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Venturing into Vinyl - Phono Stage Questions

Well, I'm finally taking the plunge. Albert Porter's Tuesday night sessions have effectively ruined digital for me, and I've decided to try analog for myself. But, I do have some basic equipment questions, and would appreciate the suggestions of the Audiogon community...

Right now, I am using Vandersteen 2CE's with a Rogue amp and an AES tube output CD player. I think I have found a turntable, but would appreciate some suggestions on a tubed preamp and phono stage. I'd like to stay between $550-750 for both, and it seems like my options are as follows. (1) Get an older pre with built in phono stage, or (2) go with lower cost separates.

So my questions are... How good are the built-in phono stages on some of the older preamps out there (I'm thinking older Audio Research, CJ, Audible Illusions, etc.)? How do they compare with some of the newer, budget level stand alone phono stages (e.g. Lehmann, Channel Island, Bottlehead, Hagerman, etc.)? I'm very interested in trying out the DIY kits out there (specifically the Bottlehead Foreplay or the Consonance Basie) for a preamp, so if the newer budget stuff is really as good as people seem to say, I'd be more than comfortable going that route (DIY pre and separate phono).

Any advice and recommendations would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric
ewha
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Welcome to another reformed digi-phile, and kudo's to Albert for showing another music lover the way. Of course he doesn't really fight fair does he. Maybe he should buy a Meitner to be more evenhanded.

If you go with seperates you'll be paying for two chassis' and a pair of interconnects. That's a lot of excess hardware for a limited budget. I have to believe you'd get better sonic performance by putting all your dollars into a decent used tube preamp with internal phono stage.

A used c-j PV-10 can be had in your price range. A PV-11 (what I have) would go for a few hundred more. My system doesn't compare with Mr. Porter's, but there are still other components I'd upgrade before I'd trade my PV-11, even though it's the oldest component I own. It has given nothing but satisfaction since 1991. I believe an ARC would give similar satisfaction with a slightly leaner sound. Choose between them according to your taste.
upstateaudio's avatar
upstateaudio
249 posts
 
Welcome to analog. Another preamp to take into consideration that seems to be in plentiful supply is the Classe' DR5 or if you want to stretch a DR6(has separate power supply). That way you have a full function preamp that is solid state. You avoid having 2 components and hassling with tubes.

I have a DR6 myself. Classe customer support is excellent. Even though I am not the original owner, I shipped my preamp out to them to be checked out (I paid shipping). They shipped it back (free) in a new box and packaging and did not charge me a thing as they found nothing wrong.
sberger
146 posts
 
i too have basically enjoyed using the phonomena for the past year. if you have a mc cart, having the flexiblitly to change resistance settings is pretty cool. however, i always felt that at the end of the day, im still missing something with it, so last week i decided to purchase a dynavector p75 through music direct. it has been getting some incredible reviews, mostly in europe, and supposedley competes with units 2-3 times it's price. we'll see, but i had the dough available so decided to take the plunge.
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
In your budget, will be very hard to get a low enough noise floor w/ tube phono stages. I use a Monolithic PS-1 phono stage. I chose it for its musicality and designers' reputation. It is a stellar performer. Just add a good power cord and cones.
shersta
140 posts
 
I used to own a cj pv-10 linestage (and still own vandy 2ce's). When I got into vinyl, I added a monolithic ps-1 phono stage (and later the power supply). You could probably pick up this combo for about 850$. However, in an effort to downsize my rack, I sold the above and bought an audible illusions m2 with built in phono stage for 400$. They're both good set ups, but overall, I prefer the audible illusions--and it's half the price! For a couple hundred bucks more, you could step up to the audible illusions m3, which has more inputs and a seperate power supply. Neither of these setups will support low output mc carts. My vinyl rig is a rega p25 and dynavector 10x5 cart. Have fun, and if possible try to listen to a couple of different setups in your price range to see what sounds good to you.
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