I'm seeking recommendations for pre amp circuits (MM Phono and "regular preamps) that add a lot of warmth to the signal with little to no noise. If the result is amazing I might even use a SS power amp. This will be a retirement project so I'd like to limit the essential tubes to those that are affordable. My phono stylus is a AT-VM95SH. Other inputs will be a DAC, tuner, and Denon CD player.
Then you want a quiet tube preamplifier with a MM phono stage, that sounds warm, and can drive a transistor amplifier?
You'll probably need a cathode follower output stage to drive the transistor amplifier.
You'll probably need a cathode follower output stage to drive the transistor amplifier.
EAR834 clone, use some EH7025 tubes. Sounds amazing IMHO.
https://www.skunkiedesigns.com/phono-stage
https://www.skunkiedesigns.com/phono-stage
This is a different one. It is quiet, but not warm:
You would have to switch off (or remove) the input capacitor bank completely for your cartridge.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/phono-pre-amp-build-recommendations.355775/post-6237480
You would have to switch off (or remove) the input capacitor bank completely for your cartridge.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/phono-pre-amp-build-recommendations.355775/post-6237480
The boards are on ebay, here is the schematic:
https://www.skunkiedesigns.com/phono-stage?pgid=kt582f4t-7a1b97af-34d9-4360-9875-6b0a158c180e
Looks pretty good.
Here is one of the boards.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353077232768
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124784668791
Here is one of the boards.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353077232768
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124784668791
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It's the black and gold ones like shown in the video. Any ebay link will be ending soon. Honestly, if he can't figure out what board on ebay to buy, he won't be able to build this.
Oh my goodness there have been so many RIAA phono preamp projects here on diyAudio and elsewhere.
Tubes? Or not tubes?
FETs? Op amps?
Super clean sound with super-accurate RIAA EQ? Or 'warm' sound?
Super low noise with super low THD, or is subjective sound quality the final arbiter?
Le Pacific (nJFET RIAA preamp)
Valve Itch Phono - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/valve-itch-phono.140635/
Simplistic nJFET RIAA - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/simplistic-njfet-riaa.129126/
Thorsten Loesch 'Valve El Cheapo' - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/dc-phono.28957/#post-335624
ESP Project-06 - https://sound-au.com/project06.htm
His Master's Noise - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...a-thoroughly-modern-tube-phono-preamp.163570/
There are more... - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/diy-phono-preamp-recommendation.357191/
Tubes? Or not tubes?
FETs? Op amps?
Super clean sound with super-accurate RIAA EQ? Or 'warm' sound?
Super low noise with super low THD, or is subjective sound quality the final arbiter?
Le Pacific (nJFET RIAA preamp)
Valve Itch Phono - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/valve-itch-phono.140635/
Simplistic nJFET RIAA - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/simplistic-njfet-riaa.129126/
Thorsten Loesch 'Valve El Cheapo' - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/dc-phono.28957/#post-335624
ESP Project-06 - https://sound-au.com/project06.htm
His Master's Noise - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...a-thoroughly-modern-tube-phono-preamp.163570/
There are more... - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/diy-phono-preamp-recommendation.357191/
The main question is the experience / skill level in building phono preamps.
The easiest is EAR834 clone with available boards or kits from ebay ( talking about tube phono's ).
It also could be made to sound "warm".
Just taking a picture called "schematic" is not for the beginners - and i am saying this after five phono preamps and still consider myself as a beginner.
So depending on experience in building i would personnaly recommend well documented project with pcb boards available, for phono and PSU.
Also in choosing a project one has to know at least what amount of gain is needed and what is too much for one's system overall.
For MM cartridges i consider this to be from 40dB to 46dB and not above, depending on the rest of the system.
Additionally one has to take into consideration input capacitance for the cartridge used and this alone should be checked with existing users of AT carts who tried EAR834 clone.
Maybe something where input capacitance of the first gain stage is lower, like Valve itch - which i think requires little more experience to build up with existing pcb's for phono & heaters ( shunt regulator can be obtained here ).
Not mentioned are configurable pcb's for phono from Valve Wizard - the input tubes and overall gain can be changed from a list at his website.
The easiest is EAR834 clone with available boards or kits from ebay ( talking about tube phono's ).
It also could be made to sound "warm".
Just taking a picture called "schematic" is not for the beginners - and i am saying this after five phono preamps and still consider myself as a beginner.
So depending on experience in building i would personnaly recommend well documented project with pcb boards available, for phono and PSU.
Also in choosing a project one has to know at least what amount of gain is needed and what is too much for one's system overall.
For MM cartridges i consider this to be from 40dB to 46dB and not above, depending on the rest of the system.
Additionally one has to take into consideration input capacitance for the cartridge used and this alone should be checked with existing users of AT carts who tried EAR834 clone.
Maybe something where input capacitance of the first gain stage is lower, like Valve itch - which i think requires little more experience to build up with existing pcb's for phono & heaters ( shunt regulator can be obtained here ).
Not mentioned are configurable pcb's for phono from Valve Wizard - the input tubes and overall gain can be changed from a list at his website.
My level of experience is hard to explain. I repaired oscilloscopes in college and I have acquired much of the equipment to repair radios (I don't have a tube tester, but I know how to test basic tube functions). Notice that I "know" a lot, but practical experience is limited. That will be the fun part of retirement. My soldering skills are (in my judgement) above average, but I am not about to to micro soldering. I have no problem building from a schematic, but would welcome a schematic that also came with a recommended PCB board.
My major lack of skill is fabrication. That is, making a working circuit look pretty. A blank project box never turns out as good as I want it to despite having a drill press and micrometer. I doubt this is a skill I will ever develop.
I did pick up a tube based preamp on AliExpress that wanted my to build from a photo (no schematic). Fortunately I found the same product on eBay with sufficient photos that I think it is possible. That will be my first project to test my skills and end up in my garage system.
My major lack of skill is fabrication. That is, making a working circuit look pretty. A blank project box never turns out as good as I want it to despite having a drill press and micrometer. I doubt this is a skill I will ever develop.
I did pick up a tube based preamp on AliExpress that wanted my to build from a photo (no schematic). Fortunately I found the same product on eBay with sufficient photos that I think it is possible. That will be my first project to test my skills and end up in my garage system.
