Depends on your gear. I had a SS phono stage in a Carver Ultimate receiver that sold for $5k that sounded pretty good! My PS Audio phono pre was a bit better but not that much better. To spend $2k for a separate phono pre I’d say only if your budget will allow it.
Is a separate phono pre really necessary?
I have an upgraded Rega P3 that is now essentially a P6 (groove tracer subplatter and counter weight, Rega Neo ps) that has a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC star mounted on it. It is then connected to a Park Audio Budgie Ten SUT and then to a Rogue Audio RP-5 preamp.
This question is about the phono stage in the RP-5. Would upgrading to a separate phone preamp of around $1,000 to $2,000 be a worthwhile upgrade from the internal phone preamp in the RP-5? And if so which phone pre do you guys recommend (notwithstanding all the caveats about subjectivity). I'm thinking of the soundsmith mcp-2, PS audio stellar phono, parasound jc3 jr., maybe a Manley Chinook if I can find a good deal.
The wrinkle is the loading requirements for the zephyr mimic star: >= 470 ohms. This makes a lot of phone preamps really not suitable for this cartridge (hence premaps with adjustable loading via a pot) because of the static loading options are mostly well below 470 ohms on most phono preamps
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any phono eq that takes low output mc, you are running thru it's internal SUT anyway. my SUT has 3 tonearm inputs, PASS for MM, and 4 optional transformer windings: 4 optional x factors and the 'resultant' impedance (determined by x factor squared) that will be 'shown' to a MM phono input. Fidelity Research FR-4 https://www.vinylengine.com/library/fidelity-research/frt-4.shtml I go to my beloved Tube Phono MM input. in my mx110z.
You might consider a tube preamp for everything, including at least MM Phono. then use an external SUT, or a Tube Phono EQ for both MC and MM with many configurations to Line Level in your amp. ANYTHING involving Phono, have return option, it's tricky what works for you. |
@samuel I would also consider upgrading to the P8 and keep your current cartridge - the improved table and tone arm will be significant. Then you can upgrade the cartridge and phono stage in the future. |
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