2. analog
  3. 135066-90127

Ugraditus is calling....again. Phono stage?

There is likely nothing wrong at all with present phono stage but you know how it is.

Present analog front end consists of.

Nottingham Analog Spacedeck with Spacearm.
Shelter 501 mk3 cartridge with maybe 250 hours on it, regularly treated with Lyra.
Dynavector P75 mk3 phono stage.
Feeds into Lyngdorf 2170 via Nordost Red Dawn RCA cables.

My thoughts were that possibly the Dynavector is the weakest link and would pay most dividend on an upgrade but.....

What do I perceive I am lacking right now?
Really hard to say as this is highest quality analog front end ever owned.
Possibly lacking a little in sheer scale and dynamics? Bass is very very good, instruments are well separated and defined.
Just as an overall presentation I feel it lacks that final wow factor as a whole.
Not sure if that makes any sense?
Please comment honestly especially if you feel it is another area that may reap larger benefits. Or if should just leave well alone....lol.

Oh btw I am fairly sure it is setup correctly in regards to vta etc, at least to the best of my abilities right now. And yes setting it up correctly from initial purchase did make considerable gains in sq.
128x128uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Al
I was genuinely hoping you would chime in because when it comes to impedance matching etc, you always seem to have the answers.
And just maybe you help save me wasting time and dollars and ultimately being dissapointed.
So Chinook should be a good impedance match.
I need then look for other possibilities that are in the same range.
Thank you
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Thanks Robelvick, will check that out
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,858 posts
 
I own a K&K Audio Trio phono preamplifier and am very happy with it. Not sure if Kevin is still producing these at the moment but well worth looking into. In fact his site is worth looking into if you haven’t already.

FWIW, I've heard the Herron in another system I was very familiar with and I think the Trio has a more organic sonic signature.
soundermn's avatar
soundermn
344 posts
 
I was kind of in the same boat. Upgraded to the project phono box RS and it was great!  Clean, clear, quiet, just good. But somehow a bit “dry” and maybe analytical. 

I put put in a chinook instead. Now it has a sort of wow factor. Still clean and quiet, but just more exciting, engaging and interesting. My GF and I were just commenting last night how great it sounds, and how we didn’t want to turn it off and go to bed. 

I recommend the chinook, or something else that’s lively for you to try.  
tyray
672 posts
 
@uberwaltz, I'm using the 'little giant killer' the Parks Audio Budgie Tube Phono preamplifier. 

And @invictus005, I pair the above phono pre with 2  NOS Telefunken E88CC/6922’s which has given me some of the the sweetest sound I've ever heard coming from a phono pre and not mushy or bright at all.

And this was after selling my Pro-Ject Phono Box RS MM/MC and the companion Pro-Ject battery powered Power Box RS power supply. 

I also have to say that I also upgraded my headshell and tonare wire and hard wired an upgraded the phono interconnect out also which give me an ear tweak too!  Just saying.




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