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PHONO-Hagerman's Cornet or Wright Sound WPP200C

Hi.
I'm looking for advice, recommendations and fellow audiogoners with experience with above mentioned phono preamps.

I'm about to put my hands on LENCO 75 NOS and if everything goes well I will receive it in a week or two.

I'm planing to build my own plinth, replace original arm with MG-1 linear arm, and Denon 103R cartridge. Plinth will be probably made with combination of birch ply. and MDF ( it is going to be a massive and heavy plinth finish with high gloss - Ferrari Red paint ). As you can probably see, I can not wait to start this project.

One problem.
I was searching web and reading a lots of threads in order to find the right phono-stage. Now it is a toss up between Hagerman's - Cornet and Wright Sound - WPP200C.

Witch one of these do you think will be my best choice?
mrjstark

Showing 7 responses by tvad

tvad
9,467 posts
 
The WPP200C is on par with (and perhaps better in some regards) the phono in my Supratek Cortese, and that's high praise. The Cortese's phono section is one of the preamp's big selling points. Many own the Cortese solely for it's phono.

One advantage of the Wright is its dual gain controls, which makes cartridge and preamp matching virtually limitless. I use a set of home-made RCA loading plugs with the WPP200C to perfectly dial in the cartridge impedance match. Theoretically, once you find the best load, you can wire a resistor to the pin and outer ring of the Wright's RCA inputs.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
IMO, the WPP200C is a classic. Great dynamics. Great tone. Extremely flexible.

Also, the Wright products are hand made by one of high end audio's true gentlemen, and they tend to retain their value.

I admit I have no experience with the Hagerman products, but I am aware they have a strong following among the AudioCircle crowd.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I have no other suggestions based on the few phono preamps I've owned.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
The Wright WPP200C is excellent - make sure to get a good step-up if using MC cartridges, such as Lundahl or Cinemag.

Restock (System | Threads | Answers)

Perhaps you mean if using low output MC cartridges? I used a .8mv Benz Micro Ace Medium, and no step up was required. In fact, I had the WP200C's gain controls only about a third the way turned up at most.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Trying is always the best way, I suppose...due to differences in systems.

However, my Benz Micro Ace Medium through the WP200C sans SUT was anything but anemic.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I have no experience with the MM II. Check with Audiofeil. He's a dealer for Cartridge Man products.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Restock knows I owned a WPP200C and we have discussed it before. I have not heard a JLTI.

I agree that the Wright is somewhat less resolving than other phonos I have owned (which aren't many). It added some warmth I liked, to be honest.

Also, if you use good NOS tubes in the WPP200C, like RCA, rather than the supplied new production tubes, the sound is clearer and more resolving with less grain, IMO.
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