2. analog
  3. 125723-119

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
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Inna, keep in mind that it’s far more challenging for a phono stage to provide quiet performance with a 0.3 mv cartridge such as the OP’s than with a high output cartridge such as your 6.5 mv Goldring.

Regards,
-- Al

Edit:  Looks like you responded to my post before I even submitted it :-)
inna
7,296 posts
 
Yes, Al, I am of course aware of that.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
I am sure that a low output MC has specific advantages over HOMC. Nonetheless I really like my Dynevector HO cart, it has too many positive attributes andeffects  to mention here.  It has put the MM carts I used previously to shame.  To be blunt it makes beautiful  sound that no MM has ever given m\e. 
lak's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
lak
4,669 posts
 
+1 jmcgrogan2

Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,103 posts
 
Dear @charles1dad : I owned Klyne products and are excelent with very good design, it’s almost nothing to ask for in the Klyne. I heard the Herron but not in my system and certainly not " face to face " to the Klyne.

In the other suide the price differences in between is really high.

The real issue is that overall where each one of us want to " arrive " to which quality level performance. Phono stage is part of that but only a link in the system audio chain. Maybe the Klyne is to much for the @mattmiller cartridge and system, Klyne is in a different " league ".

regards and enjoy the music,
R.
More to discover