Those vintage Luxmans are beautifully made and old school, but they will yield a "vintage" sound. You need to want that.
Tube Preamp with Full Featured Phono (both MM and LOMC with loading options).
My friend has very little room in one of his systems he wants to upgrade, so a single Preamp with Full Featured Phono built in is advantageous to him.
No Tape, Streaming, DAC needed, so not too many inputs, no XLR needed. Has two TT now, with external switcher to his existing Preamp, that's ok, but two Phono Inputs would be advantageous.
I'm gonna start looking, used is fine, budget 1,500 to 2,500 USD (stretch to 2,700 if just a few hundred more gets a great find).
Remote Volume and Mute would be nice, but not that important in that system. Usually, a Remote gets you a newer used item. I'm not living with remote volume, balance, mute. He could find room for the Chase RLC-1 Remote Line Controller he has heard here many times.
That opens the door to Full Featured Vintage Tube Preamps, but that is usually only MM Phono needing an external SUT, costing more, and taking more space. I showed him my FRT-4 SUT which fits under my Turntable, he could do that.
Lots of options, his preference is a single Tube Preamp with Full Featured Phono for both MM and LOMC.
Whew!
Any help will be appreciated, thanks in advance
Elliott
- ...
- 57 posts total
| Post removed |
Thanks for the ideas I went thru hifishark, took quite a while, but I like learning about tube preamps Here’s what I found on hifishark, in descending price Rogue RP-5 Tube/Hybrid Preamp with full featured MM/MC Phono
Internal dip switches for 30-50-75-100-230-300-1000-47k ohms resistance settings.
Your nova, 38 ohm coil, ideally wants to see 380 ohms, but that stays upstairs, just make sure any new cartridge, internal impedance of it's coil ____ x 10 = _____ is covered.
Remote uniquely has volume/balance/mute/ ....
a bit over your budget, 2,700 it's been listed for 88 days, he might accept an offer.
https://rogueaudio.com/manuals/RP-5%20combined%203-22.pdf ////////////////////////////////////// Here's a Luxman CL-35 asking 1,700.,
old, restored, you change the little transformers in the back, left side, for your particular MC cartridge, not very flexible, no remote ....
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650277114-luxman-cl35-mkiii/
///////////////////////////////////////// VTL TL-5.5, 1,00 + sip and tax ...
https://www.vtl.com/products/preamplifiers/tl-5-5-series-ii-signature-preamplifier/
has remote, seems you can buy and add a nice phono card for both MM and MC, ask VTL about that first.
///////////////////////////////////// Van Alstine Fet Valve CFR preamplifier, 1,650,\
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650293377-van-alstine-fet-valve-all-tube-preamp/
no phono but phono is +379. option when ordering new.
I called, left a message, can it be added in the field, or must it go back to the factory?
///////////////////////////////// ROGUE AUDIO RP-1 Tube Preamp/phono, 1.500 phono same as the RP-5 above for 2,700 ////////////////////// VINCENT SA- T7 TUBE PRE AMP , German made, 1,500
no phono, need to add sep phono for both MM and MC
review "Summary No matter the genre or medium, the Vincent SA-T7 MK Tube Stereo Preamplifier (USD 3500) is an excellent partner and now adds Bluetooth streaming for a full-function component. German engineering and manufacture, lovely sound at a reasonable price. As such, it should be on all your audition lists if you’re looking for a sub-$5000 preamplifier."
from AI (verify) (has remote, DAC, Bluetooth
"SA-T7 MK
Key Features Across Models
//////////////////////////////// Conrad Johnson PV8, MM & HOMC Phono Only, 1,200, (add SUT for LOMC)
////////////////////////////////// another Luxman CL35II, 1,200
at transformers in the rear sockets for a specific MC. two phono input, either two MM or 1 MM and 1 MC /////////////////////////////////// Melos 900. (my friend Arne had one for years), internal switches for MM and MC Arne might sell his, he will think about it.
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649833487-melos-ma222b-tube-preamp/ ////////////////////////////// this Melos, 1,200 says MM/MC Phono, must be internal jumpers, either MM or LOMC, only one phono in
https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649495011-melos-ma-222-tube-preamplifier/
|
Elliot, You asked the question. Not much need to tell us the answers that you ferreted out, but interesting nonetheless. A word of caution re Melos. They are prone to break and the business went under due to malfeasance some years ago. Since they’re like any other preamp, a mix of the usual parts, I assume someone out there can fix them, but maybe it would be wise to locate a repair person before purchase of a unit. I guess your friend is either fortunate or knowledgeable enough to do his own repairs. |
- 57 posts total