2. analog
  3. 1307991899

Best Pre with a built-n phono section?

I’m wondering if there is a preamp out there that has a great built in phono section. Due to space limitations, I’d rather not go the separate pre / phono pre route. Associated equipment: Spectron Musician IIISE MK II amp, Magnepan 3.6 speakers, Electrocompaniet CD Player, Nottingham Ace TT with a Benz Glider H2 cartridge (2.5 mV output.) I would probably need to go SS pre; I could use a tubed pre if the heat out put was minimal. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
mdrummer01
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
Another contender for your criteria is the the Nagra PLP. It's tube, but runs cool. Also the Nagra PLL and VPS (separate pre and phono) but might work due to small size. I"ve personally heard the Aesthetix (Io, Io Eclipse, Rhea and Jupiter) and the Halco DM 10.

All are excellent.
sandstone
358 posts
 
Strong second to J135 on the Jeff Rowland Capri.
azaud
156 posts
 
Audion Quattro 4-Box with an octet of NOS Heerlen plant 6922's.
altpopguy
10 posts
 
Hovland HP100MC or HP200MC. I believe they run relatively cool.
metralla
945 posts
 
Allen Wright's RealTime RTP-3D (Vacuum State Electronics) is a very realistic sounding preamp, to say the least. Superb phono section.

If you can afford it, you would be buying a preamp that has been carefully refined over 25 years by one of the best designers in audio. I remember listening to one of the early versions in Sydney in the early '80s, and more recently, the latest version at VSE in Schaffhausen.

Sadly, Allen passed away recently but his majestic preamp lives on.

Here's a nice comparison with the Kondo.

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue26/preamps.htm

Regards,
More to discover