Four Phono Pre-Amps Tested! These will make your VINYL RECORDS SING! Tubes VS Solid State!

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Today I review four phono preamps and talk about their features, their cost, their sound character, their ease of use and which one is my favorite! I also discuss my fave budget preamp that kicks some serous bootie! Brands like Black Ice, Pass Labs and Schiit Audio are discussed.
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[@jasons7070]

I have the Mani version 1 with a project table with minor upgrades like acrylic plinth. It's awesome and it really is about all anyone really needs until you want to go real big.

[@1999zrx1100]

I’ve been running the XP-15 for a few years now, it makes even a low budget AT cartridge sound like it’s worth thousands. I have a couple tables and a few cartridges that the Pass has been hooked up to and every time it takes them several levels above. Truly a keeper in my bag of tricks. 😎

[@stimpy1226]

Prior to installing the XP-15 into my system I was using an Audible Illusions Modulus 3B with a John Curl dedicated MC board and it had more air and lifelike realism than the Pass.

[@mymixture965]

I had the Mani and loved it, now I made a major upgrade to the Goldnote PH-10 and this is something else, in quality sound and price. But the Mani still runs my wives system and I can absolutely recommend it.

[@dougg1075]

When I was in high school, Rockford Fosgate amps ( car) were all the rage.

[@HiFiHuff]

I remember as well.

[@davidstevens7809]

Did you know we made a home amp and preamp? Only 50 made.

[@tomm5480]

Pretty sure my fosgate amp in my circa 70’s and 80’s cars is responsible for my tinnitus! @@HiFiHuff

[@dougg1075]

I’m diggin the Black Ice one.

[@tomm5480]

Great review! I’m intrigued by the black ice F9 mk 3, not a lot of reviews on it out there. I’d consider it the top of my planned budget, wonder about it versus the gold note PH5 (if you have any impressions). Currently have a grado gold MM, but will consider upgrading to MC at some point. Bulk of my listening is digital through Tidal, but would like to get more into my albums.

[@watchnut]

I am LOVING my PS Audio Stellar Phono stage!

[@andrewbradnan]

Schiit has the Skoll now too. MM/MC and has a remote to change all the settings. Gotta try that for three ninety nine.

[@benzo13]

Record playing rituals are what its all about, my friend. I think that's especially true for our Generation X. It was our best medium at the time. And it still proves to have the depth you don't get out of digital or CD's..Keeping us young!

[@geoffreybritain8878]

Prior to the mid-60s, it was the ONLY affordable medium for us baby boomers.

[@bartbarelds8454]

Have you tried the at vm 95 sh as well? I own both the ML and the SH and really love the warmth of the SH over the ML. The ML has a larger lifetime but i think you will love the Technics with the black ice F159 and a AT VM 95 SH 😇 Enjoy the music 🎶

[@TM-fx2pi]

New 1200gr in the cart!! Hana cartridge to go with my Sutherland 20/20 preamp. I’m done after that !!!

[@HiFiHuff]

Hana makes some great carts! Enjoy.

[@andrefortune8278]

Live at the sands is such a sensational piece phew 😰

[@jackstraw1756]

It’s now the v2 have it w my Fluance and it does the job.

[@James-eg3nf]

My brother-in-law had a system worth probably $40k with a behemoth of a turntable, a $5k Ortofon cartridge, and some top-shelf bespoke European tube preamp. Honestly it sounded great, but not $39k better than my appox. $1k setup. Point is, don’t look at price, rather listen to your ears. I personally love the sound and aesthetic of tube preamps, but they can be noisy and tubes are very temperamental.

[@richarddias5285]

what are your thoughts on your earlier low cost recommendation, the iFi Zen.

[@danielgeiger7739]

Thanks for that review. Interesting and surprising re the PassLab; my power amp is an XA25. They also have the XS, which costs a mere $45K, a bit much IMHO. I run a EAT eglow petite (~$1.5K, upgraded from a Vincent PHO701), also with tubes for a VPI super prime scout with SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC*cart. I prefer front knobs for loading adjustments as opposed to dip switches. Looking around for better TT with dual arms, and possibly better phono stage.

[@maconpatton]

John Curls Parasound JC3+ found it’s way into my system with my Dr Feikert Venti Kuzma Stogi S 12” arm played thru my Pass gear and I do love it. Schiit is releasing a new more flexible MC pre amp. I only miss a rumble filter for use with subs

[@ScottsLifeOffGrid]

would love to know how the blackice compares to the ifi zen

[@DaEDman4life]

I have the Schitt Mani 2 with Fluance rt-82 and an older silver Pioneer pl 600 turntable.

[@Pkilla80]

That's my player I'm trying to find the Mani 2 but it's out of stock. You recommended waiting or getting something else ?

[@filmalchemistfish472]

What happened to Luxman PD-151? Wondering how it sounds compare to the turntables showcased here? Many thanks

[@filmalchemistfish472]

Was torn between 1200G & a mint PD-171A (almost same price), took your advise and went for the 171A. Loving it!

[@laika25]

Ifi zen phono beats the Mani, hands down!

[@mostirreverent]

I’ve hadgreat luck with a $600 Simaudio Moon LP-110 v2 phono stage, and a Denon DP-57L turntable with an AudioTechnica VM540ML cartridge. Very low noise. Better w MM than MC

[@MrNicks-gn8jc]

Currently using the on-board phono stage in my McIntosh C712 preamp. With Blue Jeans LC-1 interconnect and parallel loading 110k ohms (final impedence around 34k Ohms), my Ortofon OM-30 sounds VERY CLOSE to a Shure V15 V with a Jico SAS stylus

[@craigosterberg5045]

Thanks

[@foryoutube5990]

What phono pre amp would you recommend for a Project carbon evo debut vinyl?

[@jeffreymatthes6921]

Interested in this table options as well.

[@joemartin6439]

I love Jazz and classic , Pablo Rcords

[@afishkind12]

I love collecting Pablo Records .. affordable with amazing performances and decent recordings.

[@ducmoto1975]

if you can manage please compare to a pathos in the groove

[@HiFiHuff]

That’s one I’ve been interested in trying for some time now. I’ll see if I can get one.

[@RumblestripDotNet]

I think I paid $400 for my Vista Audio Phono-2. It was significantly better than the Schiit Mani in all things.

[@evanbonnell9611]

Herron VTPH-2A is in this price range. I think you’d love it. It has a cult following and is becoming difficult to find though.

[@jedi-mic]

You should have a look at the classic audio MC pro you won't hear any noise from the cartridges or the amp, at a -81db with a 0.5mV input signal best phono stage you will hear and under $800. highly accurate riaa equalization 0.1 with hand matched parts for accuracy in all stages bargain at the price and we'll go up in the future I'm sure, I don't need to buy another phono stage now!

[@johnvincent4048]

EAT E-GLO Petite phono preamplifier. Deep Purple Smoke on the Water sounds like I'm on the Lake Geneva shoreline!

[@aussierob7177]

I have the Eastern Electric Minimax all tube phono stage preamplifier .

[@Romad1981]

I am using EAR 834P modded by Mitch Singerman. Sounds amazing was wondering what would be an upgrade to the EAR?

[@NateEll]

You’re not the only person that prefers the big organic sound of the XP15 over the XP17. I’ve heard a number of times that the ‘17 is brighter and not as rich vs the ‘15.

[@philipgardiner2003]

Thanks. Do have any exposure to any of the Sutherland Phono Stages? I'm considering the Insight along with the VPI Scout turntable and Lyra Delos cartridge.

[@oneemotiva4975]

Have you ever tested the Gato Audio PPA-1 Phono Preamplifier?

[@gojdartamas34]

Teac PA-4 worth of try, ita lld model but sounds fantastic

[@eugenefudge1883]

Have you ever heard of the trigon vanguard III phono preamplifier I believe it is made in Germany.

[@garyausten5939]

I have a Rega P2 with an AT VM540ML cartridge (an upgrade form original) and hook it directly into the phono input of my Denon X4700H AVR. Even though I increased the output of the analog inputs as much as I could on the AVR, I end up having to crank up the volume in order to get the same level as when i listen to a DVD or the radio. Do I need a separate phone preamp?

[@jorm5382]

Probably...I just got the Rega Fono MK 5 to go with Rega P 3 sounds great.

[@marknachmias423]

Of course it matters. Everything matters!

[@clarice1001nights]

Why not the Darlington MP-7: Discrete High-Voltage J-FET RIAA Phono Preamplifier???????

[@hitechburg]

Mofi FENDER X with Master tracker MM cartridge Parasound JC3+ phono preamp

[@HiFiHuff]

Gorgeous setup!

[@hitechburg]

@@HiFiHuff Thank you

[@pnichols6500]

I've got the same (Ultradeck/Master tracker) basically, but just the MoFi Studio Phono, or use my Parasound Hint 6 with MM/MC phono preamp. The MoFi and Parasound are fairly equivalent, but curious how much improvement if I get the JC3+?

[@hitechburg]

@@pnichols6500 The Parasound JC3+ is on another level world class vinyl playback.

[@pnichols6500]

@@hitechburg Thanks, thinking that's my next addition!

[@0177MrGreen]

Mani can be used only with MM cartridge, not MC - am I correct?

[@navinadv]

The new Mani 2 has a MC option I think.

[@henriksrensen3220]

Best phono preamp is the Gryphon Siren at 70000$ Sound great with the Gryphon Apollo turntable at 175000$

[@polkiju7]

Any thoughts on the Shure M64?

[@baronofgreymatter14]

Manley Chinook rocks!

[@Fluterra]

Nagra makes the best phono stages in the world right now. Disappointed you didn’t show any.

[@pavelkohout351]

I always wanna own Jim Fostgate gear...but as European citizen i have to forget....Black ice audio not offering any kind of warranty...who buy new product without warranty?

[@ceylonmooney]

neither of the jolidas are tube, and neither are tube-based. theyre opamp based with tube buffers. you could say hybrid, but opamp with tube buffers is more accurate. do better.

[@chinmeysway]

Idk I’m pretty over all the audiopervert stuff. Musicians and producers are never like NEVER get this weird about sound / gear rather (and we get pretty into the gear) so, why???

[@pnichols6500]

Because it's a hobby and not a job.

[@stimpy1226]

Not sure why you are comparing the phono preamp's to the cost of the turntable when the cartridge is the much more important component which is connected to the phono preamp.

[@dougdavis8986]

Do you know Ren?

[@Bilgore]

While I agree that the cart is the most important part, the table and more importantly, the tonearm matters.

[@HiFiHuff]

I tried all three tables, all three carts. Preamps make a difference as does everything in the analog “source”. The pre, the cart, the arm, the table and even the wiring. I’ve noticed some very affordable carts give off a better groove for my tastes than the pricey ones. Synergy is the same with analog, have to get all the parts working together just right. With that said, that 1210GR and AT Cart into the f159 is stunning through the Daniel Hertz system.

[@stimpy1226]

@@dougdavis8986 don't need Wren. I am just happy happy joy

[@stimpy1226]

Fosgate is a genius.

[@genehammond7239]

👍👍

[@ivansbacon]

Drop it. I don't do digital. free your soul. connect with the natural waveform.

[@peternilsson1645]

🎯👏👍🙏❤️

[@wric01]

Digital age of r2r dac catches up to analog vinyl. Personally I think it's 95+% there. Unless you got a lp collection, new kids in this hobby have no reason to pay this lp expensive hobby.