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What's your experience with fine phono preamp s ?



Arthur Salvatore highly recommends the Coincident Technology Statement phono preamp on his blog. I know nothing about Arthur's listening preferences, so can't know why he feels it superior to other phono pre's.

My table is a Technics SP10, arms are Talea and SME with Benz and AirTight cartridges respectively ( phono cable undetermined for SME arm, open to suggestions on a separate thread --to keeps things 'simple' ) My gear is hybrid, with solid state 100 wpc bass amps, 300B and 6SN7 tubes for mids and tweeters, and JL Audio subs for the bottom octave. The CDP and preamp are solid state and very high quality.

Please weigh in on phono pre's between $2 and 7K that you have owned or heard in systems you know well. I don't have a prejudice or preference for solid state or valve gear, and I'm receptive to used equipment.

I DO, however, strongly prefer an 'I am there' presentation, over 'the musicians are in the room' sensation, when the that's in the vinyl. More interested by far in an emotionally engaging ( not distortedly emotional or euphonic ) listening experience than a precise, highly detailed but soul-less presentation.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and shared experience.

Best,

David
128x128cdk84
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,180 posts
 
Having heard many a phono rig over the years, both old and new, and at all price points, I think the phono portion of the ARC sp16 pre-amp I have currently to be pretty darn good and its a fairly modest piece in the ARC world. ARC has been doing this stuff for a long time. For good sound and a world class track record to back it, I'd look no further than Audio Research.

I don't know what's the best but I think I can recognize good sound when I hear it.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
@Mapman ... agree. IMO and IME, even better is the ARC PH-7 or PH-8. I owned the SP-16, the SP-17, the PH-7 and now the PH-8. Between you and me ... I think the PH-7 and PH-8 sound about the same.

All that being said, I've reviews that say the ARC Ref Phono 2 SE is to die for. That's a tomorrow project for me. Other priorities ahead of the Ref Phono 2 SE.

But Al's points above are very important. Electrical compatibility of components and I/C length should be carefully considered.
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cdk84 OP
70 posts
 

Almarg: If the input impedance is less than around 25 or 30K or so some of the suggested phono stages may not be optimal matches. That may include the EMIA, the Rhea, the Herron, and possibly the Allnic. On the other hand, if the preamp's input impedance is say 47K or higher impedance compatibility would be a non-issue with pretty much any reasonably designed phono stage.

This gear is the Aurum Acoustics Integris CDP system. Input impedance is listed as 25 kOhms unbalanced, 48 kOhms balanced.

IC length will be as short as possible; the phono pre will be on a preloaded Vibraplane as close to the Technics as possible.

Thank you. I look forward to learning more with auditioning. Still open to suggestions and personal experience.
lak's avatar
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lak
4,623 posts
 
You might be able to pick up a lightly used Allnic H3000 Mark II Phono within your price range.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
This gear is the Aurum Acoustics Integris CDP system. Input impedance is listed as 25 kOhms unbalanced, 48 kOhms balanced.
The balanced input impedance is actually indicated as 48K per phase, which would be 96K based on the more usual convention of the sum of the two phases. So impedance compatibility won't be an issue with any phono stage providing balanced outputs (such as the Rhea).

I suspect that you would be marginally ok with the Herron, but if you want to consider the VTPH-2 I suggest asking Keith Herron to confirm that. I'm sure he'll give you an honest answer.

I suspect you would be fine with the Allnic H-1201, but it would be prudent to confirm that with the manufacturer or distributor. The H-3000 would certainly be fine.

I have some doubt, though, about the EMIA, which appears to have only unbalanced outputs, specified as having an output impedance of 2K. Since its outputs are capacitively coupled chances are that the output impedance rises to significantly higher values than that at deep bass frequencies, which in the bottom octave I suspect would fall significantly short of meeting the 10X rule of thumb guideline for impedance compatibility when working into 25K.

I don't see any technical issues with any of the other phono stages that have been suggested.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al
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