Cart / Phono preamp for Technics SL-5200

This is the strangest thread ever - and I mean that with no offense, but you're asking for advice and, I don't know - kind of doing your own thing anyway!

Have you paid for the Grado Red, can you get out of it? It's going to hum like a SOB on your direct drive Technics. They're also very sensitive to the arm you put them in and are horrid trackers if not matched perfectly right. If I had to guess, the Technics arm is probably around 12g and it's not going to be a good match. I hate to be the one to tell you all this - but I wish you had of posted before pulling the trigger on it.

The AT95E @ $49 new or the AT120E/T Ekobesky and I recommended at $79 would have been a much safer bet. The Grado sound is very much a love it or hate it thing - have you heard one?

The 540P is an okay stage, nothing great compared to the 640P. Roy Hall told me personally that the original MH MMF Phono Pack was a Pro-Ject Phono-Box with some minor upgrades and a different case. Just like the MMF tables are Pro-Ject parts on a different plinth. I'm willing to bet that the new one is the same deal - with a nicer case. By all means - believe what you want though.

Good luck with all of this!

Looks like it's a done deal - wish I could delete my prior post! I don't want to bias you in any way and you're committed now to it.

I sincerely hope it works out for you and best of luck!

Vinyladdict, Yes, I sort of got in a hurry. I did take Ekobesky's advice on the Rotel preamp, though! I can take my lumps on the Red I suppose and get the AT - I'll just plunk down the extra cabbage and get the 120, though. Thanks again.

I'm not familiar with the 5200 - who knows, perhaps it will wok great! Let us know once you get it up and running.