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Author Topic: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout  (Read 2261 times)

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bixby

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2015, 04:33:12 AM »

I have a Hagerman Bugle phono board (battery powered) sitting in the cupboard if you have any interest.  Or you may have listened already, not sure about the time frame.
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CEE TEE

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #11 on: June 26, 2015, 10:40:58 PM »

I now have the cheap Phono Preamps but will pass them to drfindley as soon as I can after the meet CS is having in SoCal.  I am finishing up other old projects so not sure I am gonna do the big comparo. (I just wanna listen to music for a while, man.)  Right now I plan on keeping my Parasound Phono Pre and selling my TTVJ Hybrid Phono Pre. I'll probably lend both to drfindley if he wants to put them in his comparo too.
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drfindley

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2015, 07:32:53 PM »

Alright, sorry for taking a bit, but I finally got a chance to give these a listen. I'm with OJ, I found the preamps have a big effect on the sound.

I have two setups:
Rega RP6 w/ a Ortolan 2M Black cart
Technics SL-1200 Mark II w/ a Audio Technica AT440MLA cart.

I've ordered these in the order I liked worst to best:

Music hall - pa1.2
The least likable of the bunch by far. Very mid-forward, rather slow not terribly resolving. Very laid-back It was a little muddy and overall just not great. It just kinda a little sad and lifeless.

Schiit Modi
This pre-amp has more bark than bite. it's kinda the opposite of the Music Hall. It's more resolving and quite a bit faster, but unfortunately, it's too fast. It has a lot of attack, but not a lot of sustain and comes off rather thin. It has good punch on the highs and the lows, but the mids are relaxed.

TCC TC-750
This was the biggest surprise. It's a $50 amp from China beloved by reviewers on Amazon. Overall it resolves pretty well with good clarity. Attack and sustain is pretty good, but it's not great. I think wiring it up to a better power supply could make a much bigger difference here and make it sound better than the Rega. Great frequency response throughout, better than the rest.

Rega Fono MM
As the most expensive preamp in the bunch by far (~$400), one would hope that it would sound better and it does. It has better attack and sustain than the TC-750, and is a bit clearer sounding. It's resolving and has good clarity. I found on the AT440MLA it was a little too bright, but on the Ortofon Black it sounded better. I believe the TC-750 is a bit bright. The bass extension was great and the mids were detailed.
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OJneg

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2015, 09:57:51 PM »

Agree on most counts, although I don't have the Rega Fono. Here's my rankings based on what I had on hand.

TC-750 + AMB sigma11: Best of the bunch. Very clear and believable sound. Natural without treble edge. It does reveal the slight edginess that these AT cartridges can have (both 95e and 440MLa) but that's mostly not its fault. Unconstrained dynamics both micro and macro which is why Anax likes it the most too. This thing sounds crazy good for a $50 box from China; doesn't make any sense. Cannot vouch for use with random SMPS's.

Parasound Zphono: Great bass extension and impact. Similar sound to Mani but better bass balances things out to make more listenable. Good overall sound I could easily live with this. Doesn't have the natural and resolving qualities of the TCC.

Schiit Mani: Close between this and the Zphono. Mani seems to be more on the analytical side. Very fast and energetic, but there's some congestion and lack of ease that keeps you out of the music.

Creek OBH15: A more forward sound with plenty of midrange sweetness. Pretty good with speakers; I noted I liked the staging. Unfortunately kinda veiled and boring. Doesn't come alive.

TTVJ Hybrid Phono Preamp: Obvious treble grain and lack of refinement. Accompanied by a fair bit of tube warmth. I didn't like this phono. sigma11 didn't help.

Music Hall pa1.2: A lesser Creek.

For perspective:

Awesomeballz
TC750
.
.
Zphono
Mani
.
.
.
Creek OBH11
.
TTVJ
.
.
pa1.2
Meh

[copied to 2nd post]
« Last Edit: August 08, 2015, 10:20:42 PM by OJneg »
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Anaxilus

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2015, 10:08:25 PM »

Agreed with everyone above. The Parasound definitely is a smoother and warmer sound than the Mani which has a slightly more solid state sound to it. Great for bassheads that also like added warmth. Hits hard and low. The 750 w/ a good PS is amazing bang/buck and my preferred of all (haven't heard the Rega). Should be a no brainer for the leaderboard. Do note that there are two 750s with very slightly different RIAA measurements that may or may not be audible to some.

With gain pot:



Without gain pot:

« Last Edit: August 08, 2015, 10:31:03 PM by Anaxilus »
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OJneg

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2015, 10:24:51 PM »

very slightly different RIAA measurements that may or may not be audible to some.

He still has my TCC AFAIK

Also updated OP
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drfindley

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #16 on: August 08, 2015, 11:39:18 PM »

He still has my TCC AFAIK
Yeah, I have your TCC with the gain pot.
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Dr. Higgs

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #17 on: August 24, 2015, 10:17:56 PM »

Wow, I picked up a TC-750LC per the recommendations of this thread and I'm really impressed. I'm using a Marantz tt-15 (w/ stock Clearaudio Virtuoso) -> tc-750lc -> Ragnarok -> Stock HD600/650/800 and I immediately notice a much lower noise floor compared to my Hagtech Bugle 2 (with the stock wallwart) and it seems much more engaging & dynamic overall. I'm using the "upgraded" Magellan 1A SMPS, but I've got the sudden urge to get out my soldering iron & build a Sigma 11 now...
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Anaxilus

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #18 on: August 24, 2015, 11:11:09 PM »

Wow, I picked up a TC-750LC per the recommendations of this thread and I'm really impressed. I'm using a Marantz tt-15 (w/ stock Clearaudio Virtuoso) -> tc-750lc -> Ragnarok -> Stock HD600/650/800 and I immediately notice a much lower noise floor compared to my Hagtech Bugle 2 (with the stock wallwart) and it seems much more engaging & dynamic overall. I'm using the "upgraded" Magellan 1A SMPS, but I've got the sudden urge to get out my soldering iron & build a Sigma 11 now...

Gratz, glad you like it. We were surprised as well. Maybe hold off on the solder for a bit. We will be doing a Sigma 11 PS shootout versus some cheap shunt regulated power supplies. We may be surprised even further.
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"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." - Lao Tzu

"The Claw is our master. The Claw chooses who will go or who will stay." - The LGM Community

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dBel84

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Re: Cheap Phono Preamp Shootout
« Reply #19 on: August 25, 2015, 02:06:44 AM »

may have to send you my cheap $10 ebay hack. I upgraded coupling caps, soldered in a socket to chip roll and modified a few of the resistor values to better work with the ortofon MC20

..dB
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