Phono Pre-amp for Analog Newbie

It's realy a case of what is your budget.

Usual recommendations for the Scout Master/Scout are the Dynavectors as mentioned by Slipknot1, the Sumiko Blackbird. Maybe the Lyra Dorian. The best cartridge I have used with my Scout is the Benz M0.9, but this hasn't been in production for several years.

As for phono stages - Trigon Vanguard II, Monolithic Sound, Rogue Audio Stealth all go well with the 20XH, as I have owned all three (and the 20XH)

For accessories, I would recommend the KAB Speedstrobe. Very easy to set the correct speed. I have the Wally Tractor and VTA guage coming, so I haven't tried those yet. I use the protractor from the Hi-fi news test record for now.

Get yourself a nice set of Imperial hex drivers, as they make adjusting the tonearm much easier. McMaster-Carr will have these.

Get a bubble level from Home Depot to level the turntable.

I have the Scout, not the Scoutmaster, but the key with the Scout is to isolate the motor vibration from the rest of the turntable. There are a few posts - possibly here, but for sure st the Audio Asylum on this topic.

That's all I can think of for now.

Hello Macdadtexas, I agree about the scout/scoutmaster, they are hard to beat at that price point. A couple other tables i would check out are the Nottingham Spacedeck, and Well Tempered Turntable[classic]. I have a WTT and love it, most cartridges are compatable, it sounds great, has superb imunity from vibrations, etc., and probably the quietest bearing design in the industry. As far as phono stages are concerned the above recomendations are worth checking out depending on your budget. I have a Audio Research PH3SE for sale/trade if interested. Dynavector, Benz,Shelter, Sumiko Celabration[often overlooked], Grado statement series,and Denon are what I would try to audition. Good luck. Thanks for listening, Alan

Reponses below, in CAPS:

You wrote:

1) Cartridge (type and make)

I SECOND THE CHOICE OF A GRADO SONATA MOVING-MAGNET CARTRIDGE, WHICH LISTS FOR $500. WELL-BUILT, DOES A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT, AND IS APPROPRIATE, PRICE AND PERFORMANCE-WISE, FOR YOUR TURNTABLE. I USED ONE ON MY VPI ARIES FOR AWHILE AND IT WAS GREAT (NOW IT IS ON MY PLANAR 3).

2) Phono pre-amp (it will be going into an Anthem AVM30, or I may upgrade to the D1 Statement). I would like to get one with XLR output if possible, or does that really matter?

I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO KNOW IF YOU REALLY NEED XLR OUTPUTS. THAT SAID, THE BRYSTON BP-1 MOVING-MAGNET PHONO STAGE HAS RCA AND XLR OUTPUTS. IT USED TO RETAIL FOR $700 AND I BELIEVE IS NOW ONLY AVAILABLE BY SPECIAL ORDER (IT IS BASICALLY A PRO UNIT THAT WAS MADE FOR RADIO STATIONS). WHILE BRYSTON IS NOT KNOWN FOR THEIR PREAMPS, THE BP-1 IS AN EXCEPTION (I ACTUALLY PREFERRED IT IN SOME WAYS TO THE TUBED PHONO STAGE IN THE CAT MK. III PREAMP I WAS USING AT THE TIME, WHICH IS A REALLY FINE PHONO STAGE). BUILT LIKE A TANK AND COMES WITH A 20-YEAR FULLY TRANSFERRABLE WARRANTY.

3) Reasonbly priced cleaning machine.

THE VPI 16.5 IS THE SAFEST CHOICE.

4) Other "extras" I will need.

RICE PAPER SLEEVES FOR YOUR LP'S (YOU SHOULD CLEAN AND RE-SLEEVE YOUR ENTIRE LP CATALOG). A CARBON-FIBER BRUSH TO TAKE OFF DUST BEFORE AND AFTER PLAYING AN LP. OF COURSE, YOU NEED A GOOD SHELF FOR YOUR TURNTABLE, BUT THIS IS A GIVEN, NOT AN EXTRA.

The VPI scoutmaster is the way to go

I would second the recommendation on the Dynavector 17D MKII -- I use it on my VPI Aries/JMW combo and it is a wonderful cartridge; I like it a lot better than my previous Benz Glider

The VPI 16.5 is the way to go for record cleaning -- can't recommend a cleaning fluid at this time; I've tried several and have no clear preference.

Phono preamp depends on your budget and the cartridge chosen, but I would recommend a tube unit (this is strange, since I use a SS phono preamp, but the Dynavector has an incredibly low output (0.2mV) for which you need at least 60db gain and the rest of my system is tubes)

Good luck on your choices and wellcome back from the "dark side"

Lots of good stuff above, imho.
How does the scoutmaster price out against a used HRX is a question I'd be pondering.
I've enjoyed the dynavector 20xh & the Lyra Helicon sl on my Aries, depending upon how much cash you want to throw at it. (I also liked the Shelter 900 but that is a guilty pleasure because everyone sez it is a missmatch and honestly it was a bit exagerated on top and bottom but I loved it with rock and roll).
For phono stages, I'm very happy with a Hagerman technology trumpet & step up tranny & have read good reports on Jim's lower priced stuff also.