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I need an economical but good phono preamp?

I have a Thorens 145 TT with Nagaoka MP11 cartridge, HarmonKardon DPR 2005 HT Receiver and JPW loudspeakers. I had a cheap phono preamp from Radio Shack but there is a very loud (annoying) hum. I ran my ipod through the preamp and still had the hum so I don't think it is the turntable.
Can anyone advise on an affordable (<$200), yet respectable phono preamp?
kmaclac
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
The Cambridge Audio 640P is quite excellent and well within your price range. Do not cheap out and get the 540, it is not in the same league.
polk432
1,116 posts
 
Hopefully the hum is not comming from your receiver. Re hook up all ground wires. Also it may be ground loop hum. If you have a 3 prong plug.. plug it into a 2 prong plug and plug that into your power source. I also have a Nagaoka MP11 on a Linn Sondek 12 I recently bought. It came with a Basik LV X tone arm. How do you like the Nagaoka? This is new to me. Thanks
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
+1 on the Cambridge 640P. It was such an improvement over my previous (an Amber Model 17) that I ended up upgrading everything else to match its resolution and musicality. It's crazy how good this phono stage is for its price. I read one review that preferred it slightly over the $450 Graham Slee, so I suppose you'd need to spend $750 for the Dynavector or $925 for the Slee Era Gold to get a noticeably better-sounding unit.
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