@martinman
The complete tutorial is here:
Parts list is on her website and you can find the board on eBay just search EAR 834 clone. Use the black board.
Phono Stage: Cornet3 vs Eros 2 vs Parasound Hint6
Hi Everyone,The bottlehead sale as me thinking about a phono stage upgrade.
My signal chain so far:
Fully upgraded KAB Technics 1200
Mogami Wire
Kef LS50
Parasound Hint6
The stock parasound is very good and I'm quite happy with it. I wouldn't be thinking about an upgrade unless the sale was on. I've built the Hagermann Bugle in the past and was really happy with it, so i threw the Cornet3 in the mix. The circuit board is $60 and you source your own components -- not a bad deal. My end goal is a fully built out DIY audio signal path to the extent that makes sense.
@martinman
Parts list is on her website and you can find the board on eBay just search EAR 834 clone. Use the black board.
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I built a Bottlehead Eros 2 with Sowter 1990 mounted on the chassis. I've built many Bottlehead kits over the past 20+ years. I like the great support a Mom and Pop shop like Bottlehead provides. Plus, as you know, having built the kit it's much easier to tweek it yourself. I use the Eros 2 with a VPI prime with a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Star. If this tells you anything, the turntable, arm and cartridge cost a lot more than the Eros 2 does.
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I built and use the Eros 2 from Bottlehead with a Rega P6 with Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge. I have been very happy with this setup. I really like Bottlehead gear. Bottlehead provides extremely good instructions for building their kits and help with troubleshooting is amply available through their forums. Most of all, I like how Bottlehead equipment sounds. Count me a Bottlehead fan boy. Most of my main system is Bottlehead. |
I think an upgraded EAR clone is nicer than a Cornet 3. I have about $600 in mine so it’s about three times the Cornet. I used the black board. The clone is very nice; can run with the big boys (I also have a Modwright PH9.0). The Cornet is not quite up to the EAR but can be done for around $200, sans tubes. Not sure how I feel about the wall wart approach for tubes and it has been replaced by the Cornet 4. I was tempted to do the Eros but in the end I went with the clone. Already built I would go with a Darlington Labs MP-7, IMO the best value for MM under $1k. Cornet 3 on top, EAR clone on bottom. |
If you want to DIY take a look at phonoclone.com. The MM only VSPS killed the Schitt Mani 2 and Rega Fono MM. I use the MM/MC Emerald with my own Rega based turntable with Origin Live arm and DL-103 w/ an elliptical stylus and it sounds great. Both can be made for under $400. If you want to spend a bit more the Xono clone from RSTAudio.de is supposedly superb.
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