Or buy a Linn.
Is a separate phono pre really necessary?
I have an upgraded Rega P3 that is now essentially a P6 (groove tracer subplatter and counter weight, Rega Neo ps) that has a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC star mounted on it. It is then connected to a Park Audio Budgie Ten SUT and then to a Rogue Audio RP-5 preamp.
This question is about the phono stage in the RP-5. Would upgrading to a separate phone preamp of around $1,000 to $2,000 be a worthwhile upgrade from the internal phone preamp in the RP-5? And if so which phone pre do you guys recommend (notwithstanding all the caveats about subjectivity). I'm thinking of the soundsmith mcp-2, PS audio stellar phono, parasound jc3 jr., maybe a Manley Chinook if I can find a good deal.
The wrinkle is the loading requirements for the zephyr mimic star: >= 470 ohms. This makes a lot of phone preamps really not suitable for this cartridge (hence premaps with adjustable loading via a pot) because of the static loading options are mostly well below 470 ohms on most phono preamps
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One of the Primary reasons to use a SUT is to maintain the sound characteristic of your existing MM Phono Stage. I love my McIntosh mx110z's MM phono stage, thus I went for a SUT for my MC cartridge, boost enough, then into/thru the mx110z's MM Phono EQ, maintaining it's tube sound characteristics. If you do not like the sound of a phono stage, like I disliked my McIntosh SS C28 Preamp's phono, then it is better to go to a separate phono stage up to line level, use the preamp for volume/balance/tone/mode as needed. I actually found a $14. MM Phono that sounded darn good from Pyle. And, before I gave it to a friend, I used the optional built-in phono eq inside the AT120 tt over the McIntosh C28. PASS is a desireable feature on a SUT so you can change headshells or different tonearms from MC gain to MM PASS, same wires to the preamp. |
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+1 @beatlebum Had a perfectly good phono stage on my Plinius integrated that was adjustable from MM to MC, but when I went to the Sutherland Insight (and then added the LPS after getting a nice deal on a used one) the improvement was immediate and noticeable. 20/20 is great too, but a good bit more if you go for the LPS, which on that model is in an external box. Is it worth it? My dealer told me I would be thrilled with either one, so I kept the difference, but coming to think of it, there were no used 20/20s out there, so it made my decision easier, saving about 50%, $1000. And Ron Sutherland is a great guy - guided me through the LPS upgrade process himself on the Insight. |
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