phono preamp

I don't know which cartridge you intend to use but beware of using a tube phono stage with a low gain cartridge. Noise could easily become a problem. The Electrocompaniet ECP1 is a fantastic $1000 solid state phono preamp that very few people seem to know about. I have heard it trounce numerous phono stages costing up too $2500. It's liquid and naturally warm, yet fast and controlled. I highly recommend a listen before making a decision.

As far as turntables, consider stretching your budget to a table that is far better built and upgradable. The Michell Gyrodec is such a table. It's suspended (an absolute must IMO), stunning looking and walks that fine line between musicality and neutrality extremely well. The Gyro SE starts at $2200 with a Rega RB300 arm.

Good luck!

oops!

I should have read your post more closely. The Electrocompaniet is strictly a phono stage and has no volume control. It is fantastic none the less.

I recommend the Wright WPP100B/C phono pre amp, it goes for $750 and is tube, put out by The Wright Sound Company.

Great review in last issue of Listener

I like the Quicksilver tube phone preamp. In stock form, it only has 44db gain, so you cannot use low output moving coils without a step-up transformer. In my system, the Quicksilver "blew away" the EAR, but the EAR (as I recall) has more gain which allows a wider range of cartridges to be used (w/o requiring a step-up transfomer). The unit retails for $900.

I am quite happy with my EAR 834P phono preamp w/upgraded oes tubes, which I listen to with a low gain (.33mV output voltage) Benz Micro Reference cartridge, Sota turntable and ARC preamp and amplifier. In A/B tests against my Cary 303/200 digital player, analogue sounds less compressed, more natural and even more dynamic. If you are patient, you can find a used EAR 834P for around $600 -- an excellent bargain.