Intrest check - Chord Coral mk1 Phono stage [Archive]

Spectral Morn

17-08-2009, 09:28

Hi Guys

For possible sale, depending on interest etc one Chord Coral MK1 phono stage. This was one of the first phono stages to have a fully balanced topology including inputs as well as outputs. However rather than using xlr inputs this is done via 4 sets of Rca connectors which correspond to the 4 cartridge tags on a tone arm. Your phono cable will need to be shotgun or coax to wire it this way. I would say that if you have a detachable arm cable you can get a 4 rca wired one in order to exploit this design fully. If you don't have this you can still use the Coral with a standard two Rca configuration.

The gain, impedance and balanced set up can be adjusted internally, however this is more of an MC phonostage than MM one.

Comes with instructions and original box. Cosmetic condition is overall good. However there are sadly a few little marks on the front edge and on the top, but these are hard to see most of the time depending on how the light is hitting it. I have tried to catch these marks in my photos but found it very hard to do so. Most are on the front edge there are 6 very small ones on the left side and one slightly larger one and one more small one on the right side. There are 4 small marks on the top and a few on the edges but these are minute. Back where the sockets are, there are 5 small marks caused by cables more than likely. This is as accurate as I can be.

This unit was £1800 new and this one is probably about 8 or 9 years old (I am the second owner so marks on it were not done by me). In full working order.

I am looking for about £700 ish. I will accept cheque, uncrossed postal order. Goods will be dispatched after funds have cleared. This is quite heavy so UK postage only, at about £15 (I will need to check this out to be exact)

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/chordcoralphonosatage001.jpg

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/chordcoralphonosatage002.jpg

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/chordcoralphonosatage003.jpg
Photo above ^ right side, lines on side are as a result of the camera flash and not actual marks.
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/chordcoralphonosatage004.jpg

PM me if interested.

Regards D S D L

Varun

17-08-2009, 16:20

Hi Neil,

This is only an enquiry. I had in the very beginning used a small black box made by Hi-Fi News for low output MCs as I could not afford the Head Amp made by Paravacini. That one (Paravacini's) was powered by mains if I remember correctly and cost over 200 pounds sterling in late 80s. These items were known as Head Amps then-again if I remember correctly.

After having decided to use Vinyl only, I ordered EAR 834 directly from Tim Paravicini. After months of waiting and having paid already it did arrive but only when I started showing my annoyance. But did not have the volume knob that I had paid for. So I without a pre-amp-ended up using the little dial on the back of EAR 509s to turn the sound off and up. The 834P was marketed as a Phono pre-amp.

I find all these labels and terminolgies confusing.

Spectral Morn

17-08-2009, 16:31

Hi Varun

Yes Tim is very slow. He has no stock and builds much of his range to order. I too once ordered a 324 phono stage but when I found out it was going to be 6 to 8 weeks I pulled out and bought my main phono stage a BAT VK10Se...which took 6 weeks to come from America. Bat had no capacitors so I got Jensen instead of BAT's own.

Yes phono stages with volume controls are common enough. They can be used for a single source vinyl set up TT to Phono to Power amplifier. They can also be used as a variable gain (volume) to a line only integrated or line only pre-amplifier. However there are those who say that this is bad i.e putting the signal through the pot in such a phonostage. The Chord has three gain settings achieved via internal jumpers which are better than dip switches. This is used to match cartridge outputs to the overall sensitivity of the system and allow close parity to the output levels of CD etc;however main system volume is adjusted via the volume control on the main integrated or pre. In practice though most vinyl front ends (and I include the phonostage in this chain)will still have a bit less gain compared to a CD player. You can also (with gain adjustment)have access to a wider choice of high and low output MC cartridges, the gain adjustment just allows overall matching; giving you flexibility.

Regards D S D L

Varun

17-08-2009, 17:44

Thanks,

Wasn't six weeks-more like 6 months and I felt I had been done. Anyway- rather too complicated for my electronics- illiterate mind.

Was or is Chord one Good? Also I was going to add that I can't remember if I ever used the unit I put up for sale connecting the TT to the EARs or if I had it made after getting the Plinius M14 phono-preamp- solid heafty item (you see it on the shelf just under the TT-if the images can still be seen).

Spectral Morn

17-08-2009, 18:02

Thanks,

Wasn't six weeks-more like 6 months and I felt I had been done. Anyway- rather too complicated for my electronics- illiterate mind.

Was or is Chord one Good? Also I was going to add that I can't remember if I ever used the unit I put up for sale connecting the TT to the EARs or if I had it made after getting the Plinius M14 phono-preamp- solid heafty item (you see it on the shelf just under the TT-if the images can still be seen).

To answer yes the Chord is a very good phono stage. However for me, now being out of work I can't really keep it when I also have a Bat and a Pass labs Xono both of which I think fit in better with my systems. The Chord has a very open detailed and fast sound but its not etched. The Bat being valve and the Xono being valve like suit me better.

I could post up a review written by Hi-Fi News but they probably would not like that.

Regards D S D L

Varun

17-08-2009, 18:18

Well I am sure there is someone out there who needs it!

So best luck

Spectral Morn

17-08-2009, 18:33

Well I am sure there is someone out there who needs it!

So best luck

Thanks Varun...I hope so too.

Regards D S D L

Dave Cawley

17-08-2009, 18:54

The 834P is in fact a Phono pre-amp. A good dealer will help you get what you want.

Regards

Dave

Varun

17-08-2009, 21:25

Thanks,

I thought that is what I said- it was marketed as a Phono Pre-amp whether with the volume knob or not.

May I then ask- the difference between a Phono-Preamp and a Phono-Stage. I presume one is powered by mains and one is not-is that so?

I have what I want (Plinius)-miles in a different league than 834- the little black box. Miles and miles better than the Dynavector Phono-Preamp made by a NZ dealer and also the cheaper of the two Phono-Preamp made by VTL (the valve amps makers from USA). I tried them all.

Spectral Morn

17-08-2009, 21:47

Thanks,

I thought that is what I said- it was marketed as a Phono Pre-amp whether with the volume knob or not.

May I then ask- the difference between a Phono-Preamp and a Phono-Stage. I presume one is powered by mains and one is not-is that so?

I have what I want (Plinius)-miles in a different league than 834- the little black box. Miles and miles better than the Dynavector Phono-Preamp made by a NZ dealer and also the cheaper of the two Phono-Preamp made by VTL (the valve amps makers from USA). I tried them all.

No both are powered as amplification is required plus signal manipulation. A step up transformer is passive mostly...it boosts a weak signal, from a MC cart into the MM input on a MM phono stage.

Regards D S D L

Spectral Morn

18-09-2009, 16:21

Hi Guys

Anyone want to make me an offer on this before i ring a few dealers or put it on E-Bay. Go on you never know.

Regards D S D L