2. amps-preamps
  3. 190054-181705

Phono pre amp recommendations? - upgrading from ICON AUDIO PS1 MK II

hey everyone, I am kindly asking for your phono pre amp recommendations, especially if you have experience with my current amp (icon audio PS1 MKII).

for the first time in my audio journey right now my system is so close to perfect (to my ears) and im incredibly happy about that. my current set up is Marantz tt15 turntable with dynavector 20x2 cartridge, primaluna prologue premium integrated and elysian 4 speakers. its very transparent, detailed, smooth, open, and in my opinion pretty neutral. when I swapped out my phono pre amp for one that my friend made(also tube design), it was like everything came to life, I couldn’t believe I was listening to the same system as I was 5 minutes ago. everything had more weight, and was more life like, it was darker and yet more lively, the vocals jumped out in front: so detailed and life like yet smooth and warm and not edgy or sharp or fatiguing like I often hear. it is currently the sound I am chasing (my friend will not sell this amp, or make another one like it, some friend huh?).

can anyone recommend a phono pre in the 3-4k range that can accomplish most or at least some of these qualities? my conclusions are that the icon audio is great, tonnes of headroom, detail, smooth, super quiet, big soundstage, but that it is too neutral for my ears and system and not warm enough, or its too polite, it seems to disappear in the system which may be a great quality for some.

does anyone have experience with this amp and can make a recommendation for an amp that has more warmth richness and weight (and forwardness?) in the midrange without giving up the other qualities I mentioned? I’m not looking for that vintage mushy sweet tube sound, more looking for what I have with just a hint more of that magic lol.

a couple of amps I am looking into are the modwright ph9, lab12 melto 2, and Allnic h-5500 (although a bit out of my budget).

I would appreciate and advice you can give me or any experience you can share with me.

thanks so much

 

 

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mdalton's avatar
mdalton
461 posts
 

couple thoughts, based purely on my own experience:

1) Synthesis Roma 79DC - Synthesis has beautiful stuff, always tilting warm.  I have its predecessor, the Brio, and use it with a Koetsu!

2) Leben RS30-EQ - I have this one in another system, paired with my Leben CS 600X, and it’s beautiful, remarkably quiet for a tube phono stage.  Very high output impedance so preamp matching is important.

Both of these are right around $3k I believe.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,442 posts
 

@j-wall 

Appreciate the great insight on Allnic phono. I guess, there is going to be some trade-off between tube vs ss phono’s. Based on what you said, Allnic phono is appears to be in line with my personal preferences. 

audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 

Tavish design adagio, however there is a waiting list. It’s a reference component in a few stereophile reviewers systems, Herb Reichert and Ken McCullough. I own the classic model, and have no need to upgrade as it sounds great, especially when used in conjunction with my Jensen SUT, which by the way, the adagio employs (Jensen sourced transformers).

For a lot cheaper, you could grab the music hall analougue A3 tubed phono preamp. Go read the stereophile review on that one, reviewer; Herb Reichert. I own one and it sounds fabulous, especially when Connected straight to a power amp of your choice, as it has a built in alps volume control. 

dentdog's avatar
dentdog
498 posts
 

Have had just a few phono preamps, will say the BAT VK p 10 had the most weight. Dynamics were off the chart but mine became noisy and BAT said the age of it-20 years- precluded any worthwhile attempts to correct that.

Now own an Allnic H 7000 and BAT REX 2 preamp and run the system balanced throughout. Gives me everything. And some. The Allnic is quiet, beautiful timbres but until I went balanced the weight and depth of soundatage was not all I had hoped for. That problem has been solved.

vinylshadow
490 posts
 

ASR Basis Exclusive HV battery powered phono preamp.

https://asraudio.de/phono-vorverstaerker.html

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