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Phono preamp with two inputs: two MMs or MM+MC?

These days many phono preamps with one input support both MM and MC. Those with two inputs have one MM and one MC input. It means that those phono preamps have an SUT or some sort of amplification built inside the unit.
Such phono preamps would cost more compared to those that support MM input(s) only.
Is it a trend for phono preamps to have switchable MM/MC input? According to my experience with two turntables or two tonearms (one with MM and one with MC), it is a nuisance to change cables whenever I change from MM to MC or vice vursa.
Also, I have an SUT for MC cartridges and I don't need a direct MC input, so phono preamps with two inputs (MM and MC) are useless for me. I would assume that there are a lot of users with multiple turntables with MC and MM cartridges who prefer SUTs over built in amplification. For those users, isn't it make more sense to make phono preamps with multiple (two or three) MM inputs only?
128x128ihcho
ihcho's avatar
ihcho OP
612 posts
 
Well, my posting was more like why there are only a few (or even close to none) phono preamps that support two MMs with no MC support. Why not let people use their favorite SUTs for their MC cartridges with MM only phono pre?
Supporting both MM and MC will make it much more expensive than just two MMs.
I may be wrong, but I think Bob's device SUT or Live! 10-MC (both cost a bit over $1000) with MM phono preamps (at around $1000) would perform better than phono preamps with both MM and MC inputs that cost around $2000.
Adding one more MM input and a selector for two MMs would not add much cost.
lewm
12,840 posts
 
Ihcho, My point was that the K&K can be configured any way you want it, with two MM inputs or one of each. I probably was not clear about that.
bpoletti
1,546 posts
 
Ihcho, I think Keith Herron will configure a VTPH-2 for 2 mm inputs, but there isn't much demand for that kind of configuration.
ihcho's avatar
ihcho OP
612 posts
 
Bpoletti,
That was my question. Why isn't there much demand for two (or even three) MM inputs only? There should be many users who own SUTs, and they would rather like to have phono preamps with multiple MM inputs at much less price than those with MM+MC, unless those with MM+MC perform better and cost less than MM only preamps with SUTs.
bpoletti
1,546 posts
 
IMO, and this is ONLY my opinion (not stating as fact), is that there is not any advantage to a SUT in the better phono stages. My preference is the MC input rather than an SUT into a MM input. As far as I'm concerned, SUT / MM input combo is only for those phono stages with deficient low-level MC input sections.

I cannot say I've made a direct comparison of a MC through a SUT into the MM input against the direct MC input in my system. But I find the MC input in my phono stage quite excellent and better than anything else I've heard.
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