Comparing Phono Pre-Amps

Splitters may not be the ideal connection, but they are good enough to hear differences.

Like/prefer it? keep it? return it? 

friend brought his new tube phono to compare to my tube McIntosh mx110z's phono.

TT to splitter

splitter a. to his new tube phono, then to integrated amp 'AUX'.

splitter b. to my SUT, sut output to mx110z mm phono in/preamp out to integrated amp 'CD'.

switch integrated inputs 'CD' to 'AUX', instant comparison.

NOTE: volume differences might have to be dealt with. In my case, I was able to adjust the mx110z's volume to match the volume of his into AUX. Sometimes it is just a temporary pencil mark.

In my case, 3 arms into/trru SUT with 3 inputs and PASS for MM, we were able to compare MC; MM and MONO MM. I needed to adjust volume for their differences.

Yes, any of those switches, typically old video switches, 1 in, 3 out can be used backwards, 3 in/1 out. 

You still need to solve volume differences.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I like the idea of doing quick comparisons and then taking that information to do more long term listening and narrow down what I really like.

There is a company that makes high quality signal routers - Mapletree Audio. You can have them configure one however you want it or you can go with the standard 3 in & 3 out.

This is the best solution IMO if you want to compare phono preamps. You can have both hooked up and you can switch at will. I personally prefer short term switching because I know from experience that my system can sound better or worse on different days without changing anything (I think the difference lies within myself as opposed to external forces). I will usually pick a single track, play the track all the way through, and then play it again through the other component. I also like to play a short section, maybe 10 seconds, of a track that represents a particular sonic characteristic. Being able to rapidly switch facilitates a good comparison. I will do this over a couple weeks at different times because I know that my hearing acuity is not always the same. I'm distrustful of changing out a piece of gear and listening for a few weeks because researchers have demonstrated that audio memory is very poor after a short period. It's a golden opportunity for expectation bias and confirmation bias to set in.

Long listening sessions are a good method.  However, if A/B switching is desired too, then use two turntables to do quick switch A/B listening.  Many of us have more than one turntable.

Of course the tables will not sound the same, but differences can be noted from the A/B listening, then swap the turntables into the phono preamps and listen to what differences switch or persist.  This would help extract differences attributable to the turntables vs the phono preamps.