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Help me decide on phono preamp

I have enjoyed my current setup but have decided to try a seperate phono preamp to see what improvements in sq can be had. I have two options I can purchase locally in mind based on my current budget :

Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena ($400 used)

Lehmann Black Cube SE ll ($600 used)

My current setup is a Music Hall MMF 9.1 TT with a Clearaudio Maestro V2 cartridge playing through the built in MM/MC phono preamp in my Marantz PM - 11S3 integrated amp. 

Any opinions on either of these options?  The built in preamp has excellent reviews. Will either of these alternatives make a material difference or do I need to significantly increase my budget to have a real inpact?

Thanks
sjtm
asahitoro
244 posts
 
Lounge Audio LCR MKIII w/silver and mono switch.
fstein's avatar
fstein
199 posts
 
look on google for a  review
sjtm OP
92 posts
 
Agrippa - you are certainly correct it would help to define what is missing. If pressed, I would say “not much”, however my perception is limited by my experience. I am hoping to benefit from others whose experience is much more extensive than mine to help me prevent a false expectation. 

Like most system upgrades, the impact is limited by the rest of the components. I just upgraded my speakers and, while a casual listener would probably think there was no difference, I can hear a meaningful improvement in  SQ. 

A major outlay to upgrade the phono preamp may no be warranted without other significant component upgrades which I have no desire to do now. I was hoping someone would say “spend $1500 for a used Angel’s Breath Magnificator Preamp and your life will change”.  I have experienced 3 upgrades so far that were material ( amp, cartridge, speakers) and thought I might find a fourth here.

open to any suggestions.  

stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Also recently purchased a Schiit Mani. Great phono stage that will give a run at preamps in the under $1000 range. Tremendous spacial dynamics and frequency response. Very anti-fatiguing. A gem. Synergistic with Nagaoka cartridges.
tablejockey
4,017 posts
 
Another vote for the $129 Schiit Mani.

Used one as a backup while my $2500 unit was being serviced. 

Smart buying used. Find something less than half retail.
Only concern buying used is no warranty. 

Your max stretched a little, something like a tubed Manley Chinook can be found. Subjectively, tubes offer a more convincing presentation.

As mentioned earlier, the Mani is competent against other higher  priced SS units. 

With the Mani AND savings, you can try a different cart such as an entry level MC cart. 
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