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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
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I have had several. The best was the Naim Superline but it was too expensive. So was the ASR. Their smaller one is also supposed to be good. I also had the Blue Circle cheaper modal. All of these were quiet with good quality. The Musical Fidelity is also good, heavy as a boat anchor. I have had health problems and had to downsize so I am getting a Jasmine. A friend has one and he likes it and he makes his own tube preamps.

ehtoo's avatar
ehtoo
20 posts
 
Tom Evans or Avid
lohanimal
659 posts
 
Hi Matt. 
I waited and waited, and, searched and searched - then I got a Vendetta SCP2a. Old elctrolytic caps damaged my Lavardin IT, but once replaced, and with modern IC's my phono stage search has come to an end. The only phono stage I have come across that measures quieter than the original is the top of the range Moon Audio - not sure if it would with the modern IC's I got put into the phono stage.
If you want to buy new, then GO WHEST.
Can I just say one thing though, and I do think another poster has said much the same. If you want 'dead' silent then it has to be digital. You clearly like tubes, and noise goes with the territory, unless you are buying very expesive gear. By the same token, solid state that is more 'tubey' in sound is likely to be equally costly, that said, I recall testing a phono stage made by Sugden in the UK, I did a quick review of it, and it may just do the trick for you - sweet sounding - very quiet.
dragon_vibe
430 posts
 
Atma-Sphere new MP-1 MK3.3 with a built in Phono is said to be not only the one of the most musical but also the quietest.

John Wolff from Classic Audio uses them on a 101db Horn Speakers with no hiss or noise. I guess you can classify them as one of the quietest Phono-Pre-amp around.
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller OP
1,497 posts
 
OK, I hear what you guys are saying about using the cheater plugs. So, I removed them.... I surely had a ground problem, after I changed my plugs around I was able to kill the noise and no more popping!! I plugged everything into a cheap grounded power strip, except the sub and main amplifier (directly to wall outlet). I listened  last night and the system is sounding really incredible. I am very pleased now.  So to be clear I am now using only 2 wall outlets that are on the same wall behind the system and all grounds are plugged in. Thanks a lot everyone for the advice.


Matt Miller
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