Luxman is a good pick. CL-35 III has an option for MC. You need to purchase plug in SUT which is available on ebay
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
I could be wrong, but I think the AI M3A and the CAT SL1 offer only a single pair of phono inputs, albeit you can hook that single pair of inputs up to either an MM or MC cartridge output. I thought we are looking for a single phono stage that can accommodate at least two tonearms via separate pairs of phono inputs. Otherwise this thread can degenerate into a list of good used phono stages, period. |
Original Post "Has two TT now, with external switcher to his existing Preamp, that’s ok, but two Phono Inputs would be advantageous." Nothing is fixed in stone, it’s his 3rd system, so a great deal on a highly respected unit, with only 1 MM will work, not his ideal but, I sent him a separate collection of a few SUTs like mine with several inputs that he could put under a TT like I did. That solves his space issue, but not the best for budget. Its not easy to see, but thru the removable armboard hole in the plinth, you are seeing the top of my SUT (black metal) and a glimpse of the 3 pairs of rca’s plugged into it’s back. It faces the side, has about 1mm of height clearance, I reach in and turn the knobs a,b,c .... and pick Pass or one of 4 optional x-factors/resultant impedances. No hum even in that near proximity.
|
I use an icon Audio PS1 MKII Signature that uses a separate tube power supply and choke filtering. The input stage has built-in SUTs passive RIAA with Genelex Gold Lion 12ax7LPS/B759 tubes in the gain and output stages. It also uses Teflon coated silver plated copper hook up wire throughout with Mundorf silver, gold and oil coupling caps, high quality close tolerance resistors etc. Build, fit and finish are exemplary. The MC and MM inputs are fixed at 100pF, 100ohm and 47Khz, 220pF respectively. There is a PS3 that probably has all the adjustability you require, however. Here's a link if you want to investigate further https://www.audioarcan.com/. |
- 57 posts total