Cheap, basic Tube phono preamp.

[RetroSmith]

Ok!!! Thanks to all those the emailed me about my "Capitol Records -The 32 Lettermen Lps" project.

Heres the latest:

I have decided to KEEP the Rotel and the Sumiko Blue Point. I cant see the sound changing that much by buying a different cart.

Anyway, what I HAVE decided to do before I start the transfers to DAT is to buy a tube phono preamp to transfer these.

What do you guys suggest for an inexpensive, basic, tube phono preamp that will help open up that "Capitol Magic". I dont want to spend alot of money here because my NAD Preamp is pretty darn good, but I want the "tube sound" if possible.

Suggestions?

thanks,

Mikey

[RetroSmith]

I FORGOT to add that the Sumiko is a High Out Moving Coil Cart.

So would any tube preamp work? Even an old EICO or something like that?

[Damián]

Are you handy with a soldering iron Mike? I found loads of designs on the web some time back.

[RetroSmith]

LOL......I USED to be!! Havent built anything in many years.

[Sckott]

Bottlehead's phono pre is nice, inexpensive, modifiable and very sweet sounding. There's better out there, but the price is right.

Other than that, unless you wanna grab a schematic and go for something raw, good luck. However, you'll be spending more money in parts automatically.

www.bottlehead.com

I've been very much in love with their Foreplay for years, and rolled 3 kits of my own using the similar, simple recipie using JAN tubes. Dollar per dollar, you can't beat it...

[vinyl anachronist]

A friend of mine is very happy with his Antique Sound Labs Mini Phono preamp...and it's just $249. He uses it with his Music Hall MMF-7 and raves about the sound he's getting.

Check it out:

http://www.divertech.com/aslminiphono.htm

[stereo71]

What Sckott said...

Bottlehead's Seduction phono pre is a lot of bang for the buck--you have to put it together, but Paul Joppa and Doc did their homework on the design, and it's killer! Plus you get to roll 6DJ8s into it and appreciate the real sound of tubes. Warm up that soldering iron and have some fun!

--Roger

[indy mike]

Originally posted by stereo71
What Sckott said...

Bottlehead's Seduction phono pre is a lot of bang for the buck--you have to put it together, but Paul Joppa and Doc did their homework on the design, and it's killer! Plus you get to roll 6DJ8s into it and appreciate the real sound of tubes. Warm up that soldering iron and have some fun!

--Roger

6DJ8's??? Save time and grab a set of Amperex 7308's, the undisputed king/queen of the 6DJ8 family... :thumbsup:

[Steve Hoffman]

You have a MC cart, you will need a "step up" device to use it with a basic tube preamp. The output will be too low otherwise.

[RetroSmith]

Thanks Steve, thats what i thought.

My current NAD 3140 has that step up on Input 2.

[Metralla]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
You have a MC cart, you will need a "step up" device to use it with a basic tube preamp. The output will be too low otherwise.
No you won't. That's a high ouput moving coil so you won't need a step up.

What you may need is to change the loading, though many high output moving coils like to see 47kOhm - since that's what standard moving magnets like to see. Best to have a phono preamp that enables the loading to be changed.

I've never tried the Hagerman, but I've heard some good things. And I really like my FryKleaner that he made.

Mikey, although you say "My current NAD 3140 has that step up on Input 2" you understand that this input won't be used if you get a phono stage. You will use the AUX input of your pre.

[RetroSmith]

Actually, Geoff, if I can get a tube Preamp that will work with the Blue point Special, I'm going to plug the output of the Pre right into the Sony PCM-2700a (my DAT deck)s line inputs for the purests sound.

As much as love my GINA 24 bit card, the Sony 2700a's converters are excellent...they sound really "analog" to me.