stopped wasting money cables signals and space with a phono pre

[helotoby 84]

Amazing!

After trawling through at least 4 phono pre amps over the past 10 years:

Luxman

Cambridge Audio

Rega

and Vincent ( with sep p supply); 

I decided to do something "silly"  - I plugged my 301 (with Grace F8 Ruby) into the hitherto ignored  gold plated phono input on my Onkyo Integra P304  (pictured).  Time: 10.45 PM 

Voila!  It sounded marvellous - great imaging, detail and separation. Goodbye Phono pre!!   Plus,  I can use the outdated non PC "tone control" to do all sorts of things to my lp's.  

This is from a piece of kit that is almost 40 years old...

 

It has a huge transformer - better than the first four pre amps put together.  Maybe there's something in this little detail. 

 

That's my "aha" thought for the day.  

 

Disclaimer: I can't  afford a an expensive pre amp.  If I could, I would have....

 

[audiofeline 1,742]

It's all about how it sounds.  Funny how (at times) some less expensive and/or vintage equipment can outperform modern expensive gear.

[wen 1,153]

agree with above post, its all about audition, even if it's your own gear, and your ears make the final decision.

[zippi 2,117]

not surprised @helotoby!!!

 

love the phono stage on my Onkyo A8150. It's an integrated amp from mid 80s and not as fancy as your Integra, however after trying several dedicated phonos (of a sub $400 variety) went right back to the Onkyo's phono input as it simply sounded the best.

 

 

 

Edited January 14 by zippi

[helotoby 84]

Touche!

 

Best money not always best sound

[Addicted to music 6,364]

8 minutes ago, helotoby said:

Touche!

 

Best money not always best sound

That’s for sure. 

[Guest Muon N']

Likely a good discrete stage in that Onkyo, one that gels really well with the cart :)

[The Blues 114]

I had a Luxman L58A and the Phono stage was amazing! 

[JohnDSLR 0]

I have several integrated amps, pre and turntables. I can hear the differences of different combinations, I choose the one which is the sweetest to my ear. It is all about your personal feeling, most of the time.

[Mat-with-one-t 1,000]

I borrowed a mate’s l-510 Luxman integrated, and it had a really impressive phono stage!