Where'd the Stereo thread go?

[Zeke]

Kind of kidding. I searched and found the last one was by retrorckt early this year.

Here's the deal: I got a NAD "integrated" stereo amp for nothing. I tested it and everything seems in order. Has lots of inputs but no phono. So I looked into that. In as much as there is a separate tuner that goes with this, supposedly on some models NAD leaves the phono preamp out so you can choose your own.

I'm not buying it but it is what it is. I can't play vinyl. On retrorckt's thread there was a reference to a Mac 2600 tube pre-amp. That's a little spendy. More than what I would pay for an entire system.

OK, at my age I don't need a great system. What I have is fine, but I'm always fooling around trying something. I see solid state preamps from just a bit more than a buck to 4 to 500. Not trying to kill it so what's going to be a bit better than the fleabay 25 dollar gizmo?

Oh, and speaking of the flea, someone is trying to get money out of stupid people showing them a tube preamp that costs $45. Maybe it's for keeping a Danish pastry warm, IDK.

I mean I'd buy a less expensive tube preamp if I could be certain that my music didn't sound like it was coming from under the kitchen sink.

[stevej37]

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1001998-any-audiophiles-out-there.html

[908/930]

Possibly look for a used NAD PP1, or possibly a PP2. Rega also makes a Mini Fono A20 but costs more.

[greglepore]

There are little tube preamps on amazon like this, and I've used them in relatively high end applications and they sound "great" for what they are, nice soft tube sound and will get you the mm phono you need. https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Turntable-Preamplifier-Desktop-Headphone/dp/B09KZY8Y2S/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic-asin_sspa?c

I LOVE NAD stuff. Have a bunch. Only thing to watch for is they have relays on the outputs that get weird after time.

[ramonesfreak]

For an affordable phono preamp and made in USA check out

Schiit Mani. $149

https://www.schiit.com/products/mani?Finish=576&AC%20Adapter=572&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18566151303&gbraid=0AAAAADsoUwfrTMtjTt8tFCpeEV1HJPfio&gclid=CjwKCAjwx-zHBhBhEiwA7Kjq6_bzFoZEGZ2YQzklXRRs8Td_SfHl86mhL2_a vrkVMmJiSFPIDGH9JxoCb7IQAvD_BwE

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by greglepore

There are little tube preamps on amazon like this, and I've used them in relatively high end applications and they sound "great" for what they are, nice soft tube sound and will get you the mm phono you need. https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Turntable-Preamplifier-Desktop-Headphone/dp/B09KZY8Y2S/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic-asin_sspa?c

I LOVE NAD stuff. Have a bunch. Only thing to watch for is they have relays on the outputs that get weird after time.

Amazon links are now forbidden on Pelican. for 2 weeks now all lead to a Sorry, can/t find page.

So I have no idea but it sounds interesting. No pun.

[berettafan]

Haven't used it but as mentioned the Schiit stuff is worth a gander. Seems to be very well liked by the hifi crowd.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

For an affordable phono preamp and made in USA check out

Schiit Mani. $149

https://www.schiit.com/products/mani?Finish=576&AC%20Adapter=572&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18566151303&gbraid=0AAAAADsoUwfrTMtjTt8tFCpeEV1HJPfio&gclid=CjwKCAjwx-zHBhBhEiwA7Kjq6_bzFoZEGZ2YQzklXRRs8Td_SfHl86mhL2_a vrkVMmJiSFPIDGH9JxoCb7IQAvD_BwE

I second this recommendation. I had mine for about ten years and enjoyed it very much with an old Technics then a SOTA escape turntables.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Amazon links are now forbidden on Pelican. for 2 weeks now all lead to a Sorry, can/t find page.

So I have no idea but it sounds interesting. No pun.

Huh. Search "Douk phono preamp" on Amazon.
The Schitt is also a great choice, just 2x the money.
The Douk has a subtle "tube sound" if you like that.

[Chocaholic]

Sound quality is a psychoacoustic phenomenon. Different for every person with a pair of ears. That’s why there’s so much snake oil in the audio world. For many (me included) it’s a hobby that got its roots in the 70’s when we were young and there were no computers and video games. If your NAD amp setup please you, get a nice, inexpensive phono pre and have fun.

For me it was a slippery slope over decades. I just ordered two preamp tubes to try that cost more than a week’s groceries. I’d like to say it’s “all about the music”, but it’s more than that. If I can sit in my listening room late at night, put on a Ben Webster LP at volume, I can close my eyes and the man’s tenor sax is 10’ in front of me, with snare brushes a bit to the right of him and several feet further back. Acoustic bass so clear you can hear finger plucking as those bottom octaves underpin the performance. I get chills, and can’t get enough. That’s what it’s about for this old man.

And it’s (a little bit) cheaper than hookers and blow.

[Scott Douglas]

Hey Zeke,
Somewhere in all my stuff I've got one of these, or a very similar one but older:
https://pyleusa.com/products/pp777?srsltid=AfmBOorrrpgLE4xZRLlE5gpC0-ZJQYl6LNb73AajV_-CpdwJVxH-ndls

It worked great when hooking up my old Miracord and Sony turntables.

My ears are now of the constant ringing type so I don't listen to music much any more, but when I do it's pretty loud.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Huh. Search "Douk phono preamp" on Amazon.
The Schitt is also a great choice, just 2x the money.
The Douk has a subtle "tube sound" if you like that.

Yeah, your link above is still dead. That has been happening regularly.

I did find the Douk, thanks. I like it.

[greglepore]

Its not the board, I copied and pasted the link and get the same dead thing. Even if I use the full address. Must be an Amazon thing. Weird

[Zeke]

Not to debate this but I can see good reason for a parts retailer to block links to Amazon, a big auto parts seller. Anyway, the links haven't been working so we can just name the parts that are not in competition with PP. We don't link parts that are related w/o repercussions, but that used to manually monitored by mods and admins. Blocking is much easier.

I'm good with it and thanks. I'm going to buy one. I didn't care for the Shiit one because of the external wiring requirements and lack of controls.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Hey Zeke,
Somewhere in all my stuff I've got one of these, or a very similar one but older:
https://pyleusa.com/products/pp777?srsltid=AfmBOorrrpgLE4xZRLlE5gpC0-ZJQYl6LNb73AajV_-CpdwJVxH-ndls

It worked great when hooking up my old Miracord and Sony turntables.

My ears are now of the constant ringing type so I don't listen to music much any more, but when I do it's pretty loud.

Yeah, Scott, I have a Pyle here. Funny, the actual unit is smaller than a deck of cards. I hate how these pics make things look larger on the scree. Things have gotten so deceiving that I'm almost back to buying in physical stores in person.

I don't know what's in the thing but it weighs about 4 oz. I might use it for one of my 1950's Grundig Majestic consoles that had ceramic cartridges in the old tone arms. These are stereo.

I've got this one which is hot rodded:



And this one that I use in the house (representative):



Two others are mono.