Developing A Short List For A Phono Stage
Current phono stages are a Esoteric E-03 that has a Transfiguration Audio Proteus and Kiseki Blackheart Gen 1 going into it. Second phono stage is a deluxe Pete Millet with a HO Benz Micro Glider going into it.
I have a Denon DP75 and DP80 getting ready to be used. One cartridge is a Sumiko Blackbird Lo, the second one is not picket out yet, but will be a LOMC most likely.
My preamp has only one set of XLR inputs available now.
So the phono stage should have 2 inputs, and XLR outputs.
I do not mind shopping the used market. I need a quality phono stage, but does not need to be a flagship model, as these two tables are nice but not my reference ones. Well the DP80 could be one once done, so maybe I rebalance the system after that.
Have any candidates that meet these parameters?
I went the SUT solution, Fidelity Research FRT-4, not only 3 inputs, front selectable, also PASS for MM, and 4 impedance/transformer settings. Captive RCA out, not XLR. Zero Noise. 3/10/30/100 ohms face designations (i.e. the coil's impedance) resultant impedances: 37/110/141/423 Respective X Factors (signal gain): 35.84x/20.68x/18.27x/10.55x.
https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11318 Entre has a similar more modern SUT with 3 inputs. ET 100. Usually a few for sale on hifishark, none now oddly.
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Just to solve 'only XLR available', for a captive rca cable I have tried RCA/XLR adapters. They worked, noise free. If RCA jacks out, they make rca/xlr cables. Others can tell you more, but you lose the potential higher signal strength 'real' xlr might have, and the special grounding/protection features of XLR, which we really don't need in our residential setups with short runs. I do like that most XLR connectors lock in place. |
My Scheu Analog motor pod has bad a failing power switch for a couple of years, and in the last 6 months it has gone downhill rapidly. I ordered a new switch when I also ordered two new armboards from the factory. I took the switch and motor pod to a local instrument shop, to see if their tech will replace it. There are no audio service shops without driving about 30 miles or more anymore. Really, this is a 3 position switch, and nothing different than what is on a guitar or musical instrument amplifier. Should be an easy repair. What I should do is move the Scheu while the motor pod is down and hook up the Denon/Dynavector/Blackbird up to the Esoteric phono stage and see what is really possible. But the Scheu weighs 85 pounds, and has two arms installed. It is not a table you move on a whim, you must have both commitment and fortitude to do the job. But I am tempted in order to know the possibility of this combination with a high quality phono stage. When I had my previous DP75 in the VPI plinth, I used an Acos GST-801 arm and had a ZYX 4D on it. This combo was played on the Esoteric, and sounded quite nice. I had several cartridges on it over the years, Ortofon, Ikeda, Audio Technica, and Benz Micro as I recall. The Acos was a capable arm. My previous Dynavector arms were installed on the Scheu table, but never a Denon...at least till now. The Sumiko Blackbird Lo has .7 mV output...and how do they call that a low output moving coil? The Millet phono stage is set at the higher gain, but I have no loading selection. Still it sounds pretty respectable, and quite listenable. But this combo is not ideal, it is just a stop gap till I get everything else sorted out. Still there is a lot to appreciate with how it plays together. |
Maybe an "older/used" FM Acoustic or even a VAC...something like this: https://www.stereophile.com/content/vac-renaissance-signature-mkii-preamplifier
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nice finds. Oddly, the audiomart unit has two rca or xlr in but only rca out the 2nd one is much more versatile, some optional loading controls on the back, ok but not as easy as front controls if switching arms on the fly. Once, I made a diagram, and little mirror on a stick to see rear controls of something heavy. Maybe a case when being dyslexic is advantageous.
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