Recommendations for MM Phono ~ Tube or Solid State

"Modernize" the 3160?  The original is barely 10-15 years old. Not much has happened in audio electronics in those years.  In fact, the bipolar transistor that Raul et al use in the MC gain stage is out of production and was not replaced by anything as good or better for the purpose, probably because transistor evolution is not motivated by the design and build of phono stages. To tube-ify it would be an absurd notion. Let me know if you find one for sale in the UK for 1200 GBP.

@worksbau 

Thank you again for sharing your impressions of MSL and Fono Lab SUT. I do believe adding customized SUT’s would optimize performance of both carts. Your post has been most helpful and inspiring. I am few months away from everything coming together singing in perfect harmony. 

@lalitk Jan felt that the Miyajima design would not benefit his SUT. The ETR-Mono would probably be your best bet for the Zero.

 

 

@pindac Stated " I would be better off financially by sticking with the Essential 3160 at an approx’ £1.2K option, even though as a design it will be obsolete and superseded by the other designs available today ".

@lewm stated "The original is barely 10-15 years old" - "the bipolar transistor that Raul et al use in the MC gain stage is out of production"

I have made no secrets on the Audiogon Forum that most of my HiFi System is produced as a Commission Build.

Most of the Designs that have been selected are Bespoke. Certain Electronic Components which have been selected to be used in certain Devices, such as the Tranx’s are ’one off’s produced as Hand Wound Designs.

Amp’s have been as the end design, Voiced to my preferences prior to them being brought home. Amp’s when home over a period of usage have been Tube Rolled with the intention to discover a Voicing that is a personal preference.

Every audio item able to produce sound that I have owned and used as a ’go to’ tool over the past 25+ years will have undergone a process of having it Voiced to suit my personal preferences.

In some cases I have been present as the Voicing was being undertaken. In other cases a very good description was supplied of the expectation of the Work to be undertaken, that was realised by myself as being an option that had an attraction.

In relation to Phonostages, I make it no secret on the ’Gon’, I have made it a secondary hobby to experience many in use, especially in short time periods between each demo’ received.

Such experiences have lead me to forming the view, there are a selection of Designs for Phon’s that share a similar Circuit / Topology are not appealing, the sonic trait from the design has for myself been easily detectable and not wanted.

Such experiences have also lead me to forming the view, there are a selection of designs for Phon’s that to my personal preference have proved to be very attractive. These Designs for a Phon’ are wanted to be continuously experienced and maintained in use. Some are commercial products and some are Self Built designs, that are produced by very competent individuals with EE Skills or Qualified EE’s.

Such experiences leaves one with info that is not so commonly assessed. Where the cost for Phon’s is usually made known or a friendly inquiry will reveal the cost for a particular model. Being privy to such info on costs allows for comparison to be used to assess value for money.

When a BOM (Bill of Materials) for the Phon’s produced as Self Built Designs is discovered to be typically between £500 - £2Kish and these designs depending on cost have been found to sit comfortably in comparisons with Commercial Brand Phon’s costing approx’ £2K - £10K+. It does not take long to work out the Components used in a Commercial Design exclusive of the Phon’s casing, are going to fall somewhere near the £300 - £1K mark.

As I know and share with the EE and Designer of a Commercial Branded Phon’ used for a Demo’, who was commissioned by a Company to produce one of the £10K+ Phon’s, I know the Ball Park on the components BOM being under £1K was the suggestion.

Where I am different to many enthusiast’s of Audio Equipment is that much of what I buy / going to buy, is governed by a BOM + EE Cost and not a retail price.

In relation to Commercial Branded Products there is a need for a substantial depreciation from retail to be able to get it bought for what would be described as close to the BOM for the device.

The Individuals I know who bought into Modwright and VAC are both very adept EE’s, who made the choice for the purchase as their confidence, and knowledge to repair was ’in-house’ and the purchase was a worthwhile Punt. From what I know of the purchase prices, I would strongly suggest these were very close to BOM in their bought value.

There is Speculation in my finding a Essential 3160 surface in the UK, but recently a Modwright has once more surfaced, offered for sale from a different person than the owner that I know. The asking price has started high. In the past five years maybe the Modwright Models have become more desirable as a Brand on the UK ?

What I feel more confident about is that when a Essential 3160 is discovered to be purchased for between £1.2K and $2.5K. At this cost, it will be quite close to the BOM for the product when first produced, this is a method of purchasing more to my liking, I'm sure it has a broader appeal as well.

Any thoughts or opinions shared on any Phon’ as a performer will be taken with a pinch of salt, I know what I like and what I don’t like when it comes to a produced end sound. For myself hearing is everything.

If a trusted EE who has a wealth of experience building Phon’s suggested as a part of the Voicing experience to tune the MM/MC Stage, suggested it was best that the bipolar transistor or any other component is removed, it would go. Such a component is not really worthwhile getting too excited over, the trials be undertaken would be setting the precedent.

Similar happened with my most recent commission built Phon’, the EE was struggling with my want to Voice it differently to their selection for the end sound. I was confident a few component changes would help create a change that would have the potential to move more toward my preferences for the end sound. In the end I got my exchanges and I got my end sound wanted. The EE said the design I had put in place will be a Upgrade option on their choice made for the Base Model.

The Commission Built Phon’ for a period of time was just jaw dropping good, and then the ’what if’ occurs, unavoidable it is. The Later Tube Rolling experiences that were undertaken, discovered Valves that proved to be really capable of bringing the Phon’ out of its shell, it was no longer a Candle under a Bushell.

Phon's are such good devices to develop being overly interested in, there is so much learning about produced sound that can be attained, through learning about the influences the devices can have.

1.2K GBP is about $1.5K these days.