Phono Preamp Suggestions?

Hi Dmccombs,

While your Denon HT preamp may be pretty good, it is most likely the weakest link in your system. It was designed with home theater and convenience in mind, first, and 2-channel audio as a secondary priority. Whereas, the rest of your system was specifically designed for 2-channel reproduction. You have really great components, just that the Denon is not in their league.

You can find yourself a much better used preamp for ~$1.3k range and still have money left over for a better phono pre, if necessary.

There's a VTL 2.5 line stage with MM/MC phono stage($1.2K) made in 2002. It is the current version of the preamp.

- 6 line inputs, 2 pairs of outputs, 1 record out, 1 tape loop, 1 external processor loop, currently set to MM

Supposedly, this later version of VTL 2.5 can be switched to MC cartridge loading(and gain) by simply switching an internal jumper.

Some other good used choices (and keep your phono), would be:

Balanced Audio (BAT)
Audio Research
Bel Canto
EAR linestage

Anyway, try a nice tube preamp and see what it does for your system, overall. Might be just what you are looking for, and more.

What Darkmoebius said. I have owned BAT, EAR, and Classe. I would add to his list Hagtech and K&K Audio. Even if you are not into DIY. You can have the preamp built for you, or build it yourself if you are able.

Even so, since you are searching for your right components you may also consider watching the used preamp listing here. Most often you can pick up a good used item, use it for several months and resell it for little to no loss. It is a pretty good way to sample what's out there.

Either way I would vote for starting with the preamp.

The benz lukasheck PP1 T-9 for sale here at A-gon is a great MC pre-amp.

Art Audio Vinyl 1. Best value. However you will want to upgrade your speakers after that.

Just want to share my late experience.

I quite agreed with Sonofjim.

Moreover, you can connect the GCPH directly to your Classe Power amp. No need to connect the phono to your curren Pre amp. Just switch the RCAs between the Pre amp and the phono. I prefer my GCPH connecting to my Power amps, ASL hurricane, to connecting it to my Preamp Hovland HP100.

Although GCPH gives me a lot of flexibilities (I have got the latest one that came with a remote control), I found it sounds a bit coarse, thin, and flat sometimes. I recently plugged in the K&K SUT between my TT and GCPH, and it changes the sonic dramatically. The female vocals (Carol Kidd, Jacintha, Susan Wong and etc) are so sweet,lively amd focus. Instruments are also very musical when play Jazz LP.

I am planning to explore my GCPH more with more expensive SUT like Bent or EAR MC-3, etc....

Good luck.

Vichai

PS. I am using Benz Wood L2, and Zu 103DL, on Nottingham 294.