Cost efficient phono preamp recommendation


what phono preamp would you recommend for a vpi Aries Scout turntable with 10x4 Dynavector cartridge? Rest of system is very high end (Spectral/ Wilson Audio), but i rarely listen to LPs.
kocsis

Showing 2 responses by zaikesman

I've been very pleased with the Camelot Technologies Lancelot phono stage I bought based on Fremer's rave. I picked mine up here on A'gon for $550, and they are about $1,000 new. This is a physically small, all SS op-amp based dual-mono design, with a separate battery power supply. It will accomodate both MC and MM cart's, and internal socketed resistors and DIP switches can be changed to adjust resistive loading, capacitance, and gain. The unit is very quiet, and sounds as good as Mikey claimed, to my ears - it easily outperformed the built-in tube phono stage in my old C-J PV-8 preamp.

However, for someone who doesn't do a lot of phono, it might be considered too tweaky, what with the adjustable parameters and two-box construction. Though it's not large or heavy, it is somewhat cumbersome; there are two DC umbilicals going from the power supply to the preamp (the wall AC goes to the battery supply for charging), and the preamp has inputs on one face and outputs on the other, meaning it's difficult for cable routing, and cables will probably be visible from the front. Also, the preamp is so small and light, that the cables tend to move it around at will.

But the Lancelot has sold me on the concept of fully adjustable resistive loading for MC cart's. It comes with a small selection of included resistors, but I went out and bought inexpensive extras of other values in the range that sounded best, substituting until I homed in on just the correct value for my own cartridge. I then bought this value in a premium variety, achieving great focus, clarity, and bass tautness, and combined with realistic HF air, rather than the exagerated tip-top treble end that results from running most MC's unloaded at 47k ohms, as some non-adjustable phono stages will make you do.
The Dynavector may have a suitable output allowing it to be used with the little wooden-cased Grado phono preamp, which runs off of a 9v battery, and whose sound is well-regarded (I haven't heard it myself). This is a simple-to-use unit, and the battery should last a long time if you only listen occasionally. You might try calling Bob at The Elusive Disc, whose advice I've always found to be trustworthy, to ask if this (or something else) would be a good match. Whenever you're talking about buying phono equipment, it can be very difficult or impossible to actually audition your options, so it is usually helpful to find an experienced professional you can depend on for your information.