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
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Sorry Lew I forget the ''logical question'' : ''why do you own more TT's

than carts?

nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Dear Lew, No reaction from you so I will answer your logical

question. Your assumption is:

''No x Fx and Gx''.

My assumption is:

''some x Fx and Gx''.

My assumption is true if there is just one member (of set x) who

has heard both (F) Klyne 7 PX and (G) Van den Hul's Grail.

Your assumption is false if there is just one member who has heard

both phono-pres.

Because nobody answered my question you are probaly right.

nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

I made my choice and bought the Klyne 7PX. Alas I find the user

manual very confusing. There are three ''adjustment categories''

but only two ''banks'' with switches . One in front for the

choice of the amplification (35, 50 and 63dB) the other on the

 back side wih 10 switches for impedance choice but as well

for the choice of the dampening of the  h. frequency resonances by

MC carts at 30 Khz, 35 and 40 Khz. The other specific possibility is to

chose 47 Kohm for the MC carts as well. Lew and Raul seem

to like this impedance value. By the recommended values for the

carts included in the user manual the 47 Kohm is prefered value

but in addition to either of those dampening ''resonance values''.

For example (my)  Urushi 47 Kohm + 35 Khz.

However for the 47 Kohm one need to switch nr. 10 in OFF

position but for any of the recommended resonance damping one

need to put the same switch in ON position. My specific problem

is  the optimal adjustment for the , say,  MM part of the 7PX

because I want to use my SUT with 35 dB amplification by 7Px.

But I will be also thankfull if someone can explain the contradictory

switch 10 in ON as well OFF position.


atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,862 posts
 
@nandric

Cartridge loading is required if the phono section is unstable with ultrasonic or radio frequency signals present, which will be the case with all LOMC cartridges. This is because their inductance interacts with the capacitance of the tone arm cable to create a tuned circuit that resonates at ultrasonic or radio frequencies.

If the preamp is disturbed by this otherwise inaudible noise, then the loading calms it down by detuning the circuit. Apparently the Klyne is fairly well sorted out and so the loading is there mostly so audiophiles suffering from audiophile nervosa will have some switches to play with. IOW if the preamp is stable, you don't need them.  
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Dear atmasphere, There is no way to know at which frequency

which LOMC resonate because such info is not mentioned by

the cart specs. One is supposed to ''detect'' them by listening

and this made me already nervous despite the fact that I probably

have the disease you mentioned (grin). The confusing part in the

user manual is called ''High Frequency Contour Settings'' but this

setting is made with (10) switches which also need to be used for

impedance,uh, setting. That is why mentiond 3 categories with two

''banks'' with switches. Those for the amplification are easy to

understand in contradistinction with the other switches. If I understand

your advice well I don't need to worry about those switches which I

don't understand. What a relieve! Thanks.

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