Phono pre-amp discussion

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by JoshMorr, Jan 11, 2016.

  1. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Looks like I'm in the market for a step up transformer. I plan to try out several phono-preamps & a few will require the SUT.

    I dug back through the thread, pulled a few mentions and put together the list of possibles below.

    Im particularly interested in the K&K kits available here, Roy from tubes 4 hifi (builder of the PH16-X) recommended them and there's lots of options, including silver wiring.

    Anyone using a particular SUT they would reccommend or warn me against?


    Bryston TF-2 or TF-1 (800 Used) https://beta.bryston.com/analog-audio/tf2/
    K&K Basic MC Phono Step-Up Kit ($325-385) http://www.kandkaudio.com/moving-coil-phono-step-up-kits/
    K&K Premium MC Phono Step-Up (650 new)
    K&K Premium MC Phono Step-Up all silver (1500 new)
    Ypsilon MCxx-Step Up ($1500 used) https://ypsilonelectronics.com/mc-step-up/
    Denon Au-320 (350 Used)
    Denon AU-340 (600 Used)
    Bob's Devices Sky (900 Used) https://www.bobsdevices.com/product-page/sky-cinemag
    Bob's Devices - VPI Cinemag 1131 (900 used, 1700 New)
    Parks Audio Budgie CM1254 (500 Used) (no longer made, prices going up)
    REISONG 1:2 Step-up Transformer (130 new) - buy it just for the chassis, replace the transformers Link
    REISONG 1:20 Step-up Transformer (200 new)
    DIY it like @JK47 https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/step-up-transformers.1307/#post-33226
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2020
  2. Donald North

    Donald North Friend

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    Which cartridge is going to be used with it?
     
  3. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Ahh. For testing planned on Ortofon Cadenza Black (330μV output)
     
  4. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    The K&K is Lundahl, which is good stuff. I think you can save money buying it in kit form if you're so inclined. The all silver is very good if the price makes sense. Essentially, though, you'll want to match the DC winding resistance to the internal resistance of your cartridge within 5 ohms or so, and then choose a step up ratio that gets you close to the recommended loading. Presumably the phono load is 47k reflected back through the SUT. Ask K&K for the DCR info - Lundahl can provide different versions and I think standard is around 6 ohms.
     
  5. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    My challenge is I change gears like stupid, I can see buying different carts to try out & obsoleting a dialed in SUT. I guess thats the price for good sound.

    I did see this BTW, interesting implementation of resistors but I cant think it would sound very good

    https://www.loungeaudio.com/copla

     
  6. Donald North

    Donald North Friend

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    Generally I prefer a good active MC step-up over transformers. They used to be popular in the 80s and you can find examples from Audio Research, Conrad-Johnson, Music Reference, Counterpoint, McIntosh, etc. Many of the cartridge companies made them too.

    Here’s one from Hagerman:
    https://hagerman-audio-labs.myshopify.com/products/piccolo2-mc-preamp
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2020
  7. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    a device that may be useful for analog addicts: an inverse RIAA pcb. this board will allow you to connect a line level source like a CD player or DAC to a phono input for testing by reducing gain and inversing RIAA EQ circuit.

    I purchased this one off ebay for $30, mainly to test the phono input of vintage receivers and pre-amps without having a turntable set up, but is also very useful for breaking in a new phono stage which is otherwise a pain having to play through records.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    I seem to be collecting low to mid-range active step up transformers for some reason. A comparison is in order.

    I have the Hagerman Piccolo 2 and the Lounge Audio Copla in house already. Any other recommendations for an active step up? Price should be under $500 USD lets randomly say.
     
  9. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

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    Would love a comparison of these! Would be fun to mix in a reasonably priced SUT as well, like the Jensen JT-44K-DX. That would obviously require a little bit of DIY work most likely to keep under $500 built though.
     
  10. Donald North

    Donald North Friend

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    See if you can find a vintage Electrocompaniet MC-2
     
  11. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    I have multiple passive SUTs but I think that's a different project. For one it would require me to actually think to find the right windings for the system. It has to wait for now, once it happens I'll have some vintage transformers for sale around here.

    Now that sounds interesting, looks like they don't come up very often though. I'll set some feelers up.
     
  12. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I've been very curious about this kit in particular

    https://www.tindie.com/products/skrodahl/muffsy-mc-head-amp-kit/
     
  13. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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  14. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    I have an Audio Design MCP-1 headamp
    it's from a short-lived Canadian company, it was a clone of the McIntosh MCP-1 http://www.roger-russell.com/mcp1.htm
    but probably better sounding because the designer used high grade German parts

    unfortunately I have never had a chance to listen to it since I bought it a year ago, if I can find it I would be happy to send it to you as part of your shootout. it's pretty rare and difficult to find information on Audio Design as a company as they had a generic name

    [​IMG]
     
  15. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Is it this?

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj_vI6P_KjuAhVDuVkKHR5NAuMQFjABegQIAhAC&url=https://www.vintageshifi.com/repertoire-pdf/pdf/telecharge.php?pdf=Audio-Research-MCP1-Owner-Manual-Schematics.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2IqkxeGi0NMezRio-6YPbN

    Id love to hear it. It looks like its not impedance adjustable without doing some soldering. There'd have to be a caveat for it, id have to find a compatible cartridge around. I would like to hear it though if you have the accompanying AC power supply.

    EDIT: I dont think thats a correct link above. Can you change the input impedance on this?

    If I get hold of that Electrocompaniet there'll have to be a caveat for that as well as unobtanium.
     
  16. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    that happens to be an Audio Research (ARC) product by the same name - very confusing, but not the same

    you can change the input loading by swapping resistors of the desired value next to the RCA jacks. I do have the original power supply
     
  17. Donald North

    Donald North Friend

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    Klyne made the SK-1 & SK-2 solid state active step ups.

    I have the Counterpoint SA-2 tube step up and encountered noise and hum using it in my system.
     
  18. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    A used SK-1 might fit in the 'under $500' category but otherwise these seem to be above the price & pretty much unavailable :(
     
  19. Donald North

    Donald North Friend

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    I personally wasn’t impressed when I heard it in my system years ago, so no big loss in my books.
     
  20. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Consider Intact Audio's offering. I can attest to their autoformers being of excellent sonic quality.

    http://intactaudio.com/tran.html
     

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