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Phono Pre-amp for non-vinyl guy.

I’m not really into vinyl. But, I have an old direct drive Sony PS-T2 turntable with a Grado cartridge of some sort and 20-30 vinyl albums. I will occasionally buy new vinyl from new or emerging artists. Not really into vintage vinyl except what I have left from the 80s and 90s. My current phono pre is an ART DJ Pre II. And while I know nothing about vinyl hi-fi I am under the impression that this current phono pre sucks. It just sounds kind of flat and seems to be lacking at the high end. I have to turn the gain all the way up to get much out of it. I know it is not on the same level of my current system:

Audio Research LS-16 tube preamp.

Madrigal Proceed HPA2 (Levinson) amplifier

Aerial Acoustics 7B tower speakers

Transparent Audio Cables all around

To be clear, I am not looking for a phono preamp on the same level as the rest of the system nor I am I looking to buy a new turn table.

So my question is, what reasonably priced phono pre would be a decent step up from the ART DJ I currently have. I’d probably buy used.

Wondering about the Schiit Mani, the various Fosi models, Cambridge Audio Alva Solo and NAD PP2e.

n80
mahler123
4,066 posts
 

OP

 

your vinyl situation sounds a lot like mine.  I have a Technics Direct Drive and about 20 LPs.  I much prefer digital.  My cartridge is a Ortofon

2L Blue moving magnet. My phono preamp is a Cambridge Audio moving magnet only.  It cost around $400 4 years ago.  It was a definite upgrade from a Pro-Ject phono pre that had a USB connection to digitalized vinyl, and it seems to do the job quite well.  No doubt a $25K boutique tubed preamp would provide a more rarified experience but the CA is quite satisfying for those rare times that I spin an LP.

  Make sure that your Grado cartridge is a moving magnet if you are interested.  For another few hundred CA makes a preamp for both mm and mc .

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,083 posts
 

@n80 if you slightly up your budget why not pick up an older Audio Research phono stage like this

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650315116-audio-research-ph3-phono-preamplifier/

If you are listening to vinyl and even buying new records, why should you settle for a subpar listening experience? Phono stage makes a huge difference and you probably didn’t hear what your analog setup is capable of. 

n80 OP
2,154 posts
 

Thanks guys. $500 is more than I'm willing to budget on this. I just don't listen to vinyl that much and I have no desire to go down that road at this point.

I will look into some of the lower priced ones recommended.

@dekay when you say upping it on the LS-16 do you mean volume or is there a gain setting on the LS-16? To be honest I have seen the back of the LS-16 in years.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,083 posts
 

There’s no gain settling on LS-16. 
 

this looks interesting for $500

https://a.co/d/019Vjf6v

dekay's avatar
dekay
6,216 posts
 

I meant the volume pot on the LS-16 (experiment with both lower/higher settings on both the phono gain pot and the line preamplifier volume pot).

I use an old Musical Fidelity V-LPS solid state phono preamp with Grado Gold and Silver cartridges that sounds quite good with my oddball setup.

It retailed for just under $200 and I purchased it for less than $100 when it was being closed out.

I don’t keep up on this stuff, but the inexpensive Schiit (sp?) might be a contemporary equivalent.

 

DeKay

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