I have sold my MC cartridges and Rega Aria and bought a few vintage MM carts. I do have an old BHL Jfet phono to use until I build/buy something better.
So I'm looking for opinions on good phono stages to compliment an SP10 EPA-100 and EPC-100 and 205, I also have a Stanton 881s
The ones I am considering ATM are:
Emerald
Pass Pear 2
Xono
Bugle
Anyone have experience with this one.
6 Platinen XOno komplett bestuckt Nelson Pass, MC/MM, Phonovorverstarker DIY | eBay
So I'm looking for opinions on good phono stages to compliment an SP10 EPA-100 and EPC-100 and 205, I also have a Stanton 881s
The ones I am considering ATM are:
Emerald
Pass Pear 2
Xono
Bugle
Anyone have experience with this one.
6 Platinen XOno komplett bestuckt Nelson Pass, MC/MM, Phonovorverstarker DIY | eBay
Don't forget this inDiscreet Phono Pre-amplifier [English] which is very musical, I've had mine since 2004, although I have tried other exclusive Riaa (brands) this is hard to beat but the only tip I have is to use battery psu.
In the future, I will build a new battery pack consisting of Li-Ion and charger.
In the future, I will build a new battery pack consisting of Li-Ion and charger.
Has anyone done a comparison of the SS NJFET with a Pearl? I am leaning to the Pearl but I can only buy it from PassDIY with Jfets and I have 200 2SK170BL's in stock.
Hi warrjon. If you are looking to buy rather than build, you will have trouble getting past the Rothwell Simplex for mm only or the Rothwell Rialto if you want mc/mm. I have both and they compete with the $2k phono stages I have. They can be improved by replacing the wall-wart with a low-noise linear power supply, but they sound exceptional for the money as supplied, and very good for any money. I prefer to use them with Rothwell step-up Lundahl transformers for mc, which puts them in a higher price/performance bracket.
Thanks folks.
I was seriously thinking of the Salas, but I bought a set of Xono PCB's. I was going to buy the bare PCB's but I got a great deal on the loaded boards.
Once I have my other projects finished I might build the Salas just to compare with Xono.
I was seriously thinking of the Salas, but I bought a set of Xono PCB's. I was going to buy the bare PCB's but I got a great deal on the loaded boards.
Once I have my other projects finished I might build the Salas just to compare with Xono.
I´ve got the Xono (built it myself though) 🙂
Just finish it. It´s excellent.
And you are secured, if you ever want to go th MC-way again.
Just finish it. It´s excellent.
And you are secured, if you ever want to go th MC-way again.
This version of Xono the MC is on separate PCB's, which I did not buy. I'll never go back to MC, the Technics EPC205C is better than any MC I have had.
Have you had a look at the Doug Self RIAA amp - you can get a full kit for it from The Signal Tranfer Company. The full schematic is in one of his books.
Also does MC as well.
Cheers
Mike
Also does MC as well.
Cheers
Mike
MC requires an entirely different approach. It is not an easy task. Most approaches are unacceptable to me.
Good luck trying to buy Self PCBs at the moment. There is a growing thread of people unable to order.
I am loath to add a recommendation as I am going off on my own odd direction with MM preamps but will say this
1. If you build one you will probably built several, so start with one that is simple enough to get you going whilst you mull the next stage.
2. Chose a design where the input capacitance is published and it low
3. make sure you can change both Resistive and capacitive loading. 47k is rarely optimal and getting the loading right is critical to MM performance.
4. Place as close to the turntable as possible to minimise cable capacitance.
I am loath to add a recommendation as I am going off on my own odd direction with MM preamps but will say this
1. If you build one you will probably built several, so start with one that is simple enough to get you going whilst you mull the next stage.
2. Chose a design where the input capacitance is published and it low
3. make sure you can change both Resistive and capacitive loading. 47k is rarely optimal and getting the loading right is critical to MM performance.
4. Place as close to the turntable as possible to minimise cable capacitance.
All my MM stages currently on the bench (projects are on a go slow at the moment) are balanced input. One of these is a virtual earth design and on the cards for next year is a phantom powered head amp for going straight into a focusrite Scarlett. I'm also waiting for a diff in/diff out design Scott Wurcer and Patrick (EUVL) are working on.
And all the above are flat response as I am doing RIAA correction in miniDSP digitally. This is the path less trod. I make no claims for sonic improvments, I'm just doing it because I can 🙂
And all the above are flat response as I am doing RIAA correction in miniDSP digitally. This is the path less trod. I make no claims for sonic improvments, I'm just doing it because I can 🙂
This sound interesting but very complicated to my novice ears. 😀
As to the OT: Seems like this could result in another Opamp vs. Discreet designs discussion.
As to the OT: Seems like this could result in another Opamp vs. Discreet designs discussion.
I would not encourage anyone to follow my path, but the advice on loading and getting base capacitance down as low as possible is universal.
I understand base capacitance can be lowered by using shorter cables.
What about the loading resistor? How do you determine which amout of loading is best?
What about the loading resistor? How do you determine which amout of loading is best?
That is the challenge. There has been some research on here but its not yet conclusive (mainly my fault). With the nights drawing in I have no excuses to not complete an intial phase of the work.
maybe i should equip my phono preamp "to be" with variable input impedance before ordering the pcbs
If you can set the options to 22.5k, 47k, 65k and 80k you will have most bases covered based on the sampling so far which covers from very low impedance (ECP205CII-L) to beefy DJ (ortofon S-120).
I would also recommend this Linear Audio | your tech audio resource as €2.99 well spent on a good article by Bob Cordell. In this he discusses Damped loading, where you load to the point you create a HF pole using the L of the cartridge. Potentially this sidesteps all the problems with HF resonance in MM cartridges with the drawback of some additional noise (no free lunch).
I would also recommend this Linear Audio | your tech audio resource as €2.99 well spent on a good article by Bob Cordell. In this he discusses Damped loading, where you load to the point you create a HF pole using the L of the cartridge. Potentially this sidesteps all the problems with HF resonance in MM cartridges with the drawback of some additional noise (no free lunch).