So Rudi of Lenco/Angle Grinder fame posted MM MC phono preamp thread: http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,6076.0.html
My interest was immediately peeked as I was looking for a phono stage with MM/MC capability as I would like to try a MC cart at some stage...
Rudi prepared the board and we did a swap of electronic boards in the parking lot of a garage in Jeffrey's Bay....
Since then I have procured a case, the transformer and some of the connector hardware to put it together... I paid someone to solder it all together as i do not have a soldering iron (and more importantly) the skill as of yet to solder...
I have housed the board and the transformer in two separate enclosures with a power cord tether...
Today I got it all and plugged it in (eagerly).
All I can say is WOW!!!!! What a difference compared to the phono stage that is part of my Arcam Alpha 6.
Cleaner
More clear
Much Better sound-stage
Somehow surface noise seems to be less noticeable.
Almost zero noise (I have to turn the dial to 1'o'clock to start faintly hearing some white noise)
No Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I am over the moon and have listned to music nonstop trying some of my well known (to me) records, including some of the difficult stuff in my box (bad condition/and/or/poorly recoreded and/or/pressed)...
What would this thread be without pictures...
GEKO Phono Stage - Business End by arclients, on Flickr
GEKO Phono Stage - Power Tether by arclients, on Flickr
GEKO Phono Stage - Size by arclients, on Flickr
GEKO Phono Stage - Board by arclients, on Flickr
So how much did it cost??
Board = R1200.00 ( http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,6076.msg73195.html#msg73195 )
Transformer = R255.93 ( http://za.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=2238550 )
Alu Case = R186.08 ( http://za.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=searchProducts&searchTerm=1853221&x=0&y=0 )
ABS Case = R90.61 ( http://www.fort777.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4106 )
Labour = R150.00
Connectors = +-R 50.00 ( http://www.fort777.co.za )
----------------------------------------------------
Total = R1932.62 (say R2000 for things I have forgotten - like the grommets...)
----------------------------------------------------
Pretty good value I think for a BooTeak phono stage...
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Test Setup:
Garrard 301 motor ( http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,4887.msg66384.html#msg66384 )
SME 3012 arm
Excel ES-70s cart
Arcam Alpha 6 amplification
Seas Maya speakers ( http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,6807.msg86050.html#msg86050 )
Fave album today:
Corny but good recording - nice arrangement by the conductor for this classic...
My interest was immediately peeked as I was looking for a phono stage with MM/MC capability as I would like to try a MC cart at some stage...
Rudi prepared the board and we did a swap of electronic boards in the parking lot of a garage in Jeffrey's Bay....
Since then I have procured a case, the transformer and some of the connector hardware to put it together... I paid someone to solder it all together as i do not have a soldering iron (and more importantly) the skill as of yet to solder...
I have housed the board and the transformer in two separate enclosures with a power cord tether...
Today I got it all and plugged it in (eagerly).
All I can say is WOW!!!!! What a difference compared to the phono stage that is part of my Arcam Alpha 6.
Cleaner
More clear
Much Better sound-stage
Somehow surface noise seems to be less noticeable.
Almost zero noise (I have to turn the dial to 1'o'clock to start faintly hearing some white noise)
No Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I am over the moon and have listned to music nonstop trying some of my well known (to me) records, including some of the difficult stuff in my box (bad condition/and/or/poorly recoreded and/or/pressed)...
What would this thread be without pictures...
GEKO Phono Stage - Business End by arclients, on Flickr
GEKO Phono Stage - Power Tether by arclients, on Flickr
GEKO Phono Stage - Size by arclients, on Flickr
GEKO Phono Stage - Board by arclients, on Flickr
So how much did it cost??
Board = R1200.00 ( http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,6076.msg73195.html#msg73195 )
Transformer = R255.93 ( http://za.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=2238550 )
Alu Case = R186.08 ( http://za.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=searchProducts&searchTerm=1853221&x=0&y=0 )
ABS Case = R90.61 ( http://www.fort777.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4106 )
Labour = R150.00
Connectors = +-R 50.00 ( http://www.fort777.co.za )
----------------------------------------------------
Total = R1932.62 (say R2000 for things I have forgotten - like the grommets...)
----------------------------------------------------
Pretty good value I think for a BooTeak phono stage...
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Test Setup:
Garrard 301 motor ( http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,4887.msg66384.html#msg66384 )
SME 3012 arm
Excel ES-70s cart
Arcam Alpha 6 amplification
Seas Maya speakers ( http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,6807.msg86050.html#msg86050 )
Fave album today:
Corny but good recording - nice arrangement by the conductor for this classic...
