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help me decide on budget phono pre

Can anyone help me decide on a budget phono pre that will be an improvement over the Nad PP3.From what I've read it appears the Cambridge 640 and Music Fidelity V-LPS are worth looking into in the lower budget bracket. I have a Music Hall MMF5.1(goldring1012Gx MM) Sunfire amp and processor(w/phono stage) and Definitve tech. speakers. I want to digitalize my LPs so thought the Nad PP3 w/ usb would work but really don't care for the sound. (The phono stage in the Theater Grand sounds better(fuller)) I really don't want to spend the winter converting hundreds of LPs and not be happy with the sound or even worse, upgrade and have to do it again.Do I need to expand my budget? Wait for something better used? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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slowhead
40 posts
 
Value wise, the 640P is hard to beat, if you had nothing right now. It's a good earner, I'll keep mine around if I upgrade just because it was a solid buy. Although, the improvement may not be worthy of the additonal cost for you.
Another thing you may want to consider is a different stylus when it comes time. There is romm to grow on that cartridge body. That is what I did after the 640P had been around for a while and it was a big improvement.
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hickbone OP
22 posts
 
OK-I picked up a Creek OBH-8SE cheap(used) so will be trying that out to start.If that's not what the Dr. ordered, will probably go get a Cambridge 640. Now, are there any suggestions as to which phono RCA's I can get that would be both inexpensive and musical? Thanks
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
12-07-09: Hickbone
OK-I picked up a Creek OBH-8SE cheap (used) so will be trying that out to start.... Now, are there any suggestions as to which phono RCA's I can get that would be both inexpensive and musical?
Hard to beat the Audio Advisor' exclusive AudioQuest Black Mamba II at $99/M pair or Blue Racer II at $69/M pair interconnect. Both use premium silver plated connectors and conductors are monocrystal copper. Mamba goes one better with six nines copper (99.99997% pure) and I think is easily worth the money. Can't lose with either one. I find monocrystal copper to really get it right--high resolution with wide bandwidth, uncommon smoothness, and unfailing musicality.

Alternatives would be Kimber Timbre or Hero. The Hero is great (have 3 pairs of that in the HT system), but cost 2-3x as much. I'm using Black Mamba between my Cambridge 640P and the integrated amp and am very satisfied with it.
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