Elliott, it is not how inexpensive this phono stage is but rather how stupid expensive some phono stages have become. I have noticed the same issue with DACs. There are thousands of $25 DACs out there and their performance is surprisingly good. These are good examples of technology drifting down. In the case of DACs it is not at all about the digital circuitry, but rather about the analog section.
cheapo phono preamp, $20. ridiculously good until you find something better.
short story, this $20. Pyle is ridiculously good until you find something better.
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Phono-Turntable-Preamp-Preamplifier/dp/B07R2MR59D/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_img_1?....
long story (many of you have made a difference in all of the following, thanks again)
How have I decided it is ridiculously good? It took a while, nearly a year: many re-arrangements, temporary uses here and there to realize it.
I got a Mitsubishi Vertical TT going for my office (1st time TT up here). Needed phono eq. just to hear it.
Not the main system, but I wanted something decent. I bought a Cambridge Duo (MM/MC)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07932QK4N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Didn’t like it at all, so I bought this cheapo $20. Pyle to simply use until I bought something else.
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Phono-Turntable-Preamp-Preamplifier/dp/B07R2MR59D/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_img_1?...
Compared to Cambridge, I actually liked the Pyle, sent the Cambridge back. Using the (how worn?) Stanton cartridge that the TT came with.
Next: Re-discovered my near virgin AT440ml with OEM Stylus. Wow, it’s performance was definitely revealed thru the Pyle. Near virgin because I didn’t use the AT in main system because I preferred Shure’s brush cartridges (V15VxMR; M97xe). (my hvac system pushes lots of dust, and warps, ... and both those cartridges are winners in their own categories.
OK, now, let’s get a better Phono Stage in the office. Loving the mx110z Tube phono downstairs, let’s get a Tube Preamp with Phono for the office. Use the Pyle in the Garage system when I rework it.
Russian Tube Preamp turned out to be a disaster.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/russian-tube-preamp-no-return-here-i-go-again
Vintage Luxman’s looked awesome, they are shallow enough to fit on the top of a bookcase.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/luxman-lx33-integrated-tube-amp-yeah-nay
OMG, prices, UP UP & AWAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfxqQmWtGNM
Ended up with a New Luxman with both MM and MC for the office, now all tube, sounds terrific, office done!
http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=33
Going to visit my photography friend in Vestal, NY. Hmmm, Audio Classics is in Vestal.
https://www.audioclassics.com/
Yanked the mx110z tube tuner/preamp out of the main system, dropped it off for it’s first look-see since the 1960’s. Among other things it will get all new gold plated in/out rca jacks. yeah!
Well, that left me with a 3 arm TT dead in the dust (MC; MM Stereo; MM Mono). The biggest upgrade to my system ever! Fidelity Research 3 input SUT has MC and MM Pass.
https://reverb.com/item/34379811-fidelity-research-fr-frt-4-toroidal-transformer-in-excellent-condit...
Luxman arrived, put in the office, that left the Pyle loose.
Unbelievable, this dinky Pyle, after the SUT, gives me back all 3 of my Arms until the mx110z gets home.
Just had to tell you, this cheapo Pyle sounds doggone good. Who knew?
I restored a compact Technics SL-J33,
https://www.hifinews.com/content/technics-sl-j33-turntable
It has a good dust cover so I can use it in the Garage/Shop. The Tandberg down there recently died, and the Carver from the office was just set free, so I re-arranged that system yesterday.The little Pyle went back to work. Garage/Shop system Finished!
That’s where I am sorting all the LP’s I inherited, what a treat to have a TT down there!
All that since I joined Audiogon, it's been very beneficial for sure.
Just prior, I sold my McIntosh SS set, MC2250 amp and C28 Preamp, that's when I got the mx110z and my Cayin A88T Tube amp.
btw, I did not like the Phono of that C28 SS Preamp. I was using an AT120, with an even more dinky built-in optional phono eq. IT sounded better than the C28. Like the Pyle, equally surprisingly good. I just gave that TT to my Photo friend in Vestal, with the Shure M97xe.
Being in NJ, close to NYC, truly frightening, staying home during Covid certainly was a part of this. Bad but good ..
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Phono-Turntable-Preamp-Preamplifier/dp/B07R2MR59D/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_img_1?....
long story (many of you have made a difference in all of the following, thanks again)
How have I decided it is ridiculously good? It took a while, nearly a year: many re-arrangements, temporary uses here and there to realize it.
I got a Mitsubishi Vertical TT going for my office (1st time TT up here). Needed phono eq. just to hear it.
Not the main system, but I wanted something decent. I bought a Cambridge Duo (MM/MC)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07932QK4N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Didn’t like it at all, so I bought this cheapo $20. Pyle to simply use until I bought something else.
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Phono-Turntable-Preamp-Preamplifier/dp/B07R2MR59D/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_img_1?...
Compared to Cambridge, I actually liked the Pyle, sent the Cambridge back. Using the (how worn?) Stanton cartridge that the TT came with.
Next: Re-discovered my near virgin AT440ml with OEM Stylus. Wow, it’s performance was definitely revealed thru the Pyle. Near virgin because I didn’t use the AT in main system because I preferred Shure’s brush cartridges (V15VxMR; M97xe). (my hvac system pushes lots of dust, and warps, ... and both those cartridges are winners in their own categories.
OK, now, let’s get a better Phono Stage in the office. Loving the mx110z Tube phono downstairs, let’s get a Tube Preamp with Phono for the office. Use the Pyle in the Garage system when I rework it.
Russian Tube Preamp turned out to be a disaster.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/russian-tube-preamp-no-return-here-i-go-again
Vintage Luxman’s looked awesome, they are shallow enough to fit on the top of a bookcase.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/luxman-lx33-integrated-tube-amp-yeah-nay
OMG, prices, UP UP & AWAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfxqQmWtGNM
Ended up with a New Luxman with both MM and MC for the office, now all tube, sounds terrific, office done!
http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=33
Going to visit my photography friend in Vestal, NY. Hmmm, Audio Classics is in Vestal.
https://www.audioclassics.com/
Yanked the mx110z tube tuner/preamp out of the main system, dropped it off for it’s first look-see since the 1960’s. Among other things it will get all new gold plated in/out rca jacks. yeah!
Well, that left me with a 3 arm TT dead in the dust (MC; MM Stereo; MM Mono). The biggest upgrade to my system ever! Fidelity Research 3 input SUT has MC and MM Pass.
https://reverb.com/item/34379811-fidelity-research-fr-frt-4-toroidal-transformer-in-excellent-condit...
Luxman arrived, put in the office, that left the Pyle loose.
Unbelievable, this dinky Pyle, after the SUT, gives me back all 3 of my Arms until the mx110z gets home.
Just had to tell you, this cheapo Pyle sounds doggone good. Who knew?
I restored a compact Technics SL-J33,
https://www.hifinews.com/content/technics-sl-j33-turntable
It has a good dust cover so I can use it in the Garage/Shop. The Tandberg down there recently died, and the Carver from the office was just set free, so I re-arranged that system yesterday.The little Pyle went back to work. Garage/Shop system Finished!
That’s where I am sorting all the LP’s I inherited, what a treat to have a TT down there!
All that since I joined Audiogon, it's been very beneficial for sure.
Just prior, I sold my McIntosh SS set, MC2250 amp and C28 Preamp, that's when I got the mx110z and my Cayin A88T Tube amp.
btw, I did not like the Phono of that C28 SS Preamp. I was using an AT120, with an even more dinky built-in optional phono eq. IT sounded better than the C28. Like the Pyle, equally surprisingly good. I just gave that TT to my Photo friend in Vestal, with the Shure M97xe.
Being in NJ, close to NYC, truly frightening, staying home during Covid certainly was a part of this. Bad but good ..
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