Phono Preamp Reviews

Channel D Lino C 2.0 phono preamplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn & Castellon turntable & stand; TechDAS Air Force V turntable; SAT CF1-09, Kuzma 4Point and Graham Phantom B 44 tonearms; Ortofon A95, phono cartridge.
Preamplification: darTZeel NHB-18NS, Ypsilon MC-10L, MC-16L step-up transformers; Ypsilon VPS-100, CH Precision P1 with X1 PSU.
Power Amplifiers: A HREF="https://www.stereophile.com/content/ch-precision-m11-power-amplifier">CH Precision M1.1. darTZeel NHB-458.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx.
Cables: Interconnect: TARA Labs Zero Evolution, Zero and Air Evolution, Analysis Plus Silver Apex, Stealth Sakra & Indra, Luminous Audio Technology Silver Reference, The Chord Company Sarum T SPDIF. Speaker: Audioquest Dragon, TARA Labs Omega EvolutionSP. AC: AudioQuest Dragon.
Accessories: Audioquest Niagara 7000 power conditioners; Oyaide AC wall box & receptacles; ASC Tube Traps; RPG BAD, Skyline & Abffusor panels, Stillpoints Aperture II Room panels, Synergistic Research UEF products (various), Symposium Ultra platform; HRS Signature SXR and Stillpoints ESS stands Finite Elemente Pagode amplifier stands; Audiodharma Cable Cooker; Furutech record demagnetizer; Furutech deStat; Loricraft PRC4 Deluxe, Audiodesksysteme Pro, and Kirmuss Audio KA-RC-1 record-cleaning machines.—Michael Fremer

COMMENTS
tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on March 10, 2020 - 11:03pm

$2,500 is a problem because it's "too cheap" explains 33.3 promoted marketing pretty well.

Tony in Venice

ps. appropriate Phono Cartridges are too expensive ( ridiculously expensive ) or even other worldly expensive

Mycophile's picture
Submitted by Mycophile on March 11, 2020 - 7:46am

A couple of examples of cartridges that work very well with this preamp are the Hana SL MC and Ortofon Quintet Black, at $750 and $999 respectively. Don't know if you define that as ridiculously expensive?

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on March 11, 2020 - 9:29am

The reviewer mentions the cartridge price issue.

I agree, the incredible prices for some of his reviewed phono cartridges are other worldly.

Tony in Venice

13DoW's picture
Submitted by 13DoW on March 10, 2020 - 11:25pm

Hi JA1,
I always enjoy the measurements section. You describe making an attenuator of two 10k and one 10 ohm resistors. The Lino would then see a source resistance very close to 10 ohms, but in your results you talk about a 6 ohm source resistor. What did I miss?

TiA,
13DoW

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on March 11, 2020 - 4:17am

... Initially, JA1 used a fixed adapter that he made using one 10 ohm and two 10K resistors.
Channel D then supplied an adapter, which allowed adjustment of both attenuation and source resistance. JA1 indicated that he set the source resistance to 6 ohms.

13DoW's picture
Submitted by 13DoW on March 11, 2020 - 10:02am

That is what I missed! Thanks :)

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on March 11, 2020 - 4:13am

... battery-powered unit that uses integrated circuits in the audio signal path?
If so, given that he disparaged products employing such a configuration, could it be arranged for AD to conduct a follow-up review?

shawnwes's picture
Submitted by shawnwes on March 11, 2020 - 6:19am

As the XV-1s has a 6 ohm impedance I'm guessing it's a very good match for the Lino C or is there something more to consider?
Are there high quality RCA to XLR connectors that won't break the bank?

Mycophile's picture
Submitted by Mycophile on March 11, 2020 - 7:33am

Channel D used a Dynavector DRT XV-1s and a Lino C 2.0 at the NYC audio show in November 2019 (was not listed in the program, a last-minute addition to the exhibitors). A reviewer from parttimeaudiophile judged the sound as "Best of Show Runner Up: very involving sound."

The Lino C 2.0 ships with a set of RCA to XLR adapters, but for best performance the interconnect should be balanced; that is, shielded twisted pair (two independent conductors plus shield), with pin 1 of the XLRs not connected to any signal connection, just the shield.

shawnwes's picture
Submitted by shawnwes on March 11, 2020 - 7:28pm

Thank you for your comments. Appreciated. I'm probably going to upgrade this year and need to create a shortlist.

shawnwes's picture
Submitted by shawnwes on March 11, 2020 - 7:21pm

What a surprise! LOL

Mikey you have to put us on a private email list when you announce these bargains!

Mycophile's picture
Submitted by Mycophile on March 12, 2020 - 12:06pm

Per Channel D website: "Notice of Price Increase: due to compounded across-the-board supplier price increases since 2017, the price of the Lino C 2.0 will be increasing by 12 percent from $2499 to $2799 when the stock for our current production run is exhausted (about March 2020)."

It's simply the government tariffs coming to roost, and existing stock being exhausted, is all.

X