2. analog
  3. 160552-118739

Phono preamp worth it with MM cartridges?

I've had conflicting advice from dealers so hoping for some clarity here. How much do phono preamps offer with sound quality and MM cartridges? (I understand they have a huge impact on sound quality with MC). 

My current setup is Rega P3/Neo/Exact/Groovetracer RS, Rega Elex-R amp, and Spendor A4 speakers and I mostly listen to classical, jazz, and light rock.

Will buying a Rega Aria phone preamp (or  iFi iPhono 3? Avid? Graham Slee? in the sub $2k range) make a worthwhile difference or should I wait till I buy an MC cartridge before splurging ? 

Thanks, Roger
wqgq_641

Showing 2 responses by vair68robert

vair68robert
632 posts
 
The very first post suggested SimAudio Moon phono stages ,
My first external was a 110LP replacing the wall wort with a linear power supply  and can say that the improvement was very rewarding compared to the built in found in the pre-amp that   I was using at the time, 
along with Grado Wood cartridges on a Rega 300rb arm .

A few years ago I upgraded and went with tubes and purchased a
Tavish Design Adagio , this unit is under your $2,000 limit .
I'm now using a Soundsmith Carmen mkII on the same Rega 300rb arm .

Tubes are great but they can be expensive ,
the Moon 110LP is a great unit for it's price but has limited settings .
Either way using an external phono pre-amp will benefit any MM cartridge that you'll use .



vair68robert
632 posts
 
Thank You @sokogear 
I've upgraded the 300's wiring with Incognito wire and Cardas RCAs,
also am using an Expressimo weight .
A new tonearm is in the future , thinking about an AudioMods VI .
But wqgq_641 is looking for a pre-amp recommendation to go with his MM cartridge ,  the Tavish Design uses tubes only for the MM input
and is within his budget . 
One more thing wqgq_641 I am using a passive pre-amp so I am hearing
Cartridge , phono pre-amp , volume control/selector ( passive pre-amp ) and Amp, as minimal and pure as possible .
More to discover