Phono stages

[moo-fi]

It has been suggested on here that my phono stage isn't really up to it and since my son has just bent the cantilever on my Argo i:(, I think it may be a good time to sort it out. Currently running a Spacedeck, Rega 900, vdh Frog into a Project SE and Krell 300il.
As the amplifier is likely to turn into a passive and valve power amp in the near future I am after some pointers to how much I should throw at the phono stage to do justice to the front end.
Many thanks for any suggestions while I sink to a bottle of red:cool:

[hifi_dave]

You should be able to claim for the Argo on your household insurance and then p/x the body against the new Delos. So it's not all gloom and doom.

[moo-fi]

Now that is an idea I like, and my hifi is fully listed on my insurance so there is no room to wiggle. Thanks Dave.

[Ali Tait]

I have a friend who could build you a superb phono stage,valve or otherwise,he can make to your specs.No connection (aside from him being a mate!) and nothing to gain,he's just a mate who happens to make the best sounding kit I've ever heard.

[DSJR]

I have a friend who could build you a superb phono stage,valve or otherwise,he can make to your specs.No connection (aside from him being a mate!) and nothing to gain,he's just a mate who happens to make the best sounding kit I've ever heard.

How much for????

[lurcher]

he can make to your specs

It varies given that part. (Assuming rather egotistically Ali means me)

This is the pricing for a phono stage I am building for someone (as soon as the mains TX is ready). low noise jfet front end so its designed to take a low output moving coil directly, single stage RIAA, active loaded follower output, power supply CCS fed gas regulators. Its basically the circuit I took to Owston a year or so ago. Compared well to Marco's Croft and step ups I think.

BTW, the above "Compared" is not meant to mean better, I think it was basically in the the same space, but different IYSWIM.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ao1igJbzEAF4dHNvTFBTc3h2d3c2WHlmVG5ZeDRuM UE&hl=en_GB&pli=1#gid=0

Hope its ok posting this Marco (edit or delete if not), I try to avoid mentioning things I build for folk on forums, but I thought I should answer a direct question.

[Marco]

Hi Nick,

Oh not at all, you're very welcome, mate - in fact I would encourage you to do it more often! Your modesty is unwarranted, as your designs are superb.

Agreed regarding your phono stage. It was superb at Owston, and in fact I thought a little better than the one in the Croft (with the A23 SUT), although since then I've tweaked the Croft further, with the inclusion of SCR Teflon coupling caps and different valves, which has notably raised its performance further.

It'll be interesting to hear your new preamp and compare it to the Croft, which I believe you're rightly excited about, so please let me know when you're bringing it round to Ian's for a listen, and I'll tag along! :cool:

Marco.

P.S Have you had a chance yet to look at improvements to the circuit of the Lentek? I'm quite keen to get this suitably 'race-tuned' by your fair hands :)

[lurcher]

P.S Have you had a chance yet to look at improvements to the circuit of the Lentek? I'm quite keen to get this suitably 'race-tuned' by your fair hands

I took a look at it, but your example has the circuit board filled with silicon potting compound, so it would be problematic to say the least to get at the innards.

[Marco]

Hi Nick,

Okay dokes, but could the top not just be broken or cut off with a Stanley knife or something to get at the innards? I'm not bothered what you do, cosmetically, on the inside of the unit to get at the necessary components :)

Feel free to get jiggy with it! ;)

Marco.

[lurcher]

Its silicon sealant that will have stuck itself between all the component leads. I will see how much of a hooligan I feel :-)

[Marco]

Lol.... You can give it a 'Glasgow kiss', if you like! :eyebrows:

Keep me posted once you've suitably vandalised it. Here's a reminder of the thread where Dave ripped the knickers off of his:

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7341

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

It varies given that part. (Assuming rather egotistically Ali means me)

This is the pricing for a phono stage I am building for someone (as soon as the mains TX is ready). low noise jfet front end so its designed to take a low output moving coil directly, single stage RIAA, active loaded follower output, power supply CCS fed gas regulators. Its basically the circuit I took to Owston a year or so ago. Compared well to Marco's Croft and step ups I think.

BTW, the above "Compared" is not meant to mean better, I think it was basically in the the same space, but different IYSWIM.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ao1igJbzEAF4dHNvTFBTc3h2d3c2WHlmVG5ZeDRuM UE&hl=en_GB&pli=1#gid=0

Hope its ok posting this Marco (edit or delete if not), I try to avoid mentioning things I build for folk on forums, but I thought I should answer a direct question.

I did indeed mean your good self Nick.