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I have a Rega P3 with a Denon DL160. I am currently using the phono stage in my Denon 3808 AVR. I need to crank it a bit to get a decent level of volume but the sound is very good so far.
Just wondering what others opinions are on getting a separate preamp such as the Parasound Zphono, NAD PP-2, or Cambridge 640P. Will I notice an improvement? Any thoughts on the 3 I mentioned?
Thanks!
Follow Ups:
I also think the Cambridge 640P would be an excellent choice for the money and it can be upgraded by replacing those stock capacitors, diodes, op-amps......etc. when you feel the need.
Best regards!
I believe the Denon you are using has a quoted output of around 1.6 mV but some say that real output is closer to 2.2 mV. In any event it is a high ouput MC with an output that places it in somewhat of no-man's land with respect to gain on most conventional phono stages. This may explain why you are having to crank things with your Denon receiver. It is probably also compromising your sound quality.
If you are looking at a phono stage I'd try and be sure to get something that will give you around 44 db of gain to fit with the 2.2 mV output of your cartridge. It's quite possible that the Cambridge (or others you look at) will be light on gain in MM mode and too heavy on it in MC, putting you in the same boat that you're currently in. While it may be a better stage than that in your Denon receiver, if you're not matching up well with the cartridge you will be getting much less than 100% out of it.
Correct... the 640P is 39 dB / 55 dB.
If it's gain you're after, look no further than the Jolida JD-9A.
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
I built one. Just seemed like the right thing to do. Went with the CornetII. Soldering to a PCB was crazy EZ in comparison to P2P. Great results for very little money.
Building the C2 is really a breeze . No hum, smoke or hizz and you get a good sounding phono amp at a very reasonable budget. You can still further upgrade the parts ( coupling caps, PSU caps, signal resistors ) if your budget permits.
My cornet2 with Mundorf Silver in oil coupling caps, Kiwame resistors and Obigato bypass caps trashed my friend's Lehman Black Cube and Graham SleeGram Amp 2SE phono .
Would have to add the Bottlehead Seduction in the mix, too :)
Hell of a deal for a tubed phono stage...
Seconded. I can't compare to anything else mentioned, but it absolutely smokes the stage in my receiver. Fun project and it sounds amazing. Never realized how much I was missing until I plugged it in.
---
I'm in love with Massachusetts.
I had the NAD and returned it for the Cambridge 540p. I now have a Cambridge 640p which is better than the 540p by far. In between I had a Hagerman Bugle Pro which I then destroyed trying to upgrade it, but that is highly recommended if DIYing.
No experience with the Parasound but commentary on it is negative in some quarters. See review below ...
I don`t care much about music.![]()
What I like is sounds. ~ Dizzy Gillespie
I hope that is not your goal or result with all of your DIY projects. ;o)
it wasn't my goal with that one either.
I had the thing going ok for over a good year. I was very happy with the thing ... except I got the 'idea' that it could be better.
Breaking that helped to improve my soldering skills. Now I know what not to do, and how to go at pads and traces a bit better. maybe that is not such a good thing? ;-)
I don`t care much about music.![]()
What I like is sounds. ~ Dizzy Gillespie
How's the Cambridge 640 versus the Bugle?
I like the 640p better but it is conditional. the bugle was my first DIY build at it may not be the best build ever seen of that preamp. There was a bit of noise I could not get rid of fully so the Cambridge is quieter.
The 640p is more versatile /w inputs for MC 55dB @ 100ohms.
You might be able to build the Bugle to surpass the Cambridge ...
The board on the Bugle was damaged in my attempt to upgrade caps. Traces & pads were damaged ... a sign of my ineptitude and the build-it-once nature of that board. So if you build it killer to start, move the power supply 6 inces away from the preamp board, use upgraded parts, etc, ...
If going to a better preamp and can settle with what you have for the moment then consider going to the Cornet2. Take your time to put it together ... you may be leagues ahead that way.
But for an easy day at the beach: 640p.
I don`t care much about music.![]()
What I like is sounds. ~ Dizzy Gillespie
Are you still using the 103/Cinemags? With the Cambridge?
I tried the MC @100ohms and thought it was thinner. I gave it no time to 'break in', maybe it will fill in. I am adding .022uF bypass caps to both sections and will give the MC section another go. Adding bypass caps under the board seems a very non-intrusive approach to upgrading - I do not want to repeat my search and destroy I did on the Bugle.
Anyway, the CineMag/103 is very present sounding through the 640p.
I also use the Ortofon 2M Red, Pickering TLS-2S, and Denon DL-160.
I don`t care much about music.![]()
What I like is sounds. ~ Dizzy Gillespie
HenryCogito Ergo Spud
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