Phono stage advice please

[EthicalEar]

Looking to upgrade my phono pre-amp. My budget is 1.5K. Turntable Marantz tt 15s1 with Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge, MM type. That goes to current Phono amp Bellari PA550. Which is what I want to replace to add depth, space and any hopeful sound improvement. Phono amp goes to Sony ZA5000ES AVR which then goes to Anthem PVA4 which powers my Paradigm P95F's. I am looking at the Sutherland Insight phono amp for 1400. Can you tell me if that is ok or if there is anything else I should look at? Or advice against an upgrade? I do not want a DAC for this system, just the phono amp. Thanks!

 

[lovinthehd]

I can't imagine a phono stage being worth more than $100.

 

[EthicalEar]

Ok perhaps I used the wrong word. Phono Pre-amp? I see that Schiit has the Mani for 129.00 but no other Phono pre-amps by them. I see. That's what I am trying to learn. I see stuff by Vincent Audio with Tubes but it looks to be for CD players or DACs for digital music. So seriously nothing to improve the vinyl before it passes through my AVR?

 

[lovinthehd]

Ok perhaps I used the wrong word. Phono Pre-amp? I see that Schiit has the Mani for 129.00 but no other Phono pre-amps by them. I see. That's what I am trying to learn. I see stuff by Vincent Audio with Tubes but it looks to be for CD players or DACs for digital music. So seriously nothing to improve the vinyl before it passes through my AVR?

Phono stage means the combination of the necessary pre-amp due low level and application of RIAA equalization needed for phono cartridges. Phono pre-amp and phono stage are basically the same thing. I've used a variety of old 2ch gear where an included good phono stage was normal, as well as some newer avrs with phono stages, as well as an external unit (an ART Phono Plus setup) and personally don't find any reason to spend more for vinyl. The limitations still remain those basic to vinyl, tho.

 

[Swerd]

A phono pre-amp for $1500 is well beyond my pay grade too. I have an Audio-Technica PEQ3 that I paid about $60 for a number of years ago. I can't imagine what phono pre-amp would be worth 10 or 20 times that price.

So I can't really recommend anything in the sense that I own it or would use it. But I do know that every audio electronic component that Frank Van Alstine makes is excellent. He makes and sells audio pre-amps and amplifiers, as well as some other audio electronic components. He sells one phono pre-amp, the Vision Q for $500. In my opinion, that's a very high price, but it's well within your price range. Scroll down that page to see links for published reviews.

Vision Q+ Phono Preamplifier

The AVA Vision Q+ Phono Preamplifier is a direct-coupled, high-performance, solid state phono preamplifier with split passive EQ and buffered output circuits to handle long cables, complex tape loops, and other difficult loads. The Vision Q+ Phono Preamplifier supports both moving magnet and...

avahifi.com

 

[lovinthehd]

Might also check out measurements made of various units at various price points at audiosciencereview.com

 

[EthicalEar]

Thank you all for your info. I really don't like throwing my money away without benefit. You guys are great!

 

[sterling shoote]

OP, the Schitt Mani supports virtually all Moving Magnet Carts ever produced. It differs from expensive phono preamps not having variable gain. but that's a meaningless feature, since the Mani's output at the various fixed gain settings available will work without under or overload to line level input to your AVR. I use a Mani to amplify my Shure V15V-MR, outputting to Sony TA-E9000ES line input and I typically get an 85db SPL with volume of TA-E9000ES at around -30db where silent groove is quiet as a mouse. BTW, the Mani does not have a sound signature. In other words it delivers the cartridges interpretation of what's in the record groove. In my case that means my LPs have an indistinguishable tone from CDs of same music selection. Go for the Mani and put your savings in a better MM cart.

 

[afterlife2]

DJ Pre II. I just got one and it's great. Look on Amazon or ebay.