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Q: phono preamp recommendation please
I have recently upgraded from my faithfull Kuzma Stabi 1 with Rega RB/300 to
entirely different (but also Kuzma!) Stabi2 with Stogi tonearm. Cartridge, at the moment, is still the same: Denon DL-103. This is to be replaced soon with Benz Micro Ruby 2 Open Air (and Denon might get retipping, we shall see about that, too). Other cart alternative is Grado Reference, which may be an easier load (output, preload and gain considered), but as I see it (hear it, rather), it tends to sound a tad too 'sweet': I prefer Ruby to it. Changes in sound with new base and tonearm are significant (I won't go into details here) , and I think the phono preamp upgrade may be in order. Current device at this place is (must admit that I am a bit ashamed of this) Musical Fidelity's X-LPS: not bad for the price, but believe this rig now deserves something better. I was thinking maybe some Muse (Model One - it's been discounted), or even Benz Lukaschek PP-1 phono would do. Trouble with Muse is, as I hear, it makes it inappropriate for low-output MC carts: and both Ruby and Denon are such. There is also some custom-made phono here, from a designer whom I can trust (he makes serious enough stuff): audition would, of course, be appropriate way to evaluate it. I am still trying to steer clear of some valve designs, since there is some space at premium in my listening room and I don't feel comfortable with tubes in general. Please recommend something up to, say, $900 (new or used) that would make sense in such setup. Also, I would like to make it possible to last thru the future upgrades (if some) of the analogue stuff, but not so much to make this purchase of phono preamp an instant overkill (yeah, I know: sounds complicated -- because it is). If anyone has had some hands-on experience with any of those preamps, please feel free to write few impressions: that would be useful and very nice. Hope someone can help and sorry for lengthy post. Thanks & Respekt, Josip -- The difference between Theory and Practice is much greater in Practice than it is in Theory. |
#2
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phono preamp recommendation please
One option would be the Rogue Audio "Stealth" phonostage. It can be
configured to operate with either MM or MC cartridges with internal DIP switches. It is about your price point and is very quiet and revealing. True to the original, there is no soupy character or other false sense of presence, lushness, etc. It can be hard or cold sounding with some solid state amps and revealing speaker systems and just right with other more full sounding systems. I have used one with Denon MC, Grado and Rega MM cartridges in a couple of systems with results from perfect to a tad sterile or "hyper detailed" as some MC afficianados may prefer. For a stretch more, the Bryston BP1.5 with external power supply does it all at the flick of a switch and is both tonally neutral and flat in response. It is also dynamically expressive without any hint of colorations and my present reference. If you just want to lust after the unobtainable, the Klyne System Seven is also pretty cool! - Bill www.uptownaudio.com Roanoke VA (540) 343-1250 "Beppo@Work" wrote in message news:C7DOa.9299$N7.1559@sccrnsc03... I have recently upgraded from my faithfull Kuzma Stabi 1 with Rega RB/300 to entirely different (but also Kuzma!) Stabi2 with Stogi tonearm. Cartridge, at the moment, is still the same: Denon DL-103. This is to be replaced soon with Benz Micro Ruby 2 Open Air (and Denon might get retipping, we shall see about that, too). Other cart alternative is Grado Reference, which may be an easier load (output, preload and gain considered), but as I see it (hear it, rather), it tends to sound a tad too 'sweet': I prefer Ruby to it. Changes in sound with new base and tonearm are significant (I won't go into details here) , and I think the phono preamp upgrade may be in order. Current device at this place is (must admit that I am a bit ashamed of this) Musical Fidelity's X-LPS: not bad for the price, but believe this rig now deserves something better. I was thinking maybe some Muse (Model One - it's been discounted), or even Benz Lukaschek PP-1 phono would do. Trouble with Muse is, as I hear, it makes it inappropriate for low-output MC carts: and both Ruby and Denon are such. There is also some custom-made phono here, from a designer whom I can trust (he makes serious enough stuff): audition would, of course, be appropriate way to evaluate it. I am still trying to steer clear of some valve designs, since there is some space at premium in my listening room and I don't feel comfortable with tubes in general. Please recommend something up to, say, $900 (new or used) that would make sense in such setup. Also, I would like to make it possible to last thru the future upgrades (if some) of the analogue stuff, but not so much to make this purchase of phono preamp an instant overkill (yeah, I know: sounds complicated -- because it is). If anyone has had some hands-on experience with any of those preamps, please feel free to write few impressions: that would be useful and very nice. Hope someone can help and sorry for lengthy post. Thanks & Respekt, Josip -- The difference between Theory and Practice is much greater in Practice than it is in Theory. |
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