2. analog
  3. 149908-463

Should I upgrade my phono pre??

My custom Rega with an Apheta v.2 sounds great and I sure have been enjoying listening to so many LP's on my stereo. My phono stage is an AD-50 phono option board plugged into an Accuphase E-470. But then in a moment of weakness I bought a table that I've kind of lusted after for a long time, a Luxman PD-171 with a 10" Jelco 850 series arm. The cartridge is an Ortofon Cadenza Black. After solving a vexing ground loop issue, and getting the cartridge dialed in just right, I was simply unprepared for a shocking improvement in every aspect of the sound. When I cue up a record I can't but sit transfixed by the music. 

So I THOUGHT that my Rega/Apheta was the bomb. I had no idea that the Lux/Cadenza Black would be such a thrilling upgrade. Now I'm wondering if I would get yet another leap in performance if I was able to invest six to seven thousand (used or new) in a new phono pre. The AD-50 SEEMS awesome, and I'm a sucker for anything Accuphase, so my question is: Should I be shopping?

128x128oranfoster
agrippa
160 posts
 
I've never heard vinyl played through an AD-50 board, so I've no idea if it is awesome or not.  However, Accuphase makes some lovely noise otherwise and I certainly wouldn't go out and buy a new phono stage without subjecting it to careful head-to-head auditioning it first.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,707 posts
 
Accuphase has a phono amplifies which you could look at. However, I think you should look at a tube phono preamp.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Oh no, there's no need to spend that kind of money. Not when the Herron VTPH-2A is equally as good and for only around half the money.
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,852 posts
 
Yeah definitely - phono stage is a crucial to performance and its perfect matching to your cartridge is paramount. It’s wise to explore this area now, with the rest of your source riding at such a high level.

The VTPH-2A is an excellent option. Unlike other owners of this stage, I find you CAN do better for more money (I like my VAC better), but it should clobber your current phono card, and it’s unlikely you’ll find better without spending more.

One fun thing you could do to potentially greatly improve your sound without spending a lot of money - invest in a good SUT and run that into your present phono card in MM mode. I prefer a good SUT to the VTPH-2A’s MC input stage (JFET) for cartridges below 0.5mV output. The Cadenza Black should be well matched to any 30x SUT, of which there are some excellent choices in the 1.2-2.2K range. E.g. EAR MC-4 (or older MC-3), Bob’s Devices Sky 30 (not quite as good as the EAR but cheaper). Ortofon offers a couple of their own (the Verto model uses Lundahls). You could also have a premium Lundahl SUT built by K&K, and for a better price than the the Ortofon. The Hashimoto HM-3 and HM-7 are also well liked.

If the SUT route works then you can upgrade to an outboard phono stage, and focus only on its MM capabilities (you would bypass its MC stage with your favorite SUT).

I have a Cadenza Bronze as a backup cartridge, and it pairs quite well with the Bob’s Devices Sky. The Black, being lower output, should benefit even more from a SUT.
More to discover