Wanted: Inexpensive MC head amp or SUT

[steve-z]

Having just upgraded my amp to a new Rega Brio I’d really like to make use of the built in phono stage which is apparently of very good quality. To make use of it I will need a step up device to match it with my moving coil cartridge. As I have an external MC coil stage already I don’t really want to spend a great deal for a transformer or head amp, certainly sub £100. I’ve been looking at the Ortofon T-5s but they tend to be in the £100 bracket, ridiculous really when they cost under a third of that price when new.


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[hifi_dave]

And they're not that great. You would do better using a good MM into the Brio.

[steve-z]

And they're not that great. You would do better using a good MM into the Brio.

Don’t really want to go that route as the Planar 3 is wall mounted and over 2M from the Brio and I’d have to extend the turntable leads which would add capacitance and probably screw up the sound of a MM cartridge, MCs don’t normally get affected by increased capacitance so putting an SUT or head amp in the line would be a better bet.
As to the T-5s, a friend of mine has used a pair for over 30 years and wouldn’t part with them, think he paid £20 for them.


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[walpurgis]

The T-5's are not up to much, neither is the Audio Technica AT-630, I've owned them.

The Fidelity Research FRT-3 is in a totally different league and there's one for sale in Private Exhibitions, or was recently for £200. It's remarkably good.

A poor (cheap) SUT just ruins the sound from MC's and is really not worth entertaining..

[steve-z]

The T-5's are not up to much, neither is the Audio Technica AT-630, I've owned them.

The Fidelity Research FRT-3 is in a totally different league and there's one for sale in Private Exhibitions, or was recently for £200. It's remarkably good.

A poor (cheap) SUT just ruins the sound from MC's and is really not worth entertaining..

£200 is too much to fork out, if I was spending that I put another £49 to it and buy a Rega Fono MC.


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[walpurgis]

£200 is too much to fork out, if I was spending that I put another £49 to it and buy a Rega Fono MC.

I'd back the FRT-3 into Brio MM input against the Fono MC.

[Firebottle]

What's the cart output level Steve?
I may have one suitable.

[steve-z]

I'd back the FRT-3 into Brio MM input against the Fono MC.

I’ve actually tried a Fono MC and found it to be excellent sounding and very versatile with the adjustable gain and loading settings, would have bought one 2 years ago except for something else absorbing the money (CH boiler failure )


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[steve-z]

What's the cart output level Steve?
I may have one suitable.

It’s an ATF7 and it’s 0.35mv.


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[steve-z]

I’ve had a couple of head amps in years gone bye, I had a battery operated one when I bought a Coral 777ex back in the early 80’s which was quite inexpensive (under £50) and worked well and sounded good. A few years on I had an A&R A60 amp and bought the MC head amp that A&R made to work with it and likewise that too was very good and not too costly, with the lower cost of components/ microchips these days I find it hard to understand the high cost that a lot of these devices seem to command.


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