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REVIEW: YS-Audio SOLO Moving Coil Stepup Phono Preamp

210.135.213.124


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Model: SOLO Moving Coil Stepup
Category: Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price: $400
Description: Moving Coil Tube Phono Headamp with seperate power Supply
Manufacturer URL: YS-Audio
Manufacturer URL: YS-Audio

Review by gware ( D ) on May 11, 2003 at 22:56:12
IP Address: 210.135.213.124
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for the SOLO Moving Coil Stepup


I bought this Tube Pre-Preamp off of Ebay after a series of frustrations trying various Headamps/Amps; having purchased an Ikeda 9R I was anxious to try a Headamp/Stepup transformer that would work with it, granted the Ikeda is a special case having a relatively low 0.17mV output and 3 ohm loading, so therein lay the challenge
My main Preamp is Tube and has a 12AY7 (6072A) M/M Phono stage built in, so I needed a device that would simply stepup the signal; and provide enough gain, without the RIAA equalisation already present in the Phono section of the Woodham Preamp
I'd tried a Dynavector DV-6Z passive Headamp, with signal input/output ratio of 1:10, but I had to turn the volume up to the 7 O'clock position, only a notch or two away from where Tube noise would become an issue; other passive transformers I tried which included Denon and Audiocraft, were no better
A CD player would have the same volume as the T/T at the 3 o'clock position by comparison, well below the "tube noise" threshold
I also tried the Ikeda into the "Low Output M/C" Phono stages on both a Solid State Sansui C-2102 Preamp (that boasts 0.003% THD for the Phono stage) and a Marantz PM-94 Itegrated that has LC-OFC windings in the Phono stage, with reasonable results, more about these experiments later!
I then tried the Denon DL-103 which has a higher output at 0.25mV as a known reference point, through the same setups
I unpacked the YS-Audio Pre-Preamp and found it was very well packed, I have nothing but praise for the prompt emails I exchanged with the manufacturer too
I took the Units apart, (not necessary, just looking!) there's a Power supply with a detachable power cable and a Tube housing with input/output RCA sockets and a tonearm cable earthing post, clearly they're handmade and a simple design, old fashioned solder on circuit boards and plenty of it, I don't think there'll be any dry solder joints here(!)
The Power supply has about 3 feet of cable that connects it to the Tube housing, this is clearly to remove the Power transformer away from the Tube in case of hum; however there isn't any; the Units are quite silent in operation
The Handbook is adequate, and while it warns about the Tube housing getting hot, that's not an issue either
Straight out of the box it sounds bright and edgy; but it's early days yet, it takes few hours to settle down
Having had the YS-Audio unit long enough for it to settle down, I've then tried it with the Ikeda 9R, Denon DL-103 and the M/M Phono sections of both Tube, Solid State and Integrated Amps, the YS-Audio Pre-Pre has been an improvement in each case over going direct to the "Low output M/C" stages in of these Amps with both the Ikeda and the Denon, adding a spaciousness without any apparent lack of detail, Bass seemed to be improved as well
Conclusion: This product doesn't pretend to be the "last word" in M/C Pre-pre amplification; however it's exceeded my expectations and I think it represents great value for money; it appears ambivalent to M/C cartridge loading and/or output (read: it works! tho' I can't comment WHY) and adds that nice tube touch that vinyl playback empathises with
If you subscribe to the theory "if it sounds good, it is good" you might just like this product!
Note: there is NO RIAA equalisation, it's made to step-up M/C cartridges into the M/M input of a Preamp; (steps up 17dB according to the manufacturer) it won't work with your Preamp unless it has a M/M Phono input
Disclaimer: I have no association with the manufacturer, and I don't sell this product; please contact the manufacturer directly through the link proved for more information
Suggested upgrades: (1) Upgrade the tube to a WE 396A (2) Upgrade the Power cable
I have yet to do either; and I still like the product
Eric



Product Weakness: Takes a few hours of use to "settle down" The Tube as its supplied is adequate, but swapping in a WE 396A is an improvement, says the manufacturer
I had to loosen/retighten the faceplate screws to center an RCA interconnect; the RCA cable was somewhat oversize and clearance was tight but not impossible; not a biggie
WE 396A will be a shorter tube to the one supplied and will need some simple modification to the tube holder, also not a drama
Product Strengths: Excellent value for money; Tube rolling; you only have to deal with One tube (396A), there were no channel imbalance issues as supplied
The Unit is Plug and Play, choose your voltage when you buy (110/117/230/240)
TONS of gain, a great all-rounder: seems ambivalent to MC Cartridge output or loading; works with the M/M Phono stage of a Tube preamp, or Solid State Preamp/Integrated with a M/M Phono stage


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Marantz 8B/Marantz PM-94/Tube/S/S
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): CR Developments Woodham w/ Phono
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Empire w/Black Widow, modified
Speakers: Infinity 2000 A's (Electrostatic/direct Radiator)
Cables/Interconnects: Ortofon/Acrotec 7N/8N
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock /Jazz/
Room Size (LxWxH): 8 mats! x x
Room Comments/Treatments: None
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Isolated/Regulated Power CSE transformer
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition




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Topic - REVIEW: YS-Audio SOLO Moving Coil Stepup Phono Preamp - gware 22:56:12 05/11/03 ( 2)