How to Improve Any Turntable for $109

[@mikecampbell5856]

I have a couple of Sabaj A10h headphone amps. I use them with two vintage receivers in the tape monitor loops because they have RCA ins/outs and remote volume control. Improves my listening experience dramatically especially when streaming because the volume varies so much. I also use remote power switches. All the comforts of modern with the coolness of vintage!Accessories can make a big difference.

[@stereoniche]

Indeed. And that is the approach I plan to take going forward. If there is some modern tech add on that might bring better sound, ease of use or more functionality, I plan to try it out and review it.

[@robertwear1675]

A phono input not only boosts the input signal It also corrects for the RIAA eq curve added when cutting the record.

[@stereoniche]

Yes it does.

[@TomSherwood-z5l]

It is also supposed to ideally apply the proper loading to MM carts, which was overlooked in generic vintage stereo gear like receivers. Improper capacitance loading can deviate the response curve upper end.

[@arnekarlsen528]

@@TomSherwood-z5l - sorry, you could hardly miss more...

[@oldschoolaudioenthusiast]

FYI - as an alternative - Another great phono preamp for $109 is made right here in the USA! Check out the U-Turn Audio Pluto 2 phono preamp made in Woburn, MA. I've run the original Pluto (1st version) for 9 years now. It still sounds great using high quality components and a simple circuit design. MM however only, no MC. It uses a wall wart (converts to 9V AC) to isolate the switching power supply from the internal PCB thereby reducing any generated noise. Perfect for vintage gear.

[@stereoniche]

Maybe they will send one to me to compare. Thanks for the comment and heads up!

[@oldschoolaudioenthusiast]

@@stereoniche You're welcome. That would be cool! P.S. I dig the channel.

[@madcrabber1113]

I have several Fosi products and so far they are really impressing me for their cost.

[@paulv22]

it's be good to see how it compares to the phono preamp in a typical 70s receiver or integrated amp.

[@peterlundskow4061]

I have a Puffin phone preamp, I realize that many don't like how it converts to digital & back again but, I like it. Interesting about the Fosi. I tried out their monoblocks & thought they were somewhat harsh as well & returned them. I looked up your Sutherland battery powered phono preamp, found a used one for about $1250. Thanks for the video!

[@hitchpaprocki2649]

I like each Stereo Niche. You're a very thorough son of a gun!

[@stereoniche]

LOL, well, I try to be! :-)

[@tester1ca]

I have an older CA Topaz AM 10 integrated amp in black which has a built in phono stage. I had my Fluance TT set up with it for a year or 2 before deciding to try an external preamp. I was going to try the CA Solo for about $400 which only comes in silver, but I wanted something in black. Looking around I found a Fosi Audio Box X2 in black for about $129 [cdn] so I went with that. This X2 unit is lower in the food chain compared to their X5 but it works for me. There was a marked improvement in the sound. I'm happy with the Fosi Audio phono stage and I don't think anyone should spend hundreds for a phono stage.

[@Bootradr]

The one thing I'm confused about is why people that have phono inputs on their receivers feel the need to get an external phono preamp? What do they offer that makes it better than the amplifier in the stereo equipment via the phono jacks? I'm really curious about this but nobody has ever answered the question when I have asked it elsewhere. Thanks for the descriptive video and thanks for any help on this question also! Brian in Fort Worth 🎶

[@TomSherwood-z5l]

Maybe you can get ahold of an inverse RIAA generator to see if the frequency response is about equivalent between the two. See if there is a deviation in the response that could account for what you hear or if it is something else going on.

[@jazzboy]

Try a Sparkos op amp. They made a very nice difference in my Fosi amps, exactly smoothing those pesky edges.

[@bigmacfullerton7870]

If you are looking for a really great phono preamp at a really good price check out the IFI ZEN Air. It’s only $99 and it performs like a much more expensive unit. I was planning on upgrading this thing eventually but there is no need. It sounds great

[@watdanuqta-mf5ms]

Have you tried the Schiit Mani II and the IFI Zen and compared to the Fosi? I have not heard any of them yet. Now I hear no hum and hardly anything from a low output(0.2mv) cartridge from my pre preamps at full volume. In fact I've never ran a wire from chassis to chassis and rereading my owners manuals only the Esoteric E-03 had a single sentence; 'Making a ground connection to the preamplifier may also help to improve sound quality.' Is there another advantage I'm missing?

[@stereoniche]

Not an absolute requirement, if yours is running fine, no reason to fix what isn't broken. At least in my experience, it seems to be moreso related to a specific cartridge, not so much the turntable itself. I cannot explain what is the technical reason for that situation, but having it well grounded is typically the first thing to confirm.

[@captwholey]

I have a Schiit Mani and it performs far better than my Project PhonoBoxl Great value for the money!

[@watdanuqta-mf5ms]

@@stereoniche You know I'm been in to audio since the seventies(High School) and I'm always surprised at learning new things, and not just in audio. Surprisingly as I get older I keep a more open mind about how everything affects sound and enjoy really inexpensive to very expensive products. I don't discount a Koenigsegg Jesko because of its ridiculously over the top performance and price. By the way, I just realized something, since I met a new neighbor at a block party who is an audio enthusiast, he and his buddies have been asking me lots of questions on vintage audio that I don't really know much about; stuff like Schiit products, IFI and other affordable Phono pres, throwing model #s at me like I'm an encyclopedia, stuff I know nothing about. I'm going to suggest you and a couple of others and direct these questions to you. One thing I was wondering; do you have a warehouse or building to store all of your equipment or simply a very large home? Okay, one other thing: people complaining about correct pronunciation of niche? You say potato , I say potawto. Tell them to go scr@w themselves. Eh, you seem like to nice of a guy to say that. But I'm not. Great channel.

[@stereoniche]

@@watdanuqta-mf5ms LOL, well, I don't really fret about the pronunciation stuff all that much really, I just get the Niche comment more often than anything else because I say it in every video! 🙂 On my setup here, I am on several acres and my property once had a commercial cabinet workshop, so I have several thousand square feet of space outside of my home where I setup my "mancave" and am able to store my collection. Send any friends this way, I'll try to answer questions as they come through.

[@bigmacfullerton7870]

I have the IFI Zen Air which was only $99 and sounds pretty damn good at any price. Excellent at that price. I was planning on upgrading if I really got into this turntable thing again but there is no need. This thing is really good

[@BondsLooney]

Would be interested if there might be op-amps that could be switched out to better the edginess. Works with some other components.

[@foxlair3682]

Fosi is decent stuff. If this had a subsonic/rumble filter it would be killer!

[@TomSherwood-z5l]

MY preamp has those little PC mount DIP switches on the back to select gain, resistance, capacitance and rumble. I wish they were up front instead of on the back. And bigger. But it is not a real expensive model.

[@stereoniche]

My Sutherland model doesn't even have the DIP switches, you have to pull off and move tiny little shunts to change the settings.

[@skip1835]

umm, might already be in another comment and but beside the obvious and probably overload problem, and no, I've never tried it myself, but running a phono preamp into the phono preamp of an integrated or receiver would be applying the RIAA curve twice, which, beside the overload thing, may be another reason not to do it

[@stereoniche]

Yes, that would also be true.

[@josecarlosrodriguez3762]

Love the channel but there a little distortion in the audio. Just for you to know. Keep the good work.😊

[@stereoniche]

Yeah, I am trying to improve the video quality so I bought a new camera for 2025, but clearly I need a new mic. Thanks for the feedback! Now, off to research mics. LOL

[@jemsmay2167]

Oh the irony…

[@stereoniche]

@@jemsmay2167 I'll do a review of the new mic just for you. 🤣

[@davidnagy510]

I’d be more it how this little preamplifier compares to a receiver preamplifier

[@stereoniche]

A good question. Probably little difference on MM cartridges really, but given most receivers do not support MC, it would add that capability. But, regardless, if I can some time, I will see about giving it a go and see if I hear any notable differences.

[@brunohebert1351]

I just found your channel. Thank you for an interesting video. I have the model prior to this Fosi, the X3 if I remember well, which uses tubes (small ones) and I like it pretty much. Just one thing, did I miss it or no mention of the type of cartridge you used for the test? if MM then it's fair, if MC, the Fosi might be at a disadvantage given the simplicity of its settings But I totally agree with your statement about the last 2%.... it can get crazy expensive for very minimal improvements

[@stereoniche]

It was an MC cartridge.

[@jbvinyl]

Can you compare it with the schiit mani preamp both around the same price point.

[@stereoniche]

Unfortunately, I do not yet have one.

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

You mean Shee-iiit

[@areloagrande6243]

Just don't say nucular.

[@stereoniche]

NEVER! 😁

[@36karpatoruski]

Strategery.

[@michaelburke5750]

Nukyoolar drives me up the wall.

[@baronofgreymatter14]

Will this work with my Technics SL-1410mk2?

[@stereoniche]

Absolutely.

[@Robert-r4s4c]

A phono preamp will not improve the turntable source component signal (Cartridge) It only passes on that signal with greater or lesser accuracy, You have to improve the signal from the cartridge first, before it starts its journey to be amplified.

[@nolankrueger9479]

100 PERCENT AGREE, THE BETTER THE SOURCE THE BETTER THE SOUND.

[@RM-lv9ng]

How to make a 2 minute video into 18 minutes. 😂

[@robertwear1675]

I don't care about how you say "niche" What bothers me more is how you pronounce "Tekneeks".

[@stereoniche]

LOL, well, luckily I don't have much Technics gear to cover.

[@robertwear1675]

@@stereonicheLOL. I have a couple. An SP10MK3, SL 1200MK2 and a 1520 RTR.

[@rogerboretskyjr5651]

I watched an interview with a Technics salesman and he said both pronunciations are correct. It depends on what part of the world you're in.

[@robertwear1675]

@@rogerboretskyjr5651 I'm sure they don't care as long as people are buying it. But there is an add in an old magazine where Technics says the proper pronunciation is "Tekneeks" It's a play on the word "technique" I thought everyone should have picked up on that.

[@stereoniche]

@@robertwear1675 Yeap, I was aware of the play on technique spelling. Sometimes those reaching out even spell it that way (maybe spellcheck?). But it is used either way in the vernacular so I it is just a matter of what we are used to saying. Now, Akai? Aiwa? Hmmm. Maybe I should do a video on how to pronounce brand names. We have relatives in Austria, when Lidle grocery stores arrived here, oh boy the pronunciations we heard on that one. LOL

[@ConorHanley]

Improve any turntable by buying a CD Player is my take.

[@robertwear1675]

CDs are so 20th century.

[@stereoniche]

LOL, well, for those that have ancient records, this may help. 😀

[@TomSherwood-z5l]

Smart guys have the ability to use various types of music media, both vintage and modern.

[@1Hiprascal]

I did but cannot figure out how to play my records on it. CDs work but sound like crap

[@searing7549]

If you think CD sounds better than vinyl, then you are doing something wrong.