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Do they make a quiet great sounding phono pre amp??

Hi, I have purchased and listened to 3 phono preamps which are: A musical surroundings phonomena, musical surroundings Nova II, and a Manley labs Chinook. The Manely labs Chinook is by far bettter sounding then the first two (double the cost too). But, All three have given me nothing but trouble (noise,noise,noise even terrible clipped signals!), and 2 of them basically failed on me. So before I go DIGITAL, can someone please tell me who makes a phono preamp in the $2,000-$3,000 range (tube or solid state) that I can rely on, and sounds as good or better than the Chinook?? Thanks.


Matt M                                             
128x128mattmiller
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
I had a Rhea and a Chinook before the current Steelhead.  While the Rhea had significant tube rush, even with a new set of Aesthetix tubes, The Chinook was absolutely DEAD quiet so, while I don't know what you're doing with tubes, you should not hear anything from that phono stage except music. I would contact Manley.  And if you swapped out the stock tubes that came with it, shame on you.
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
Pass Labs Xono!
wntrmute2's avatar
wntrmute2
188 posts
 
The K&K Maxxed-Out phono-stage will fit the bill nicely.  Designed to use cheap Russian tubes (fancy ones detract from the sound), utilizes step-up transformers as part of the design.  Has mute and reverse polarity switch.  Can handle lowest output carts.  Very, very quiet.

inna
7,296 posts
 
What noise? I use Acoustech phono designed by Ron Sutherland and Goldring 1042 MM cartridge. There is no noise. Now that I added PS Audio PPP regenerator, the sound became so much better.
Herron would take you midway. What you really want is either Gryphon or top of the line Sutherland or Lamm. Dream big.
inna
7,296 posts
 
That's the point. Never get LOMC unless you can afford megabuck phono. And HOMC makes little sense to me.
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