Helping a kid out


So long story short I got neighbor kid into audio and to appreciate listening to music on something other than a cheap Bluetooth speaker.  He’s pretty young but a good kid, a hard working honest kid.  So far he’s accumulated his old mans Dual turntable that I helped him clean up and installed an Ortofon 2M Blue on it, a nice but older Marantz integrated and a pair of Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers.  I hooked him up with a pair of Kimber 8TC speaker cables I had retired a while ago (lol, probably making them the most expensive part of his system).  He’s looking to upgrade and I suggested trying out a dedicated phono stage.  I’m assuming his budget is in the $200 range and I told his old man I wouldn’t let him buy something stupid.  I had no idea the sheer volume of phono stages in this price range on the market.  What would you guys and gals suggest?  My knee jerk reaction is Schitt Mani and I read a few good things about a Bellari unit but holy cow the choices are infinite.  Maybe something a little higher end but used?  Extra points if it can be purchased from Amazon but that’s by no means a deal breaker.
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Showing 10 responses by tomic601

on my radar when i got into half track high speed tape a decade or so ago, built a modified kit to bypass the  SS signal path electronics in my Revox.

They rock to this way.

Let me know how i might be of service.

Jim
For those of you considering a dip of toe into the DIY kit end of the pool, do consider the Amp camp kit as mentioned above. You can also catch a few genius as work by looking up Burning Amp w Nelso Pass and Roger Modjeski presenting…


Right on ! Keep the kid away from the Reel to Reel stuff at Bottlehead, unless his not GF / GF gets free tape….
Cool, looks like you and the kid are well on your way ;-)

bottlehead forum has community of builders / users…tips, etc..

Let me know
quick search…most probably available on Amazon

  1. Cambridge Audio CP1 Phono Preamplifier- Black
  2. Emotiva Audio XPS-1 Phono Preamp
  3. Pro-Ject Audio – Phono Box DC – MM/MC Phono preamp with line output
  4. YAQIN MS23B upgraded version of MS22B 12AX7B X2 Stereo Tube Phono Stage
  5. Music Hall PA1.2 MM/MC Phono Pre Amp
  6. Pro-Ject Phono Box USB V Phonograph Preamplifier, Black

Roger that !

Contractor who installed our AC says his 16 Y/O daughter has 100 LP collection, earned them all. ! 

The Bellari is a hoot.

Get Tammy ( admin ) ok and i will send along some LP that i have duplicates of…. you can meter them out as he completes indentured servitude…… 
The AVA ( Audio by Van Alstine ) phono is excellent affordable SS. Who knows, maybe call Frank, he was a kid…wayyyyyyy back.

The Schitt is remarkable value
upend the kids life and build the Bottlehead tube phono kit. I will pitch in $50 IF you go that route….

Good on ya, don’t let anybody rain on the parade