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REVIEW: DYNAVECTOR P-75 Phono Preamp

68.111.169.102


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Model: P-75
Category: Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price: $599
Description: Dynavector P-75 Phono Pre-amplifier and Phono Enhancer
Manufacturer URL: DYNAVECTOR
Model Picture: View

Review by Daverz on June 03, 2007 at 08:50:27
IP Address: 68.111.169.102
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for the P-75


The main claim to fame of this little box is the "Low output MC Phono
Enhancer, ... a circuit designed by Dr Tominari to dramatically improve
the performance of low output moving coil cartridges." More on how this
sounds below.

The P-75 is a small box with no on/off switch; you just plug/unplug it from
the external wall wart power supply. Configuration is done internally with
jumpers. It takes just a few minutes to undo the hex screws to get the cover
off and change the configuration. However, you will have to have the
instructions handy as there's nothing on the chassis or circuit board that
would tell you what the different jumper settings do. Those with fat stubby
fingers may find tweezers helpful for moving the jumpers.

I do like the fact that, according to Dynavector, the power supply is designed in such that it does not affect the sound in any way. They won't try to upsell you to a separate
power supply that doubles the price.

The available settings are:

* MM: gain 40 dB; 47k Ohm loading
* MC: gain 60 or 63 dB; 30, 100 or 470 Ohm loading
* Phono enhancer mode, with low/medium/high settings for internal coil
resistance.

My cart is a Benz Micro L2, which has a 0.3mV output. Benz Micro specifies
a loading of greater than 100 Ohms. I started out with loading set at 100
Ohms and gain at 63 dB (the factory default, I think). I ended up with a
comfortable volume setting at about 11 o'clock on my Bryston B-60 integrated
amp.

In this mode, the P-75 was very quiet and clear. However, instrumental
textures were somewhat homogenized. Nothing sounded ugly, but nothing
sounded very interesting, either. The soundstage was disappointingly narrow
and shallow, and the presentation was somewhat cool and slightly distant,
with a noticeably dull top end. However bass slam was excellent, tight and
clean, even thrilling. To use an audiophile woowoo acronym, it had great
"PRaT", and even with all the above handicaps, music could still be very
involving.

With 470 Ohm loading, the sound was more brightly lit, with a little more air,
but also seemed a little brittle, and would probably be fatiguing in the
long run.

I then set the jumpers for the phono enhancer mode. For this mode the only
other adjustment is for the internal coil resistance of the cart. I used the
medium coil resistance setting (10-20 Ohms) for the 13 Ohm internal
resistance Benz Micro L2.

The effect was dramatic. Now the soundstage was wide and deep, the
presentation airy, and highs more extended. Strings, which didn't have much
texture before, now had a nice rosiny sound. The midrange popped into
focus, with lovely flutes, clarinets, violas. The presentation was still a
little distant and "back of the hall", but not excessively so. In this mode
this little box put out an impressively big sound. It also did a good,
though not exceptional, job de-emphasizing surface noise.

The physical box itself does quietly hum a bit in this mode, but should not
be audible more than a few feet away. I did not notice any effect of this
physical humming on the sound coming through the amp.

Summary: If you demo this phono pre, try the phono enhancer mode first. At
least for my cart, the factory settings were not competitive.


Product Weakness: Factory settings are suboptimal. Phono enhancer mode is only for MC carts. No on/off switch, mono switch, or other amenities.
Product Strengths: Good circuit design. Fairly flexible configuration for low output moving coil carts.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Bryston B-60
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Michel Gryo SE turntable, RB300 arm, Benz Micro L2 cart
Speakers: AKG 501 headphones
Cables/Interconnects: RCA
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, Pop
Type of Audition/Review: Dealer Demo




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Topic - REVIEW: DYNAVECTOR P-75 Phono Preamp - Daverz 08:50:27 06/3/07 ( 6)