Preamp-phonostage selection for analog lover

Barbara, since you opened the door for more propositions - oops, proposals - err, ideas, there's a Rogue 99 Magnum preamp being offered for sale in the classifieds for $1800. It's a great unit (and it does have a remote).

I'm not familiar with the specific ARC and C-J units others have mentioned, but these older units have the virtue of a cheaper price, hence more to spend on that cartridge or vinyl.

BTW, which tonearm are you using (I presume a Rega)? Prefer moving magnet cartridges or open to moving coils? Type of sound - highly resolved and detailed vs lush and warm? Burgundy or cabernet? Oops, did it again.

There are add-ons for tts that will automatically lift the tonearm at run-out, so you don't have stop and interrupt ... well, you know.

Sorry, but old grandpas get a little light headed when certain subjects are raised.

Barbara,

Good to see your focus is vinyl. I have extensive experience with this medium and am fortunate enough to hear most of the phonostages and some of the top carts out there. Considering where you came from and desire to improve I offer the following suggestions. Phonostage- Conrad Johnson EV1 (tube)- List price $1500 used ($800-$1000 if you can find) I have compared this with the big boy 15 premier and just could not open my pocket book to send the extra. This stage has 49 db gain, more than enough for any MM and handles most MC's down to 1mv. Another good unit is Quicksilver phono (tube) about 40 db gain (works with MM's) they also offer a transformer which increases gain about 20 db and works with all carts down to .25mv. ( cost new about $1000 for the stage and $450 for the transformer). Another great unit used is the pass aleph ono (SS), once plugged in and warmed up for 24 HOURS it sings and will hang with all but the very top (used approx $1000-$1300).

As to carts, what is wrong with used assuming you are buying from a very knowledgeable source. You are able to get much more cart for the $ than new. But in your price range for new The benz line and dynavector are very hard to beat for the $. I have used both lines and rank them amoung the best for the $. The dynavector XV-1 I rank as the best cart out there. Once you get a cart buy a wallytractor to set it up properly. That really makes a difference.

As to preamps- Conrad johnson (14, 17 etc) and the quicksilver linestage has remote and a $1000 price new.

Anyway, I hope this helps and that you are not to overwhelmed by all the inforamtion you will get. I have used each of the above mentioned items in a $70K system and they truley do not give up much to the top. But as you know or will know getting 90% of the way there is pretty easy that last 10% is a bitch and very expensive.

Good luck & be well

haven't read what others have said but EAR and Acoustech seem to availible used in pretty large quantities and fall in your range if you keep current pre.But AI Modulus has the "All that you really need" standard bearer for awhile.I have had CJ pre but the phono's can be noisy.Spend a little more and get yourself a BAT VK3i or the AI.Too bad your spekers aren't more efficient.Some tube intergrateds like Rogue,VTL,Cary have nice Phono's.Oh yeah Rogue!!!!Get a 66 pre!!!!I like Cary,VTL,Rogue because unlike a number of companies there prices don't insult our intelligence.Get the Rogue then got for a set of matchin M120 Mono latter.As Austin Powers would say "Tubes Baby!YEAH!!!" or somehting to that effect.

try the Thor TA3000 phonostage pre-amp (retails $6500) but can be bought on audiogon when they rarely come up for $2800-$3500 range. Just magical no other words to describe. Only better heard was $35,000 audionote series 7 phonostage . If you see one get it you will never regert it. I went through 5 phonstages before settling with this one. I also have the Thor TA1000 linestage preamp which is another killer .Good luck

Barbara, in your stated price category, the MFA Magus, the Counterpoint SA-3000 or SA-5000, or maybe even a Manley Reference preamp, all have very fine phono stages and are great sounding tube preamps. The Counterpoints have some Solid State in them by way of buffers, but they do a good job with them. Audible Illusions is also very good, but they have low gain in the phono stage making them suitable for MM, but not low output MC, without a transformer.