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Advice Needed on Mono Phono Preamps

I am in the process of putting together a system for playback of mono LPs and 78s. My intent is to use the phono preamp with the line stage of my existing preamp. The only "current" production mono phono preamps with selectable EQ curves that I have been able to identify are (1) the Sentec EQ-10, (2) the KAB EQS MK12, and (3) the Graham Sell Jazz Club. I am impatiently awaiting Art Dudley's anticipated review of the Sentec and KAB, but in the meantime...

For anyone who has experience listening to any/all of these or others, I would appreciate any guidance on the followig:

1. Have I missed anything that I should be considering?
2. Are there vintage mono phono preamps that should also be considered for this purpose?
3. Is a step up necessary with low output carts for any/all of these?

Thanks very much for any help.
jeffreybowman2k

Showing 2 responses by jeffreybowman2k

jeffreybowman2k OP
216 posts
 
sorry, i meant Graham Slee Jazz Club

(why doesn't this forum have an edit feature?)
jeffreybowman2k OP
216 posts
 

nor am I sure what the advantage of a "Mono" preamp would be, assuming that you have a mono cartridge (I'm a vinyl noobie). Is it safe to assume that getting a mono cartridge would be the first step you would want to take on this path?

Here is what Tron had to say on that topic (from the website):

Why a mono phono stage?
Pre-1957 record companies used different recording equalisations prior to the introduction of the RIAA standard. We have developed this phono stage to allow more faithful reproduction of these early recordings. The Seven is available with three switchable equalisations which can be user specified.

Modern mono cartridges often do not work well with stereo phono stages, causing noise etc. This is because stereo phono stages are expecting to see a stereo signal rather than a mono one.

I have always assumed this to be accurate, but I would welcome comments from anyone who has found otherwise.
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