Good Phono Pre-Amps...$500 to $1500


I am in the market for the best sounding phono pre-amp I can buy in the 500 to 1500 range. Will be using a Linn table/arm with a Dynavector DV-10X5. I listen at low to moderate levels, mainly to Jazz and female vocals...and a little rock and classics.

Thanks
whatjd

Showing 4 responses by 4yanx

I, too, have the K & K and would stack it against any phono stage in the $4K or so range. However, when the poster asked for a phono preamp I thought he meant a pre with a built-in phono stgae. Otherwise I'd have recommended the K&K before this. It can also be built by Kevin Case if you are not a builder yourself. You can look at the site:

http://www.kandkaudio.com/

Or, you can go to the Art Audio site and look at the Vinyl Reference. The K&K is basically the Reference without the faceplate and external power supply It should be since Kevin designed both. At least that is the way I had mine built.

http://www.artaudio.com/

I've heard every stage mention thus far except the Coph Nia and there is really no contest, IMHO. If you need more info, e-mail me.
Oy! Kevin of K&K is Kevin CARTER - NOT Kevin Case. Kevin Case was a friend of mine in college, though.
$1500 plus shipping was what mine tallied, Dan. I had a few modification requests but I do not know how much that effected things. Given the weak US these days, prices could be higher by now.
Sberger, hard for you to believe, I can understand. But, I would submit, impossible to say without having heard both for yourself. IMHO, it is worth about three times more than three times more than the Dynavector. Believe me, I don't have money to burn - that is why I bought the K & K. I admit all things are relative and $1500 to some might be extravagant, but I went through and/or auditioned more than a few phono stages before buying mine.

I will agree that if you are comparing the Dynavector to most stages costing $1500, the Dyna is a "beater". Not when compared to the K&K, though, which is a $4K stage or better "beater". IMHO, YMMV, and all that. :-)