Which Phono Preamp for my System????

Calgarian,

In my experience, MM cartridges are far less susceptible to age related degradation than MC, so your K9 may be just fine. I'd stick with a solid state phono preamp for now, and stay under $200 used, which would cover most of your list. If you want to buy new, the Cambridge is a steal here:

http://www.spearitsound.com/Cambridge_Audio/Cambridge_Audio_540p.asp

If you taste vinyl and like it, you'll want to replace your whole analog front end to bring it up to the level of the rest of your system - it's very seductive!

If your into vinyl to stay you will eventually get a little better cartridge. I would recommend the Dynavector p75. More $s than your other choices but not crazy money 595 new. You have nicce equipment and might even get a better table. The p75 competes with much more expensive preamps.

Thanks for all your responses.

I've received a couple emails suggesting the Dynavector P75. It is a bit above my price range, but as Rello and Armstrod suggested, if I get hooked on to vinyl, I may very well want to upgrade perhaps to a better cartridge (maybe even a MC cartridge, which the P75 can accomodate) or even a new turntable.

Kurt_tank, do you have any other suggestions if I were to increase my budget a bit?

Also...just thinking ahead here....If I were to get an upgraded cartridge, how good of a cartridge could the Axis accomodate before it would make sense to upgrade the whole turntable? For example, would it be a total mismatch to get something like the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge to pair up with the Axis???? Is it overkill for the turntable?

Hdm...I didn't realize the K9 was that horrible a cartridge. I paid around $375 Cdn for it new!

I'm just tossing ideas around. Any further discusssion or input would be greatly appreciated.

calgarian

Calgarian: The K9 was based on a very inexpensive Audio Technica (Linn is only one of a vast number of high end companies that source(d) their cartridges from Audio Technica), in all likelihood the AT95E which still sells today for under $40. It did have a more sophisticated stylus but was ultimately limited by the cheap internals. I'm not saying it was a bad cartridge, only that the AT 120E and 440MLA would, in all probability, be superior and can be had for $59.95 and $99.95 respectively.

Here is some interesting reading at Audioasylum for you.

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=524951&highlight=Linn+K9&r=&session=

You may be a little reluctant about the Clearaudio after reading that as well but it's your money!!!

Why not consider a Sonic Frontiers phono 2nd hand? They stretch your budget a bit but they do have a very good MM all tube gain stage good for all moving magnets and most hi output coils which will cover your present requirements.If you fall for analog more then just have it upgraded to its max by parts conneXion.They can accomodate L/O coils but I think its a fet gainstage and they sell from $750 to $1200.There is one in Oregon right now for $750 obo.I dont know the seller.I dont think you should aim higher than a Sumiko Blackbird for the Axis and they retail full list at $700 new.There are lots of good new Denons and Dynavectors for less.You could look at 2nd hand cartridges.Next month I am going to have a garage sale and will put an older Blue Point Special an ancient Grado tlz an Empire M/C and a Koestu black on the table all will out perform your K9 and the BPS will be $45 the Grado $50 the Empire $40 and the Koetsu $500 its a bit of a crapshoot with 2nd hand analog source components as they are easily damaged if not handled well.But say a cartridge like the tlz has an easily replaceable stylus and is the basic design Len Gregory used to build his music maker.If I were making the choice I would grind a deal on that SFP-1 and look for a deal on a new blackbird.$1400 ish and at the least a match for your more expensive digital equipment and if you decide to go with a better table and arm you dont have to dump your phono stage and cartridge.