Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Hagerman Technology Bugle Phono Preamp by BillEpstein

Model:	Bugle
Category:	Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price:	$25 Half Kit
Description:	Battery powered phono pre-amp
Manufacturer URL:	Hagerman Technology
Model Picture:	View

Review by BillEpstein ( A ) on May 08, 2004 at 06:47:04
IP Address: 12.75.71.155

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for the Bugle

You like that great big picture? This Bugle is an index card; yup, 3"X 5"!
You buy what Jim Hagerman calls a half kit: the PC board, a manual with schematic, 7 lines of instructions (takes about an hour to carefully assemble)and a list of parts with part numbers for Digikey.
http://www.digikey.com/
The parts, cost about $35 with S&H.
I have been listening to vinyl thru an old Fisher 222 Receiver which has a very noticeable "belongs in a museum" dullness and lack of detail and air. I only have a double handful of records so I am VERY familiar with them. Plugging the Bugle into the AUX input took 25 years off the Fisher. I'm now hearing hall ambience, dynamics, and tone that was hidden. Right now I'm listening to Itzhak Perlman play Novacek's Perpetuum Mobile and each string has it's own tone; the bowing is wonderful to listen to.
I can't say how the Bugle will sound through higher end equipment as it will never travel out of my office to the main system. But anyone limited to spending $60 is probably not going to install the Bugle in thousands of dollars worth of system? It's just perfect to wake up an old receiver or integrated.

Product Weakness: Sourcing the parts from Digikey, home of the back order
Product Strengths: Clarity, dynamics, ease of assembly

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Fisher 222 receiver ca. 1979
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Marantz 6100/ Shure M92E
Speakers:	Fostex FE103E from factory plans
Cables/Interconnects:	1986 Straightwire, Marantz patch cords, Cat5E speak wires
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical and Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	10 x 12 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 Week
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Sourcing the parts from Digikey, home of the back order
Product Strengths:	Clarity, dynamics, ease of assembly