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Can a phono stage really do this?

I just acquired a MAGI Phonomenal phono stage, which feeds a very compatible MAGI line stage. I have a Boz Scaggs album of Great American Songbook standards, which previously has displayed some pressig noise, such as crackling sounds that seem to syncrhonize with the rotation of the record.

I got this MAGI Phonomenal phono stage (handwired PTP), sometimes compared to the Manley Steelhead), and played the Boz Scaggs album with the new phono preamp. There was no noise. No mungy crackling to accompany the rotation of the record. Just pure, high resolution extraction of the musical elements of the LP. It was wonderful.

Can phono stages do this, or is it the result of lucky turntable setup with better tracking force, anti-skating adjustment, and azimuth adjustment? The TT is a Technics SL1210 M5G with KAB fluid damper and Oracle Groove Isolator sorbothane mat. But I never heard this record without the pressing noise until I got the Phonomenal. Cartridge is an Audio Technica AT150MLX with microline stylus.
johnnyb53

Showing 1 response by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,574 posts
 
The short answer is yes, a phono stage can indeed do this.

And you got it right- what it is doing is **not** emphasizing the ticks and pops, while the previous phono section was.

This has nothing to do with loading, although loading can help if the phono section is sensitive to Radio Frequency Interference (RFI).

Glad you stumbled on to a phono section that got it right! Enjoy!- and its OK to feel smug when people complain about ticks and pops :)
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