Dedicated phono-pre for MM only?

Dear Axel, You stole my question from the MM cartridge thread, but I am glad you did, because no one really responded to it over there. Ideally, I would build an MM phono stage myself, based on a single-ended LCR type of RIAA equalization or based on a true balanced circuit design. There are several schematics available for either topology. But in the interim (because it will take me 6 months or more to build such a thing), I would like to find a dedicated MM phono stage to use. Some of the above suggestions do sound appealing. I would like to spend less than $2K and to buy something used in that price range. One candidate would be the cheapest Allnic preamp, the H-1200. Others are Hagerman, Graham Slee, Vacuum State, Pass, Whest, Aqvox, etc. I would love to hear from anyone with actually experience of these or other candidate units.

My regular phono is a highly modified (by me) Atma-sphere MP1. It sounds wonderful on MCs, and I know how to modify it to reduce phono gain for MM, but I would rather not do so, because it would involve the insertion of a switch in the signal path which might particularly degrade MC performance.

Hi Lewm,
sorry for having nicked your question, not that I knew. It just becomes the next relavant issue after you get 'closer' with the 'MM prered' thing.
>>> Ideally, I would build an MM phono stage myself, based on a single-ended LCR type of RIAA equalization or based on a true balanced circuit design. There are several schematics available for either topology <<<

Now you nicked MY question, it's actually behind the 'Allen Wright' inquiery. He apparently has some VERY well thought out designs. I think your point is a good one, and that's what I'm planning to do. Build my own and meanwhile listen to my 326 phono-boards (and use them as a referance to improve on)
Thanks,
Axel

Allen has publicly disclosed his FVP5 and RTP3D designs. In fact, the front end of his RTP3D (using the MAT02 transistor that he mentions in TPCB2), is the prototype for the input stage of my phono section these days. The FVP5 is single-ended and the RTP3D is balanced. So far as I know he has not messed around with an LCR equalization stage. I've never heard the RTP3D or later version per se, but based on my own results with a facsimile of its phono gain stage, I would predict it is one fabulous piece. He uses a pair of resistors between the emitter(s) of the bottom transistor(s) (MAT02 or other) in the input dual-differential cascode and the CCS to control total phono gain. (Believe me, with the MAT02, which has a Gm of 500!!!, you will have gain up the wazoo.) The FVP5 would be easiest to build and may be all one needs for great MM reproduction. Does he sell it as a kit?

Lewm
>>> Does he sell it as a kit? <<<
I have actually send him an email.
I'll see what comes back.
Thanks for the feedback also.
Axel

I see no mention of an FVP kit on the Vacuum State website. I do see mention of a new phono stage, the SVP2, but it is rather costly for use as a dedicated MM phono section. Has anyone heard the JLT1? The price is acceptable, but I know nothing about how it sounds.