including mine. I was impressed with the sound quality for the meagre outlay. But it's far from the best I've listened too. Edited June 12, 2013 by Upfront 1
djb Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 Agre with upfront re 22b Good at the price I have 1 you are welcome to borrow PM me Slee loaner program has several try there Am off to a phono stage shoot out at SGR very soon a stage built by an SNAer versus I think .... The Brinkman Reviews shortly
shaky Posted June 12, 2013 Author Posted June 12, 2013 Thanks for the offer djb. Generosity of SNA strikes again. A PM is in order
gz76 Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 I also have a spare Yaqin MS-22B floating around I'd be happy to loan/sell you at a decent price Shaky. You know where the PM button is if you need it!
DoggieHowser Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 Have a look at AMR's iUSB branded under their iFi range. Superb value and uses trickle down tech from their amazing AMR flagship phono stage. http://ifi-audio.com/en/iPhono.html no need to open up to change settings.
DoggieHowser Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 (edited) Looks like it is a bit pricier than the usual iFi stuff but I reckon it's a lot more versatile the Musical Fidelity one which my dad got a while back. http://www.analogplanet.com/content/whats-8500-cartridge-doing-place-399-ifi-iphono-phono-preamplifier Great review from the guys at stereophile Edited June 12, 2013 by DoggieHowser
jt301 Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 No one here has asked Shaky what turntable / tonearm / cartridge he's using. Does that mean there's no synergy / matching issues to consider between a phono preamp and cartridge?
Upfront Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 No one here has asked Shaky what turntable / tonearm / cartridge he's using. Does that mean there's no synergy / matching issues to consider between a phono preamp and cartridge? Some have that info
jt301 Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 That may be but I'm still interested in people's view on this. Is it simply a matter of getting a phone preamp with sufficient gain for the cartridge and maybe setting adjustments for an MC cartridge, or are there synergy considerations between the two as there are between amplifier and speaker?
cheekyboy Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 That may be but I'm still interested in people's view on this. Is it simply a matter of getting a phone preamp with sufficient gain for the cartridge and maybe setting adjustments for an MC cartridge, or are there synergy considerations between the two as there are between amplifier and speaker? Hi jt301, The cartridge the OP is using is a MM with 0.5mV output, mass of 7.5g, a load impedance of 47k ohms and a dynamic compliance of 20 x 10-6cm/Dyne. What would you recommend in a phono stage? Cheers, Keith
jt301 Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 Hi Keith, My experience with phono stages is extremely limited. I've only ever used the built in phono preamp in my amplifier, so I don't feel qualified to make a recommendation. The reason I ask the question is because I have genuine interest in the answer as I've started thinking about getting a separate phone preamp myself. Sorry Shaky, I didn't intend to take over your thread. Cheers Jeff
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