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Phono preamp with two inputs: two MMs or MM+MC?

These days many phono preamps with one input support both MM and MC. Those with two inputs have one MM and one MC input. It means that those phono preamps have an SUT or some sort of amplification built inside the unit.
Such phono preamps would cost more compared to those that support MM input(s) only.
Is it a trend for phono preamps to have switchable MM/MC input? According to my experience with two turntables or two tonearms (one with MM and one with MC), it is a nuisance to change cables whenever I change from MM to MC or vice vursa.
Also, I have an SUT for MC cartridges and I don't need a direct MC input, so phono preamps with two inputs (MM and MC) are useless for me. I would assume that there are a lot of users with multiple turntables with MC and MM cartridges who prefer SUTs over built in amplification. For those users, isn't it make more sense to make phono preamps with multiple (two or three) MM inputs only?
128x128ihcho
sbrownnw
694 posts
 
Jasmine LP 2.5du
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Your lucky day. Purchase a VAS Citation Sound I, it is a knock off of the HK unit, but with all updated parts. I have one, great sound, great value. It has a separate MM and MC. Glorious sound. Used HK units go on eBay for over $1,000. Used VS unit go for about $2,500. The VAS is a safer bet. Enjoy.
ihcho's avatar
ihcho OP
612 posts
 
Many thanks for all recommendations. I did not know that this many phono preamps exits with two inputs that can support either MM/MM or MM/MC. Most of them cost over $4000.
Finding a perfect phono preamp for my system would be a long journey.
My current system: Plinius SA102/CD-LAD, Apogee Diva, Garrard 301 with two arms (Ortofon RMG309 with SPU Gold, and AS212 with SPU mono), and Clearaudio Bluemotion with Ortofon MC20, SL15E, SL20Q, Denon 103R, ...).
Phono pres are Whest PS.20 and Yaqin MS-12B.
An SUT is Hashimoto HM3 based Live! MC-10.
Most cartridges I have are low MCs (below 0.1mV for Ortofon cartridges except SPU Gold which is 0.2mV, and 103R), the SUT works pretty good with them. That is why I want to keep the SUT. All phono pres with MC input mentioned above do not have gains high enough for sub 0.1mV output MC cartridges.
My plan is to purchase a phono pre that is noticeably better than Whest PS.20 and Yaqin. Whest and Yaqin sound different, and for some music I prefer Yaqin to Whest on my system. Belived or not, my Yaqin performs as good as a few $1000 phono pres that I've had a chance to listen to.

I'll keep looking for some of the suggested models. My budget is $1500 (well, that makes me very hard to find one that would work for my system.)
dgarretson
2,598 posts
 
"All phono pres with MC input mentioned above do not have gains high enough for sub 0.1mV output MC cartridges"

I use a .05mV Ortofon MC2000 at 76db through Pass XP-25. It's above your stated budget, but works very well without a SUT. I agree that you'll need to keep that SUT if limited to $1500 for a phono stage.
sbrownnw
694 posts
 
Both Jasmine phono preamps have 70db MC which is a little high on my .3 mV AT-33ptg/II. I use some -12db attenuators to bring down the gain since my audio refinement pre5 seems to be very sensitive.
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