bluethumb Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 (edited) Heyo, I'm reaching out with some questions for those of you more well versed in the world of tubes and preamps. I've been working with the same setup for a few years now and I am looking to step it up a bit (without upgrading my table). Currently I have: Pro-Ject Debut III Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge Marantz SR-63 Receiver Polk Audio RTI A1 Bookshelf Speakers Polk Audio PSW 111 Subwoofer I've been thinking about adding a Preamp stage for tonal control (specifically tube preamp) as the receiver I have has a decent preamp built in, but I want more. Any thoughts? I've been toying with the Parks Audio Budgie preamp, anyone have any experience with this? *EDIT* I recently upgraded to an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge so any suggestion on specific preamps (tube or not) welcome! Edited July 15, 2016 by bluethumb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Might get more milage from some different speakers. Tommy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiimbored Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 1 hour ago, bluethumb said: Heyo, I'm reaching out with some questions for those of you more well versed in the world of tubes and preamps. I've been working with the same setup for a few years now and I am looking to step it up a bit (without upgrading my table). Currently I have: Pro-Ject Debut III Marantz SR-63 Receiver Polk Audio RTI A1 Bookshelf Speakers Polk Audio PSW 111 Subwhoofer I've been thinking about adding a Preamp stage for tonal control (specifically tube preamp) as the receiver I have has a decent preamp built in, but I want more. Any thoughts? I've been toying with the Parks Audio Budgie preamp, anyone have any experience with this? I was also considering buying a phono preamp (was looking at the Pro-ject Tube Box S), but I feel like I could use some education on the subject of preamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluethumb Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 1 hour ago, Tardcore said: Might get more milage from some different speakers. Sure, any suggestions or just that you don't like these one for some reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas³ Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, Tardcore said: Might get more milage from some different speakers. This, or maybe a new integrated amp. I don't think you'll get much from tubes with your set-up. You can also try something like the Schitt Mani, so you can mess with load settings. Edit: What cartridge are you running? If it's the stock OM5e, you might want to look into upgrading that first. Edited July 11, 2016 by Thomas³ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluethumb Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 15 minutes ago, Thomas³ said: Edit: What cartridge are you running? If it's the stock OM5e, you might want to look into upgrading that first. I have an upgraded cartridge (forget which one is on there currently), but I have also been looking at the 2M Red cart which would be the most economical upgrade. Does anyone have anything to say - good or bad - about this cart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas³ Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 What cartridge do you have now? I honestly am not a fan of the 2M red, but I've only heard it once or twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 To get the best out of valves (tubes to you colonials) you need to go in completely and go full valve, valve phono stage, valve pre amp, valve crossover, valve mono block power amps and ideally a valve in the output of your CD player or DAC if you use such things. Joking a little but not much. Using a valve phono stage with your current system probably won't get the best out of it but it will make a difference to how it sounds and whether you like that sound is really the question you need the answer to, personally I was hooked the first time I heard them but they are not to everyone's taste. My advice if you want to try it is listen to someone else's or buy something cheaper that you can move on if you find you don't like it, also remember you can do a thing called valve rolling where you substitute one manufacturers valves of the same model for another manufactures valves as the sound changes quite considerably between valve makers. bluethumb and Tommy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxmartinxx Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I would probably save your money and buy something like a Rogue Sphinx v2 used for around $1k. It has a built in phono stage and it will be a pretty huge upgrade from the app/phono preamp you're currently using. The suggestion to get new speakers is a good one, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas³ Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 https://www.amazon.com/Little-Bear-Turntable-Pre-Amplifier-Preamp/dp/B01GFDB720/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468370664&sr=8-1&keywords=little+bear+t7 New Little Bear pre. It might be worth checking out to see if you like tubes (but like Allen said, it might not make for the full experience). A lot of people like their more expensive model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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