#Subsonic filter phono stage full
#Subsonic filter phono stage series
#Subsonic filter phono stage windows

I've Got The Music In Me it delivers a rollicking performance that makes you want to sing along with gusto. The Tube Box is forgiving on less than stellar material, but when the recording is first rate, as on Thelma Houstons's On the other hand it does not locate individual instruments precisely within the soundstage. The sound is spacious and there is good width and depth to the image. It is well extended in the bass but not as well defined there as the Clearaudio. It is not the most open on top, rolling off gracefully, but this serves to minimize the surface noise compared to the other units.

#Subsonic filter phono stage full

The sound is full bodied, natural and warm, with a surprising degree of detail. The Pro-Ject Tube Box is a clear winner with the Koetsu Black. Loading each of the units as close as possible, and first giving each unit a week to run in, I started to listen. The Koetsu puts out 600uV and is optimally loaded at around 100O. The cartridges were mounted in my trusty Ittok on a Linn LP12 turntable, while the amplifier and speakers were the Perreaux Radiance R200i and Wilson Benesch Act 1s respectively, linked up using SoundString and Cardas cabling from end to end, making for a high resolution test bed. I put these phono stages through their paces with both a low output moving coil cartridge, the Koetsu Black Goldline, and then with a high output cartridge, the Dynavector DV20 XH. Again a wall-wart power supply is used, but this one has a higher capacity. The Phone Box SE skips one of the moving coil settings. Again there are DIP switches on the underside to set the cartridge matching, and there are now three choices for moving coil as well as a moving magnet setting. Alone among the test unit, the Tube Box is not intended to be left on permanently, to protect the life of the tubes, and features a big push button power switch in the centre of the face plate.

#Subsonic filter phono stage windows

The Tube Box is taller and much deeper, to accommodate the double triode tubes, which glow warmly through windows in the front plate. Features include a subsonic filter, the use of special low-noise ICs and gold plated RCA sockets. Pro-Ject claim optimal channel separation through dual-mono circuitry. You can easily set the cartridge matching on well marked DIP switches on the underside of the unit. The Phono Box SE comes in a compact black metal box with a black mirror finish faceplate featuring a single blue LED. To round out the group we have two units from Pro-Ject, the Phono Box SE and its upscale brother, the Tube Box. A gentle subsonic filter rolls off the response below 20Hz. Clearaudio claim the Micro Basic will automatically adjust to any kind of connected cartridge, once you have selected MM or MC. The captive power cord leads to the outboard power supply. There are two well-spaced phono jacks on each end of the box, while the earth connection and power indicator are positioned between the input jacks. You can even mount it underneath a wooden shelf by passing a long screw through a pass through hole in the case. It has just one button, to switch gain between MC and MM and the brushed aluminum case is very small, so that it can be located close to the turntable if desired. The next unit is the Clearaudio Micro Basic. The preamplifier is made in Britain, while the power supply hails from China. The circuit board is well laid out and very clearly marked, which speaks well for reliability and serviceability. Using the Koetsu Black Goldline, I set the gain to 300uV, the loading resistance to 100O and the capacitance to 4200pF. I wonder if anyone ever sets the two channels to different settings. Two control left and right loading, and two control left and right gain.

If you want to adjust the Fono to suit your cartridge, better pull out a Pozidrive screwdriver to gain access to the four DIP switches on the PCB. The front panel has a power button and the familiar 3D Rega icon. On the back are four sturdy phono jacks for input and output, a ground terminal and a jack for the power supply. The Fono MC is a low wide black metal box (a silver finish is also available) mounted on four rubber feet with a 24-volt wall-wart power supply. The Rega Fono MC is suitable for low output moving coils (if your cartridge is a high output device, Rega also has the Fono MM). In this month's exciting episode, I put a number of inexpensive phono stages to the test.

#Subsonic filter phono stage series

Having searched high and low for the holy grail of digital spinners, and having recently inducted the Meridian G08 CD player into my personal hall of fame, the silver discs sit idle as I review a series of analog components.