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Which Tube Phono Pre Amo?

I’m looking to add a tube pre amp to my system. The 2 that I am looking at are Decware ZP3 and Space Tech Labs P - 103. - Mk3. My current cartridge is an Ortofon Bronze 2m on VPI Scout turntable with a Ortofon Blue interconnect to my current phono pre( inexpensive solid state). I have a Jolida Fusion 6802 integrated amp and Klipsch Heresy IV speakers. All other interconnects/speaker wire are Morrow level 4 grades.
I typically listen to mostly blues records and particularly like stuff with stand up bass, hollow body guitars and harmonica, i do also listen to alternate country, rock and roll ect. My current equipment is likely to not change other than to an Ortofon Black 2m cartridge and plan to stay with a MM cartridge indefinitely. I prefer to be engaged with the music and try and not listen to the equipment but do require a certain level of sound reproduction.
Which pre amp would you choose or recommend?
14point1

Showing 1 response by dinoadventures

dinoadventures
2 posts
 
I've had the ZP3 and put many different tubes through it (RCA black plates, sylvania, matsushita, telefunken smooth and ribbed plates and ECC803S). It's pretty great and worked well with the K&K Lundahl LL1931 step up transformer but I got curious and tried the Allnic H1201 and it was MUCH quieter. I don't know what really made the difference, like if it was my equipment layout or what, and I might someday try one again. The ZP3 is super fun to roll tubes through as it uses all common ones (the rectifier is especially fun to swap). The Allnic uses obscure Mullard-built tubes for which there is almost no substitution (though they are very long life and readily available for about $40 each from dealers). I personally think the ZP3 does look cooler since you can always see the tubes though I hate the top mounted jacks (especially with heavier power cables).
If you want just about the quietest possible, and you have a suitable cartridge, the transimpedance/current mode phono stages are about as quiet as it gets. I wouldn't say they're noticeably quieter than my Allnic 1202 though they do sound very different.
Anyway, my point is that the ZP3 sure does compare favorably to much more expensive preamps. 
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