Haden Boardman phono stage

[petrat]

Boardman 33.3 valve moving magnet phono stage. One owner. £260 incl delivery in UK

This is serial number 3 of the first batch produced. It performs to a surprisingly high standard. Indeed, it easily usurped my previous EAR 834P.

Some of the designer's thoughts ... http://www.audioclassics.co.uk/33.html

The link and the review below both refer to version 2, which I believe uses exactly the same amplification circuit, and only differs in that Haden had used up his supply of commercial 'encapsulated' power supplies (used in this version 1, see picture below) and designed a discrete solution in later versions.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/boardman_33_e.html

I'm pretty confident that this is the best valve phono stage available at anywhere near this price.
Oh, and it works wonderfully with Ortofon's 2M Black :)

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/petrat56/HFi8-8-13013_zps030e2072.jpg (http://s1233.photobucket.com/user/petrat56/media/HFi8-8-13013_zps030e2072.jpg.html)

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/petrat56/HFi8-8-13025_zpsd51a76d0.jpg (http://s1233.photobucket.com/user/petrat56/media/HFi8-8-13025_zpsd51a76d0.jpg.html)

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/petrat56/HiFi8-8-13007_zps0d01228a.jpg (http://s1233.photobucket.com/user/petrat56/media/HiFi8-8-13007_zps0d01228a.jpg.html)

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/petrat56/HiFi8-8-13010_zps69058792.jpg (http://s1233.photobucket.com/user/petrat56/media/HiFi8-8-13010_zps69058792.jpg.html)

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/petrat56/HiFi8-8-13001_zpsc927b90e.jpg (http://s1233.photobucket.com/user/petrat56/media/HiFi8-8-13001_zpsc927b90e.jpg.html)

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/petrat56/HFi8-8-13022_zpsb8d3ef84.jpg (http://s1233.photobucket.com/user/petrat56/media/HFi8-8-13022_zpsb8d3ef84.jpg.html)

Maybe not the most beautiful of things, but it is relatively compact ... approx dimensions: faceplate is 12 x 5 inches; depth incl handles 7 inches.

[Audioman]

Peter.

I came across this a year or two back but have not seen any reviews or endorsements until now. I don't mind a basic case at the price but come on Haden get the back plate printed even if it adds a bit to the cost ! I would have thought a proper power supply will make it sound even better. Does Haden do a version with SUTs for low output MC? - Ok he does according to the web site !

Paul.

[walpurgis]

Peter.

I came across this a year or two back but have not seen any reviews or endorsements until now. I don't mind a basic case at the price but come on Haden get the back plate printed even if it adds a bit to the cost ! I would have thought a proper power supply will make it sound even better. Does Haden do a version with SUTs for low output MC? - Ok he does according to the web site !

Paul.

I've never cared that much what equipment looks like, the sound is all that matters really. It's only small and can be hidden easily anyway. Maybe it has got a proper power supply. It only needs as much juice as it will draw and no noise issues.

[petrat]

Peter.

I came across this a year or two back but have not seen any reviews or endorsements until now. I don't mind a basic case at the price but come on Haden get the back plate printed even if it adds a bit to the cost ! I would have thought a proper power supply will make it sound even better. Does Haden do a version with SUTs for low output MC? - Ok he does according to the web site !

Paul.

The hand-written stuff is like what artists do, innit?

Actually the power supply capsule is a million miles away from your typical wall-wart. For a start, look at the size of it! It weighs a ton and seems to contain a substantial transformer, judging from the weight. So it is a 'proper' power supply, thank you very much ... and was, presumably his first choice until he ran out of them. Certainly it keeps the ac away from the phono circuitry, so the thing is very quiet for a valve stage.

Yes, Audio Classics will fit either 10x or 20x trannies if you ask. Could be retro-fitted, I would have thought ... check with HB for price if you are interested.

[Audioman]

Unfortunately the writing looks amateurish even though I don't like to pay for frills. The power supply is still a wall wart and if its a simple AC/AC step down rather than switch mode should do it's job (I have a couple of stages that use similar) However from his own description Haden's replacement sounds somewhat more sophisticated. In my view even a cottage industry product can be made to look professional at reasonable cost. Not saying the item for sale isn't brilliant value Peter and at the price the cosmetic faux pas is not really an issue. So is Haden the Banksy of the hi-fi world then:lol:?

Paul.

[petrat]

...

[Audioman]

Peter. I'm not speculating in a negative fashion rather the opposite. Anyway my comments re the writing are referring to my views on buying a new product from Haden. It shouldn't bother anyone at the asking price and frankly I have not said anything about SQ. I couldn't possibly as I haven't heard it. I'm sure anyone interested can play around with alternative power supplies to see if this makes a difference. Sorry if you perceive my comments as a thread crap as that was not the intention. Frankly I think if anyone is on a tight budget they should buy your stage as I can't see anything near the price coming close given the stated superiority to an EAR. Used EAR 834p would go for a lot more in any case. THEREFORE I HIGHLY ENDORSE THIS STAGE AS A BARGAIN.

Paul.

[dgdgdgdgdg]

I Use one of these - for the price it is utterly brilliant - only my opinion of course
Good Luck with sale..

[twotone]

I was really tempted with this, previously had a Croft basic pre with an excellent phono stage, but I've ordered an Arkless modded phono stage.

Good luck with the sale.

Tony

[Gromit]

An intruiging bit of kit this - and I rather like the hair-shirt build/look of it. :)

I see it runs a 60k ohms (or something around that) input.

[petrat]

Just been looking on the Audio Classics website, and discovered that I've got the thread title wrong ...

*This is a cartridge preamplifier or GRAMOPHONE Stage, the 'Americanism' in the use of the word 'phono' should NOT be tolerated, phonographs are cylinders, not Berliner style flat records we all love and care about. So there.*

Sorry, Haden!

[wiicrackpot]

I was really tempted with this, previously had a Croft basic pre with an excellent phono stage, but I've ordered an Arkless modded phono stage.

Good luck with the sale.

Tony
Tony,

Why don't you buy this as well?, they are both different beasts (the Arkless spec'd for MC's), at least it'll let you know what flavour you like,
shouldn't think you would loose very much or anything at all if you were to move either one on,
have a couple of SUT's here you could borrow if you wanna go ahead with this. :)

[petrat]

Still available

[struth]

Thought this had sold......I like it but have just bought a upgraded(Ihope) cart, so will have to wait a while...These are highly regarded Phono's......very surprised it is still here.

[petrat]

Will take £250, if that'd help ...

On the other hand, if that's too cheap for you, I can sell you a Koetsu :)

[struth]

Not interested in a camera..? .....no, thought not:D

Sent from my ARCHOS 80G9 using Tapatalk 4

[petrat]

Sorry Grant, already got one ... see photos above :)

[struth]

No problem
its the last and best of my DSLR kits....was keeping it but I'll health means unlikely to use it again
Might split it up and flea bay it

[twotone]

Tony,

Why don't you buy this as well?, they are both different beasts (the Arkless spec'd for MC's), at least it'll let you know what flavour you like,
shouldn't think you would loose very much or anything at all if you were to move either one on,
have a couple of SUT's here you could borrow if you wanna go ahead with this. :)

Thanks for the kind offer Andy and apologies for not responding to this before now but I've been away on holiday.

Best of luck to the OP.

Tony

[topmetom]

Hi,

is it still for sale? I am coming from a project tube box, would this be a improvement?

[petrat]

Hi Phil.
I haven't heard the project tube box, so I'd just be guessing. Maybe others might comment, but if you're anywhere near Northampton, you're welcome to borrow it for a listen. What's rest of your system?

[topmetom]

To be honest, my background is av so the TT is only a old technics sl-q303, into the tube box into my anyhem mrx-300! So im not a full hifi mad nut...yet!

My friend has project genie into a graham slee , i took my tube box round and it was so good he wants to buy the tube box..so I am looking for something to replace it! If im honest the turntable could probably be replaced as well as I have a bug for vinyl at the moment!
As for your kind offer I am in kent so not easy to pop round!

[petrat]

Rescued from page 5 ..

[petrat]

... and now page 7!

If anyone seriously considering it would like a home trial, PM me and we'll see if we can sort something out.

[struth]

Its still on my list but will have to wait as there have been some costs of late...alas but hope to get there...not sure what improvement I will get as not tried an external stage on this amp yet

[petrat]

:flasher:

[thebeathunters]

hi, i'm interested, Watch out for PM
Phil

[petrat]

Still available.

Now £225 incl delivery in UK.

[petrat]

Provisionally sold.

[petrat]

Now sold.