2. amps-preamps
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What are best phono preamps under $500 ?

I am looking for a phono stage MM preamp <$500 that does not give any hum, hiss, noise , etc .... and has "decent" sound to use with my Legend LM-9 mono tube amps. Can anyone recommend one (SS or tube) that meet the above's ? What do you think about the YS-Audio Tube Phono preamp that 's been sold on Ebay and Audiogon? A brand new only costs less than $500 !
dongnhac

Showing 2 responses by sean

sean
6,231 posts
 
If the Klyne is still available, it will SMOKE anything else out there anywhere near its' price range ( sonically ). That is, so long as it has enough gain for your specific situation. If i didn't already have seven different preamps with excellent phono stages, i would buy it in a heartbeat.

After spending a little bit of time with a Lehmann ( non SE version ), i came away not really liking it. The "funny" ( not to owners of the Lehmann ) thing is that Music Direct used to sell these. In their brand new catalogue, they state that they no longer sell or recommend these units, poke fun at them and say that you should call them up to buy a "real" phono stage !!! Sheesh, talk about spitting in your customers face AFTER selling them the product that your making fun of !!! Sean
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sean
6,231 posts
 
Paul: I pretty much have to agree with you on this one. While most of the sales people at MD are nice folks and try hard, they are just that: SALES people. Some of them have very valid opinions on some of the products that they carry but i really do have to question the levels of experience that they have with various components. As most of you know, up until recently they were basically a good source for good to decent quality recordings, various tweaks, power cords, headphones and some phono goodies. Their venture into selling quantities of actual components is something new and obviously, they'll need a little time and experience to do the type of job that most of us are looking for. In the meantime, enjoy their nice new catalogue and take their advice with a grain of salt. That is, unless you want to be one of those that gets ridiculed in the future for the products that you've bought from them in the past. Sean
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PS... Figure this part out. They are taking trade-in's on a product that they completely blasted in their most recent catalogue. Who in their right mind is going to buy such a product from them when they do have used models to sell ??? You would either have to be pretty daring or be quite familiar with the product to do so...
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