High Value Phono Stages

The same individuals who have attended the Phon' demi', have also built both Pass and Millet - Korg B1 or Korg Pre's.

A Pass Model using very high quality components, was a Pre' that won through at a Pre Amp' Bake off, where models in the line up, were between £1500 - £8K (from recollection). Not bad for a £300ish build. The intent on the day was to select a Pre' for a system where the £8K was not classed as a constraint to a purchase. 

I also have a loan in my possession of a Balanced version of a Korg B1. This is being compared to Pre' designs that are turning up when I host a group meet up.

I really like how one pre' creates a soundstage that is so deep the horizon line is not discernible, another will add a few puffs into the Soundstage and create the perception of a more voluminous expanse, another will get you to the edge of the seat and have one picking out every detail. Where the Pre' really wins is showing how a certain design of Power Amp' can present the received signal from the Pre's and really allow them to be recognisable for their sonic influences. O would say today resulting from my experiences, every system deserves a second Pre' Option, especially a model that is quite a different impact on a Soundstage, not so much on the End Sound.

Speaker effiiency, impedance characteristics, crossover component quality, type of driver being used (electromagnetic vs electrostatic vs ribbon, etc), number of drivers, etc, together determine what amplifier is best.  Then I work backwards from the amplifier to upstream components. One can use all the profundities that the English language provides about an amplifier or any other electronic component, and those won’t paint a picture I can believe in until I hear it for myself in the context of the system and room that served as the reference for the flowery language.

Isn't the Korg B1 an electronic keyboard (piano)?

Each of us is bound to not having experiences by the shackles of avoidance we have attached to ourselves, or otherwise 'contempt prior to investigation'.

Even when the Tree falls in the wood, the noise is generally not heard my nearly everybody, but nearly everybody will strongly suggest there was a noise.

It is OK to believe, especially when somebody shares their experiences had, what is the realistic evaluation is that for another to equally mimic it, is quite unlikely.   

@neonknight - glad it worked out for you.

Happy Spinning!

Asr Basis Exclusive,

I am long tme user; since review in Absolute sound. It is build like Germna

tank as itd brother Emitter II . I call them  ''German artillery''. For me it

is not the question ''ether or '' for the following reasons: ''the hieger the

amplifiction by active MC -pres the higher disdtortions and the advice

to use the lowest for the given cart. Basis strt with 35 dB (At with 4mV)

till 70 dB. Those who like louw output, low impdsnce carts should 

use  3OHm SUT's (35 dB). Those among us who are familiar with Ortofon

MC 2000 with 0,05 mV output should lso be familiar with T 2000 (silver)

SUT made for them. But while still  excelent cart deed not get follower.

probably because of SUT or active' MC euphoria'' (Hi Raul). Till now

that is .Who would beleive that ''the old Lukatschek'' would produce th

younger brother for MC 2000 . In his new series Ebony; BENZ EBONY TR

''TR'' for transformer (0,1 mV, 1 Ohm impedance.) With say, modest 

price in comparison witjh those meant for Russian, Chinese and American

rich. Compere them with ASR Emitter II withj 4 ''transformer'' ( 2 battery)

or Bassis exlusive (40kg) to get the picture. There are no ''wear out parts''

like styli and rubber contraparts for the coils which (hi Lew) work in

accrdance with Newtom III law ( action and reaction) such tha the ''combo''

cantilever/stylus is ''centerred'' despite ''anti-skate''. No skating on the LP

grooves but ''plough'' them (vertical + horizontal).