Phono Preamp Reviews

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Phono Cartridge Reviews Phono Preamp Reviews Spin Doctor

Spin Doctor #30: The Belleson Radiance & EBI Audio Khumar

Michael Trei
As the Spin Doctor, I tend to lead an analog life. I'm not just talking about my preferred ways of listening to music, but also my approach to other everyday technology. For decades, there has been a push to turn everything we use into a connected, "smart" device. We now have technology that allows us to change the color temperature of the lights in our living room while we sit on the sofa, or to answer our front doorbell from the other side of the world. I prefer an older-school approach.
Analog Corner Phono Preamp Reviews

Analog Corner #216: The Power of Vinyl and the NVO SPA-II phono preamplifier

Michael Fremer First Published: Jul 01, 2013
I was in Seattle last February to take part in one of the popular "Music Matters" events promoted by retailer Definitive Audio. Definitive's Mark Ormiston and Craig Abplanalp and their crew really know how to produce a memorable evening for both their customers and the manufacturers who fly in to demonstrate their gear. I was there to talk about . . . guess what?
Analog Corner Phono Cartridge Reviews Phono Preamp Reviews

Analog Corner #219: DSA Phono II preamplifier, Stein Music and Miyajima phono cartridges

Michael Fremer First Published: Oct 01, 2013
Shortly after the July 2013 issue of Stereophile hit the newsstands, I received an e-mail from audio restoration expert Doug Pomeroy, who specializes in the digital preservation of disc pressing metal parts, acetates, and 78s . . . His and my opinions about digital sound couldn't be more divergent.
Gramophone Dreams Phono Cartridge Reviews Phono Preamp Reviews

Gramophone Dreams #100: the Schiit Stjarna again, the Denon DL-103, the EM/IA 103 SUT

Herb Reichert
My Russian neighbor Alex forges ax heads and smokes pig chests 5' from my bedroom window. At 2:00am, shirtless, in February. One especially cold night, I woke up to the sounds of hammering and loud music. When I looked out, Alex was blacksmithing a glowing red meat cleaver blade, with Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff blaring from a cassette in his boom box.
Analog Corner Phono Preamp Reviews

Analog Corner #221: Trinity Electronic Design & Thrax Phono Preamplifiers

Michael Fremer First Published: Dec 01, 2013
The quest for vinyl quiet seems, at best, quixotic. By "vinyl quiet" I don't mean "quiet vinyl," which we now reliably get from pressing plants like QRP, RTI, Pallas, and a few others. I'm referring to makes of phono preamplifiers who set as a primary design goal electronic "quiet," ie, an absence or minimum of electronic noise. A stylus coursing through the groove of even the quietest LP still produces a considerable amount of noise.
Gramophone Dreams Phono Preamp Reviews

Gramophone Dreams #99: Schiit Audio Stjarna phono preamplifier

Herb Reichert
I'd been building and repairing tube amplifiers for a few years when my first Altec A5 Voice of the Theater speakers arrived. I bought them to help me evaluate the sound of low-powered triode amps—but whoa! The moment I turned that VOT system on, I heard from 30' away the sound of either a waterfall or a large AM radio tuned between stations . . . What's the best tube tester? A 107dB/watt speaker!
Analog Corner Phono Accessory Reviews Phono Preamp Reviews

Analog Corner #223: Acoustical Systems SMARTractor & Hagerman Trumpet Reference Phono Preamp

Michael Fremer First Published: Feb 01, 2014
On analogplanet.com you'll find coverage of my visit in November 2013 to the 10th annual Manila Hi-Fi Show, which took place the weekend of the devastating typhoon Haiyan (Filipinos call it Yolanda). Because the people I met there are such big Stereophile fans, I wanted to be sure to give them a shout-out in this column, too.

Despite the weather, which prevented audiophiles living on other islands of the archipelago from flying in for the event, at least 2000 managed to attend. These are passionate, enthusiastic audiophiles—and the high proportion of young people, particularly among the vinyl buyers, was encouraging.

The greeting I received throughout the show was beyond my most vivid egomaniacal daydreams. I was treated so well that I don't know how to express my gratitude, other than to just say "Thanks"—and get back to work.

Analog Corner Phono Preamp Reviews

Analog Corner #229: Three Expensive Phono Preamplifiers, Phasemation, PBN, Qualia

Michael Fremer First Published: Sep 01, 2014
Other than being well built and high priced ($15,000, $22,000, $60,000), these three phono preamps have very little in common, in design or in sound. One has vacuum tubes, including a direct-heated 5U4G rectifier tube (the Phasemation). Two are solid-state (the PBN and Qualia). Two feature separate chassis for the left and right channels (the Qualia and Phasemation). All three have outboard power supplies. Two come from Japan (the Qualia and Phasemation), one is made in the US (PBN). All three are elegantly built, inside and out. Two are physically attractive, one is lab-grade butt ugly. One has a host of convenience features, including various equalization curves and three inputs (Phasemation). One offers no adjustability whatsoever (Qualia). One has two gain settings and multiple loading options (PBN). Two are designed to be used only with moving-coil cartridges, while the third (Phasemation) can also accommodate moving-magnets. One is fully balanced and dual- differential (PBN), two are not.
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