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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,861 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.

nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Well this can't be evolutionary but only revolutionary development.

Yesterday I was a laymen and today an expert reg. Klyne's 7PX.

Thanks to atmasphere I aproached those switches without any

fear. According to him those are not important and unimportant

things nobody approches with fear. But the first lesson is that

there is no subsitution for our own experimentation.

Becasuse the lowest amplification ''imply'' the lowest distortion

I have chosen the lowest one (36dB) with switches 7 and 9 in

ON position (the front bank) and nr.10 OFF and 4,5,6,7,8 and 9

in ON position on the back side ''bank''. According to the user

manual this setting means the lowest circuit source impedance.

Then I connected my Denon AU-S1 with Klyne as well with

my amp. No hum of any kind not even this ''low noise'' near the

tweeter. Even my Basis Exclusive is no match for this 7PX/

SUT combo. Whoever owns the 7PX should try a SUT.

unchilled
15 posts
 
Hi Matt, 
Congratulations on solving system grounding.  I would add to Raul's praise of the Klyne.  One year ago I purchased a 7PX2 that Mr. Klyne had just serviced.  Not only quiet, but natural timbres.  The adjustable high frequency contour is a wonderful feature for optimizing sound of MC cartridges without resorting to "overloading" (i.e. use of low impedance load to attenuate excessive HF energy.)
Happy listening,
Harvey
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Hi unchilled, Our psychology or rather vanity is glad to see or

hear any praise of our own stuff. Raul's praise would imply that

such a worthy phono-pre would have more owners than one

can deduce from the (lack) of their reaction. Anyway I expected

to see some reaction from Dover because he asked for the user

manual for Klyne 7 PX. Considering pretty complicated and

confusing adjustment possibilities one would expect more interest

in exchange of mutual  experiences and valuation. I am very thankful

for contribution by atmasphere but expected to get more information

than so far provided .

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