The FET preamp I designed back in the 80's and have build about a dozen of them over the years and friends have built them also and some still use them. They are nice and detailed but warm sounding, They run off batteries which greatly simplifies the power supply of course and helps elimate noise and hum sources.

 DaveInVA wrote: 
No MC requirement. I just had my old Technics SL3200, with a Stanton 681EEE cartridge, repaired. Currently using an Outlaw 990 as a preamp, but dont like the forward, bright sound i get...almost CD like. Looking for something warmer.
Other than a few tweeter and surround replacements, I've never tried to build a piece of equipment, although it sounds like fun?

First, do you need (MC) Moving Coil capability?
One of the best deals now is used PS Audio Phono Preamps. These are well made with high grade parts. Some also have input switching and passive line stages so they can be used as an entire preamp is desired. These can be had used for $100 ish sometimes less. WAY better than any of the sub $100 wall wart phono preamps.
I have been known to build all FET phono preamps from time to time also and I build FET MC head amps. I can also supply the schematics if you want to build one yourself.

Any recommendations for a good, reasonably priced, phono preamp?

"So, I traded that in and got the googlephonic, which is the highest number of speakers you can have before infinity.

Sounds like SHIT!"

—Steve Martin

...
So, I traded that in and got the googlephonic, which is the highest number of speakers you can have before infinity.

Sounds like SHIT!

So, then I said, 'Hey, maybe it's the needle!'

I had the typical diamond needle. I searched around got the moonrock needle, cost me 3 million bucks, but what the hey. So, now I have a googlephonic stereo with a moonrock needle.

...Sounds like shit."

—Steve Martin

(and Burr Brown - now that's a name from the past - real pioneers)

  You finally managed to let go of your lifetime collection of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues? j/k


I don't know how I managed without my cheap USB hard drives.  When I travel, I carry my music and some TiVo video files on a 500GB Seagate drive that fits perfectly into an old GPS hard shell case.  I can store my entire TMC movie collection on a 2TB Seagate drive that cost the same as my smaller USB-powered portable.  If you have a spare HD, you can buy a case/USB adapter to use it with your receiver.


Party on!

 

I looked into upgrading my homely theater and decided to just stick with my Citation 7 Preamp/decoder and Rotel/Yamaha amps for the time being. It doesn't do any one the networking stuff but has some of the best 7.2 channel sound as all the signal switching is done with relays instead of fets and all the analog circuitry is discreet. It was a $3300 unit when new but got it considerably cheaper when J & R closed them out when Citation changed hands. I've been very happy with its performance. I could sell it and the amps used for enough to get a decent enough receiver if I wanted the networking features etc but the problem I ran into right off was that most all the receivers in that range all use the same chip amps that can only safely drive down to 6 ohms and all my speakers in my 7.2 system are 4 ohm. And they many not even sound as good as the discreet amps I am currently using. So I am looking at the few newer 7.2 preamp decoders that have the newer features but none are in a price range I can afford. Fortunately getting a Sony Blu-Ray player with streaming capabilities got me most the features I wanted so I guess I will be using the Citation for a few more years.
I'm glad the Onkyo is working out for you. I noticed it uses the same 192/24 Burr Brown DACs many of the Blu-Ray players use so I imagine it sounds pretty good. My new Sony Blu-Ray also plays SACD's and I think it sounds a hair better than my older modified Denon 2900. The build quality on the Denon is way better though as it weighs over 20 lbs and the Sony is about 4 lbs!! 

I looked into upgrading my homely theater and decided to just stick with my Citation 7 Preamp/decoder and Rotel/Yamaha amps for the time being. It doesn't do any one the networking stuff but has some of the best 7.2 channel sound as all the signal switching is done with relays instead of fets and all the analog circuitry is discreet. It was a $3300 unit when new but got it considerably cheaper when J & R closed them out when Citation changed hands. I've been very happy with its performance. I could sell it and the amps used for enough to get a decent enough receiver if I wanted the networking features etc but the problem I ran into right off was that most all the receivers in that range all use the same chip amps that can only safely drive down to 6 ohms and all my speakers in my 7.2 system are 4 ohm. And they many not even sound as good as the discreet amps I am currently using. So I am looking at the few newer 7.2 preamp decoders that have the newer features but none are in a price range I can afford. Fortunately getting a Sony Blu-Ray player with streaming capabilities got me most the features I wanted so I guess I will be using the Citation for a few more years.
I'm glad the Onkyo is working out for you. I noticed it uses the same 192/24 Burr Brown DACs many of the Blu-Ray players use so I imagine it sounds pretty good. My new Sony Blu-Ray also plays SACD's and I think it sounds a hair better than my older modified Denon 2900. The build quality on the Denon is way better though as it weighs over 20 lbs and the Sony is about 4 lbs!! 

I think that I have finally achieved what I have been trying to do for the last 10 years.

Tech said that the ethernet large file problem could be overcome via USB flash drive and/or a dedicated hard drive plugged into the USB port.

Its playtime now !

I think that I have finally achieved what I have been trying to do for the last 10 years. 

Tech said that the ethernet large file problem could be overcome via USB flash drive and/or a dedicated hard drive plugged into the USB port.

Setup be done.  And the puter is now optional, not required.

Its playtime now !

My stereo is so good that when I play "Comfortably Numb" from "The Delicate Sound of Thunder", it causes my auditory cortex to send information to my visual cortex that causes me to visualize a realistic, full-color 1986 tour mirror ball.  And when I play "Comfortably Numb" from "Pulse", I see the 16kW high-pressure mercury mirror ball from the 1994 tour.

  Now that the legendary DAC makers like Burr-Brown have been gobbled up by Big Business, and chip mass-producers like Crystal and Cirrus Logic are making affordable and critically acclaimed DACs, what's in your receiver is probably pretty damn good.

My stereo is actually a closet-monaural and lives in constant fear that its secret will be discovered.  It avoids Pink Floyd music at all costs.