2. analog
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Am I really smart or really stupid?

I would like your feedback on this theory. The glory days of vinyl to me, as far as high end hi-fi is concerned, were the late ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s, before the dreaded CD made it’s appearance. Back then vinyl was all you had to work with, and the high end folks really needed to get it right.

My thinking is:

1. A phono section basically supplies RIAA equalization (unless there is boost for a low output cartridge). This is basically boosting the bass and cutting the treble to compensate for making the grooves relatively the same width to cut them on the vinyl.

2. This ain’t that big of a deal. It should not cost $3000.00 to do this. These people are trying to put their hand in my pocket.

3. Why not buy a high end preamp from that era, run your TT into it, come out of the Tape Out as a line stage into your preamp input.

4. I bought a Yamaha C-2 for 100 bucks, run my Linn into it and run it into my tube preamp and it “seems” fine.

Am I stupid or enlightened?

Thanks for your input.

jp
jake42
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rauliruegas
13,046 posts
 
Hi Jake: I don´t think that the high-end manufacturers want
" put their hands on my pocket " ( as you told ). Companies, like Yamaha, Pioneer, NAD, etc...., sold thousands of units every month and the high-end companies sold hundreds of units for year ( some less than that ) This is why the high-end prices are higher.
Another fact is what Twl told you and there are others issues like: today new designs and better components like: resistors, transistors, capacitors,....that has a higher prices than in the 80?s.
Best regards and always enjoy the music.
Raul.
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aroc
760 posts
 
It's not that simple. Granted it *should* be that simple to just make a phono stage. You know some RIAA eq and some gain. But in reality it doesn't seem to pan out that way. Just look at the available phono stages and full fuction preamps. It seems to great care (and often great $$$) to make a good phono pre. It may have to do with the very low level signals that output from a phono cartridge. It is not trivial to amplify these. If it was, we would see giant killer phono stages for cheap. And alas we do not.

When you think about it, amplification in general appears to have been an extreme disappointment of the twentieth century. You'd think amplification would have been a "solved" problem by now. But no. :-(
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rauliruegas
13,046 posts
 
Dear Jake42: In the 70's and early 80's ( like you say ) there was many high-end manufacturers with exelent products, your Yamaha was not one of that products.
Examples: Audio research, Beveridge, Eidolon Research, Mcintosh, Threshold, etc... and many more. In that time these was the products that the music lover/audiophile have at their home audio systems ( high-end ).
BTW, I agree in every single word of the Aroc answer.
Now, wich are the level of your music standard ?, if the Yamaha or what ever you have is your standard, it is ok, good for you.
Regards and always enjoy the music.
Raul.

Raul.
bomarc
501 posts
 
I vote for enlightened. Designing a phono preamp is not rocket science. I know a high school kid who's done it.
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