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For me the chopice has depended on the proportion of phono to line stage use

Mr_bill2,

I tend towards the inclusion of a phono stage in a preamplifier in certain circumstances and not included in others. I think that there are full-function preamps with integral phono stages sufficiently good to run quite good turntable / arm / cartridges: Hovland, CAT SL-1, and my old Audio Research SP10 are examples.

For me, the choice depends on use and quality appropriate to the other components and I am using- or might use- three solutions:

1. Phono Integral: I use an ARC SP10 (1987)which is very phono-oriented having two phono inputs, a very effective bypass mode for phono, and front panel cartridge loading switching. This is perfect for me as 99% of my use of this system is with an Oracle Delphi III / SME V / Audioquest 200 for LP's and a Dual 1019 with a Grado 78 cartridge. Since 1987 I've only had a CD player in that system for perhaps two months, and used a McIntosh MX110 as a tuner from 1990 to 2005 about 50-60 hours per year. The line stage of the SP10 is not in my opinion the finest in the world, but the phono stage is wonderful and for a system 99% dedicated to phono, having a reasonably good turntable ($1400), arm ($2550) and cartridge ($700), it's seem appropriate- the SP10 is almost never running without being for phono use.

2. No Phono: However, in my office system: Cambridge Audio 640C CD/ McIntosh MR67 tuner > Audio Research LS3 > D130, I have it on 18-20 hours per day, listen to CD 85% of the time, the tuner 10%, and streaming 5% and don't intend to use phono- so a phono section is moot. If I ever wanted phono to, I might add an ARC PH3SE, which I think is a very good phono stage and another poster pointed out, only burn the tubes when using a turntable- and that is an attractive idea. This has occurred to me, but the only other turntable I have is a Technics SL-D2 with a Shure V15 cartridge- but a 1971, $300 turntable rig is hardly suitable for the level of the electronics- and a phono stage that still costs used over $1,300.

3: The middle ground: Similarly, I have an Audio Research SP8 that I love dearly- both phono and line are still main system quality in my view, but I would resist burning the Siemens triple mica E83CC's intended for the phono if this were more than 50% line listening. If I put the SP8 into the office as has been my though lately, I would have one input altered for lower gain and change the 2-Siemens phono tubes to very quiet Sovtek LPS's - $12 tubes instead of $100, to act as place holders.

In thinking about separates, the extra cost of a separate chassis, power supply, and interconnects is a consideration. Overall, in my view the choice depends on the proportion of phono to line stage listening and then the exact choice would depend on finding a level appropriate to the other components.

Cheers,

Bambi B



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  • For me the chopice has depended on the proportion of phono to line stage use - Bambi B 05/31/0915:23:49 05/31/09 (0)

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