Keith Anderson Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 Thinking about phono stages and maybe going tube. So recommendations, I listen to a wide variety of music from Melody Gardot to Joe Cocker, Nickle Creek to Gary Moore etc Gear Weston Acoustic Topaz (being built at the moment) Clear Audio Concept Benz Micro Ace Hoyt Benford Type 4 At the moment I'm using a Music Surrounding Phonomena, seems to do well but I've never compared it to anything else,
catman Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 G'day mate, interesting! As much as I have a lot of time and fondness for well designed valve gear, I tend to be put off by the very thought of a valve based phono stage, although I know that there are some superb ones around, the technical demands and limitations of any valve gear, but the very best are simply too difficult. Regards, Felix.
Guest Muon Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Id that MYSTERE IA21 sells, maybe Golden Age Audio? Do you have a budget for others to use in recommendations? Are you looking at a ball part similar to the price of a Music Surrounding Phonomena ll? Looking like a very nice system there @@catman Felix, I'm not aware of these demands and limitations, and having a valve amp and valve phono I'm at a loss Not objecting to ya' view, just haven't experienced it, maybe it is just a difference in needs/requirements. Edited April 22, 2015 by ortofun
buzz lightyear Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 Give lovetube Duc a pm he has a very nice tube phono stage Golden Age Audio I'm sure Duc will be more than happy to give you a demo. Btw Topaz is a fantastic amp
catman Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) G'day all. Ortofun: 'noise and distortion', as one of my old training school technical manuals would state, but yes the very best ones are excellent but only those would really qualify, as I see it from a technical point of view. Regards, Felix. PS. I sound like Rod Elliott don't I. Edited April 22, 2015 by catman
Guest Muon Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 G'day all. Ortofun: 'noise and distortion', as one of my old training school technical manuals would state, but yes the very best ones are excellent but only those would really qualify, as I see it from a technical point of view. Regards, Felix. Ah, OK, and from an old manual I'm not surprised, the older commercial designs were noisy over all. But all this in my view and limited experience comes down to design and layout, and sometimes a matter of what tubes used. my amp is dead silent and very linear, the phono was dead silent till I modded some of it but still only has a tiny slight hum that can only be detected with no play and ear against the speaker, and doesn't change with volume....It's of a pretty accurate presentation also. All good
soundfan Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 G'day mate, interesting! As much as I have a lot of time and fondness for well designed valve gear, I tend to be put off by the very thought of a valve based phono stage, although I know that there are some superb ones around, the technical demands and limitations of any valve gear, but the very best are simply too difficult. Regards, Felix. Put off by what Felix? Building a valve based phono pre? While I haven't heard any super expensive ss phono pre's, I have heard quite a few, and know that I made the right decision going tubes. And no.......I am not one of those that seem to more enticed by the nice glow from tube gear, rather than how they sound. 2
catman Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 G'day mate, well to be honest I very nearly starting building a 'Wireless Weekly' all valve design some years ago but the power supply proved too much for me. Regards, Felix. 1
andyr Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 Thinking about phono stages and maybe going tube. So recommendations, I listen to a wide variety of music from Melody Gardot to Joe Cocker, Nickle Creek to Gary Moore etc Gear Weston Acoustic Topaz (being built at the moment) Clear Audio Concept Benz Micro Ace Hoyt Benford Type 4 At the moment I'm using a Music Surrounding Phonomena, seems to do well but I've never compared it to anything else, Very nice phono stage and very useful that it offers LOMC gain as well as MM (the spec I Googled said "Using a series of DIP switches on the back, the user is able to select from thirteen different gain settings, ranging from 40 dB to 60 dB"). I 'third' Duc's tube phono stage - absolutely gorgeous sound. But I think it costs in the high $2,000s - so more than the Phonomena. And it is MM gain - not MC (Duc uses a SUT for LOMCs). If you can afford it, i suggest you try to audition one - you will be beguiled by its sound! Regards, Andy
Guest Muon Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 G'day mate, well to be honest I very nearly starting building a 'Wireless Weekly' all valve design some years ago but the power supply proved too much for me. Regards, Felix. Ah, yes...building one is another story
lovetube Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Very nice phono stage and very useful that it offers LOMC gain as well as MM (the spec I Googled said "Using a series of DIP switches on the back, the user is able to select from thirteen different gain settings, ranging from 40 dB to 60 dB"). I 'third' Duc's tube phono stage - absolutely gorgeous sound. But I think it costs in the high $2,000s - so more than the Phonomena. And it is MM gain - not MC (Duc uses a SUT for LOMCs). If you can afford it, i suggest you try to audition one - you will be beguiled by its sound! Regards, Andy guys. I think i understand what Felix saying here . building an excellent sounding full tubes phono stage is not easy and not every one a cup of tea . and as Andy have said mine phono stage is not cheap , good one is never cheap otherwise we will all buy chinese stuff and be done with it. normally building full tube phono stage take twice as long to build compare to line stage and power amp . reason is it need a lot of turning and refine , you don't just build one just for it to work but to get it sound right and you must be a vinyl lover to do so just like people building they excellent Dac . hope this clear some of what Felix said . Duc Edited April 22, 2015 by lovetube 2
Guest Muon Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 It does, Duc I had a feeling Felix was coming from that angle, and valid it is.
pulinap Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) +2 for GA reference from Duc.... If you promise to return it back, I can lend you my Classe headamp to go with Duc's phono - a killer combo........ No need for dip switches and loading plugs..... Edited April 22, 2015 by pulinap
Stump Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 This one caught my eye while researching same subject! PhonoMaster http://www.acousticplan.de/html/phonomaster_english.html 2
Happy Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 I've been suffering from the same itch, and been considering Budgie of Park Audio from the States. They also have SUTs and the owner seemingly offers customisation for your LOMCs. The price is highly competitive but I wonder if it's worth a plunge considering well regarded tube phonos and SUTs typically cost easily 3 times more than theirs. Sent from my X10a using Tapatalk 2
Guest Muon Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 With the Parks Budgie do take note of this when matching. Output Impedance: 6K ohm
andyr Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 With the Parks Budgie do take note of this when matching. Output Impedance: 6K ohm A phono stage with an f'ing output impedance of 6 bloody Kohms? Absolutely bizarre - only useful with a tube pre that has an input impedance of 100K. Andy 1
catman Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) G'day all, well that's interesting as my DIY ESP P88 stereo line preamp has an input impedance of 100 Kilohms! Regards, Felix. Edited April 22, 2015 by catman
Telecine Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 A phono stage with an f'ing output impedance of 6 bloody Kohms? Absolutely bizarre - only useful with a tube pre that has an input impedance of 100K. Andy Sounds bizarre. The output impedance on my all tube phono is 30ohms balanced and 15ohms unbalanced, that is what you need to look for.
Guest Muon Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Yup, looks high, the EAR is only around 540 ohms Edit; each channel measured Edited April 22, 2015 by ortofun
betty boop Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 Thinking about phono stages and maybe going tube. So recommendations, I listen to a wide variety of music from Melody Gardot to Joe Cocker, Nickle Creek to Gary Moore etc Gear Weston Acoustic Topaz (being built at the moment) Clear Audio Concept Benz Micro Ace Hoyt Benford Type 4 At the moment I'm using a Music Surrounding Phonomena, seems to do well but I've never compared it to anything else, I havent seen a mention of price / budget, I listen to a wide variety of music myself and run the ARC PH6 http://www.tonepublications.com/review/audio-research-ph-6-phono-preamplifier/ if out of budget by any chance, do look out for the previous model PH5 which I had previous and also an absolute beauty http://www.soundstage.com/vinyl/vinyl200512.htm as much as looking for a tube phono stage...what I think is most paramount is the match of Cart and phono stage. 1
Telecine Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Getting an all tube phono stage with a low noise floor will be costly. A hybrid approach like the one used by Arc is worthy of consideration. There are some quality phono stages that use JFETs also worth an audition. Edited April 22, 2015 by Telecine 2
Guest Muon Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 Hybrid! Not that there is anything wrong with that
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