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Thank you for reviewing it!
Analog sources: Clearaudio Performance DC Wood turntable with Tracer tonearm and Talisman v2 MC cartridge; MoFi Electronics UltraDeck+ turntable with tonearm and StudioTracker MM cartridge and weight.
Preamplification: MoFi Electronics StudioPhono phono preamplifier, MBL N11 preamplifier.
Power amplifiers: MBL C15 monoblocks.
Integrated amplifiers: MBL N51, VAC Sigma 170i.
Loudspeakers: MBL 120, Chario Aviation Amelia.
Cables: Ansuz Acoustics D2, AudioQuest NRG, and Morrow Audio (some interconnects).
Accessories: AudioQuest Niagara 1000 Low-Z Power Noise-Dissipation System with NRG 10 power cord and Vodka Ethernet cable, Critical Mass Systems Maxxum equipment racks, Record Doctor VI record cleaning machine, AudioQuest Anti-Static Record Brush, Onzow Zerodust stylus cleaner, Zanden Audio AT-1 proprietary foam bass traps/tubes (2), AP-1 proprietary foam acoustic panels 35.5" × 23.75" × 1.5" (4).
Room: 18.5' × 17.5' × 12'.Julie Mullins
Thanks for reading, Anton. It was my pleasure (as you might have guessed). Wish I still had it here. ;-)
Are there any plans for reviewing it?
https://teac.jp/int/product/pe-505/top
https://www.lowbeats.de/test-teac-pe-505-symmetrische-phonovorstufe-fuer-mm-und-mc/
Hi
It is a real bargain:$1,999 for an Austrian built MM/MC fully in/output balanced dual-mono phono-preamp.
What impressed me most is the use of discrete active devices only & PASSIVE RIAA EQ !!!!. This shows the Austrian designer(s) knows music as much as the preamp design. Austria (ie: Vienna, classical music capital for the world for centuries, no wonder!".
Yes, passive RIAA EQ sounds so much better than the conventional NFB loop EQ used in most most commercial photostages available in the marketplace irrespective of selling price. Ny experience.
Only 'booboo' this preamp designer made, IMO, is the use of switching power supply BUILT-IN on the same circuit board ! To save manufacature cost, I guess.
IMO, NO repeat NO switching electronics should ideally ever be used in any phono-linestages. It will simply impair the sonic musicality.
Glad Pro-jet knows making it up with an outboard linear (non-switching) power supply with additional cost of $800.
Yes, power supply of a preamp is so so crucial for its sonic performance particularly when MC is involved.
FYI, my factory-matched headamp for my moving coil cartridge (both made in Japan) is a single-ended Classs-A fully symmmetric OTL push-pulll topology using discrete solidstate devices, powered by +/- D-size batteries. Only batttery power supply can assure no PS rippling noise & ground induced noise. Period. The sonic reward is: to say the least - very dark quiet music background.
Likewise, I've used a huge battery 'reservoir' to power the 6.3V heaters of the triodes used in my design/built phonostage+linestage.
Passive no-NFB-loop RIAA EQ for best sound, absolutely.
Listening is believing
Jack L
Doing a review of a truly balanced phono preamplifier like the Pro-Ject Phono Box RS2 I would expect that the reviewer at least is capable of meeting the criteria for that specific product and being able to supply the needed balanced phono signal, not just a single wired RCA signal path whatever that path might cost. The reviewer says: "My tonearms have RCA cables, so, although I did try the balanced XLR inputs with adapters, I wasn't able to explore the Pro-Ject's "ideal" fully balanced operation (footnote 1)."
Reviews are some times deepened by a "follow-up". Can You supply a "follow-up" with "fully balanced" contributions and with the Power Supply UNI 4.
Comprehensive is comprehensive.
Thank You Tom Fine for unveiling some of the methods You as a producer use in order to assess the end result of Your efforts. I own CD Box RS2 T and Power Box Uni 4-way and am going to acquire a phono preamp. No doubt this will be it.