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Phono preamp worth it with MM cartridges?

I've had conflicting advice from dealers so hoping for some clarity here. How much do phono preamps offer with sound quality and MM cartridges? (I understand they have a huge impact on sound quality with MC). 

My current setup is Rega P3/Neo/Exact/Groovetracer RS, Rega Elex-R amp, and Spendor A4 speakers and I mostly listen to classical, jazz, and light rock.

Will buying a Rega Aria phone preamp (or  iFi iPhono 3? Avid? Graham Slee? in the sub $2k range) make a worthwhile difference or should I wait till I buy an MC cartridge before splurging ? 

Thanks, Roger
wqgq_641

Showing 3 responses by sokogear

sokogear
1,050 posts
 
Hey vair68robert- if you go from the RB300 to the 880 you will be blown away. Now there is no intermediary step in terms of arms from Rega. It goes from the RB330 to the 880 to the 3000. $600 to $1200 to unavailable ( they all go in the P10 table but will be available soon) $2200. Arms make the biggest difference IMHO (assuming amp &speakers are a constant) then cart/phono stage and then table (assuming table spins accurately) so I would focus on that. 
sokogear
1,050 posts
 
If you don't want to change tables, upgrade the arm of the P3 to an RB880. I did it when I had a P5 and was blown away (I subsequently but the bullet and got the P8 which includes it).  If you add a PSU if you don't have one, the table will be very good. Depending on the dealer trade value of your P3, it might be worth it to jump to the P8 which of course includes the PSU. Rega is known for their arms. Take advantage of them.

Cartridge upgrade would help too. The need for a phono stage is more apparent with MC cartridges, although they can also help with MMs. Since most MMs today are junk, I would recommend a reasonable MC and a Sutherland phono stage, the highest level one you can afford. That's all they do.
sokogear
1,050 posts
 
As far as minimal goes, Sutherland has a pretty expensive phono stage that can be plugged directly into an amp (not an integrated one) for less signal degradation. He believes in simplicity. The volume has like 47 settings and no remote control, and of course you can't play any other source (which I would have no problem with). Just don't want to spend 5 figures on a phono stage (even if it eliminates the need for a preamp).
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