Valve MC Phonostage

[hoopsontoast]

I will be looking at acquiring a phono stage for my Luxman PD-272/Denon DL-103 setup, as I currently dont have one.
It would be nice to complete the setup with a nice valve job, but there are not many around at under £200 (absolute max) and ideally less.
I wont be getting one straight away, but are there any particular models to look out for as I browse in the next month?

[Bonky]

I will be looking at acquiring a phono stage for my Luxman PD-272/Denon DL-103 setup, as I currently dont have one.
It would be nice to complete the setup with a nice valve job, but there are not many around at under £200 (absolute max) and ideally less.
I wont be getting one straight away, but are there any particular models to look out for as I browse in the next month?

Hi, I think we may be asking the same question here. (See my recent post: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19752).
Failing finding such a suitable valve jobbie, I was wondering about the Graham Slee phono preamp kit. Graham says it has a valve-like sound. You can buy it already made-up for £135 + VAT.


Looks like we should compare notes on this one...

BW

Richard

[DSJR]

I believe it's difficult to get the hum and noise levels down using valves, but FET's can do well in some designs. Good sonic reasons to use the best mm stage you can and then add an SUT.

By the way, I don't remember the Luxman tonearm being massy enough for a 103?????

[hoopsontoast]

I am open to non valve phono amps, but quite taken with recent dealing with valve line amps.

I did not expect the DL-103 to work with the arm, its a medium mass arm and seems to work OK. Sounds better than the Sure M97XE I had on it before.

[DSJR]

A well designed valve line stage is an excellent thing to have, since properly designed it'll compete with the best of solid state in terms of distortion and noise, yet offer something at very low levels over many op-amp types I believe, depending on whether the volume conrol is before the op-amp or not, as it is in my Crown preamp, hence the need to drive my preamp hard and cut overall gain down at the power amp end.

I've only heard around three modern valve phono stages, the ubiquitous Croft, which really is very very good, even in standard trim, the EAR 834? which to my ears has a velvet glove wrapped round the music, and the excellent but very expensive Tron phono stage, priced for the far eastern "expensive means more status" market. I've yet to persuade HiFi Dave to try the Icon Audio one, since the market for these things is so small, but if it's anything like their other gear, it should be very well made and with good service backup by another enthusiast who cares.

[ninedecks]

Angle Audio made a phono stage specifically for my 103 (the only MC that I own).
Compared to all of my other cartridges this pairing has proved to be the best that I own - the nearest I can get from my MM cartridges is with a Shure V15 mk5.
Dave

[awkwardbydesign]

I have the Yaqin MS-12B which was well under £200. However it's heavily modded, but sounds good now.

[myles]

I have the Yaqin MS-12B which was well under £200. However it's heavily modded, but sounds good now.

Hello fellow janner, would you be willing to share what you modded on the MS-12B, via PM if you prefer.

[hoopsontoast]

Thanks, I have seen the Yaqin, I found a couple on ebay but they are only 220v models.

[Dingdong]

Hows about something like this and an mm phono stage?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PARTRIDGE-MOVING-COIL-MC-STEP-UP-TRANSFORMERS-VINTAGE-/360481168040?pt=Turntable_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53ee5a1aa8

[hoopsontoast]

Thanks again, really unsure about the vinyl side after getting the CD source sorted, and debating further investment.

[Mr Kipling]

usedhifishop have a Rega Cursa for £200 and a Musical Fidelity 3a for £150

[awkwardbydesign]

Thanks, I have seen the Yaqin, I found a couple on ebay but they are only 220v models.
I can't remember who I bought mine from, but I asked for, and got, a 240v version. It took a week or so longer, but if you look at the ebay ads, I'm sure you'll find a seller, like I did.

[awkwardbydesign]

Hello fellow janner, would you be willing to share what you modded on the MS-12B, via PM if you prefer.
Sure, or if more people express an interest I'll start a thread.
Others have done it before me, but I probably did it differently. Look at my forum name!
PS, Not a janner, more a grockle.

[walpurgis]

If you're on a tight budget the Cambridge 640P is a decent sounding phono stage with MM and MC options, although it sounds much better on MC cartridge via the MM input using a decent SUT (step up transformer).

You could probably achieve this for around £200 buying second hand, you'd pick up an Audio Technica SUT for about £120, which would be adequate, but obviously not major league.

There are numerous favourable reviews for the 640P, it sounds significantly better than others I've used at around the same price and did not disgrace itself against my EAR 834P, it's only sins are those of ommission. It lacks the fine detail and ultimate transparency of dearer units, but still sounds sweet nevertheless.

(By the way, the ever popular EAR 834P was decidedly outclassed in my system by the Graham Slee ERA V Gold and that was with a variety of good low output MC cartridges and always using a decent separate SUT (Fidelity Research or Osawa). The internal MC transformers in the 834P are OK, but not brilliant)

[chelsea]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251070294791?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[awkwardbydesign]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251070294791?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
I wonder if the RIAA circuit is the same as the MS-12B
http://usr.audioasylum.com/images/4/47019/MS-12B-riaa.jpg
If so, then it could be worth having. And modding the same!
Ah, here it is. Pretty close.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachments/tubes-valves/287360d1339680721-yaqin-ms-22b-any-thoughts-please-yaqin-ms-22b.jpg

[The Grand Wazoo]

Maybe this, along with some suitable transformers?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320966390781?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[jandl100]

Angle Audio made a phono stage specifically for my 103 (the only MC that I own).
Compared to all of my other cartridges this pairing has proved to be the best that I own - the nearest I can get from my MM cartridges is with a Shure V15 mk5.
Dave

:thumbsup:

get in contact with the seller via this eBay listing --
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audiophile-Phono-Stage-amp-preamp-MM-or-MC-Brand-New-/130740041441?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item1e70b6b6e1

[nat8808]

There were/are also a few err... Edwards audio, Edmund Audio (can anyone help here? Something beginning with E) phono stages going for around £150 on eBay due to a recent model revision. A one or two box thing depending if you get the special PSU. No idea what they're like but seemed good value.

My Sondex phono stage was good (DC1 I think it was called). Excellent build quality and fully descrete from mid 80s. Obviously not something you'll find right away but cost me about £150 all boxed etc.

I hate to add the complication but couldn't you sell your pre on and find one with a phono stage built in?

[hoopsontoast]

There were/are also a few err... Edwards audio, Edmund Audio (can anyone help here? Something beginning with E) phono stages going for around £150 on eBay due to a recent model revision. A one or two box thing depending if you get the special PSU. No idea what they're like but seemed good value.

My Sondex phono stage was good (DC1 I think it was called). Excellent build quality and fully descrete from mid 80s. Obviously not something you'll find right away but cost me about £150 all boxed etc.

I hate to add the complication but couldn't you sell your pre on and find one with a phono stage built in?

I am pretty happy with my pre (very happy) so dont want to change that, would like to just add a phonostage :)
Thanks for all the suggestions chaps :D

[walpurgis]

Anybody here tried the Bellari VP129 valve phono stage? I had one, it's a good little gizmo, very musical. I preferred it to the Pro-Ject Tube Box SE and it wasn't too far short of the EAR 834P soundwise. The VP129 is quite a bargain.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I linked to one on Ebay (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showpost.php?p=354639&postcount=18) earlier in the thread!