Cheap phono stage and cartridge recommendations.

[shane]

I just had a phone call from my nephew asking advice about turntables, the upshot being hat he came round and went off clutching my beloved but currently unused Heybrook TT2, for which he will be buying a Rega RB250 or 300, as this is what the armboard is cut for.

As his amp (Musical Fidelity E1) only does line level, he's going to be looking for a phono stage and cartridge that won't break the bank. Having had my requirements satisfied in the department for the last 30 years or so, I'm a bit out of touch with this market. Anyone have any recommendations?

[DSJR]

The Rega Fono-Mini is a personal favourite and sounds very good indeed for little dosh. The NAD PP2 was a warm toned cheapie as well and although I never tried it myself, the ATPEQ3 from the US (plus a suitable UK sourced power supply) may be ok as well, although more costly than the Rega once a UK power supply is obtained..

If the TT2 has the cast sub-chassis, it'll make for a VERY serious turntable prospect IMO. The cartridge choice will be all but limitless IMO and any of the favourite mm's under a couple of hundred as well as higher output mc types will be great. One high output mc that rarely gets mentioned is the standard Sumiko Blue Point 2, which is under £200 and not as fragile as the BPS.. Under a ton, I'd suggest the Shure M97XE for it's future upgradability with SAS stylus, the AT120E which is a great tracker and so "friendly" to most records IMO, The popular (here) Nagaoka's, which should work fine on the Rega arms and the perennial Pickering XV15/625.. I do like and respect the Ortofons, but the upgrade pricing as one climbs the stylus ladder is all but obscene IMO, but that's just me... if William Thakker (Ebay) still have an M20FL Super complete cartridge, I'd seriously consider this, as once run in, it's really rather special ;)

Just my thoughts and I know there's more. Hopefully I have the budget right ;)

[Rare Bird]

You can get a Trichord Dino with Power Supply for couple hundred quid.

[StanleyB]

I can sell him one of my phono stages for £45 delivered. Can't get anything better and cheaper than that.

[shane]

Stan, that looks like it should be just the job, but I can't find it on your website. Do you have any details?

[StanleyB]

PM me your email address and I'll send you an AoS member's price ;). I don't have it on my website due to issues with the UK price. Another company sells it rebranded at a higher price.

[shane]

PM sent :)

[Peter Stockwell]

As his amp (Musical Fidelity E1) only does line level, he's going to be looking for a phono stage and cartridge that won't break the bank. Having had my requirements satisfied in the department for the last 30 years or so, I'm a bit out of touch with this market. Anyone have any recommendations?

Angle audio quality phonostage (you get them direct from the designer/manufacturer in ebay UK) I bought the Audiophile Virtual Battery version, but I think that without VB it'll be just as good an would cost about £110 +/-

[DSJR]

PM me your email address and I'll send you an AoS member's price ;). I don't have it on my website due to issues with the UK price. Another company sells it rebranded at a higher price.

Apologies Stan, I didn't know you did one (and neither did anyone else I suspect...)

[shane]

Eventually, he decided to buy a used Arcam Diva A80 with built-in phono stage. Probably a reasonable choice, as if he doesn't like it it can go back on Ebay with little loss, and he doesn't then have an extra box in his very limited shelf space.

The arm and cartridge choice we arrived at has brought home to me how cheaply a vinyl system can be put together. He's gone for one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Pickering-VE15-Hi-Fi-Stereo-cartridge-SAVE-20-/380359196447?pt=Turntable_Parts_Accessories&hash=item588f2cbf1f#ht_978wt_1139
and one of these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ISOkinetik-RB251-TONEARM-REGA-LINN-GYRO-TURNTABLES-/180410010966?pt=Turntable_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a01464d56#ht_3855wt_905 .

Now I know there are plenty of people who knock the Rega arm, but to be able to get an arm/cartridge combo like this brand new for £153 looks pretty damn good to me!. I now have the happy task of putting it altogether and seeing what it sounds like.

Have to say though that I'm slightly disappointed not to have the chance to listen to Stan's phono stage. That looked pretty good value as well. Thanks for the offer, Stan!

[DSJR]

The TT2 had an MDF or similar armboard and didn't have a bass problem, especially with the cast sub-chassis, which I hope this one has? The three-screw fixing of the 251 arm may well be rather different to the single-hole arrangement of the original arm as well, for all I know.

The VE looks to be a version of the Stanton 500EE I used to know and love a million years ago. Big, ballsy yet with a better treble than the "conical" 500A I remember. Hope your mate loves it :)