phonostage

[Ianm2]

a while ago, we had an IC phonostage kit in wad, perhaps 14 years.

not much happened, but it would be nice to have another of these offered, together with a mc step up ic box, it should'nt be expensive and should be easy and pleasant to build.

perhaps also even a transistor preamp ..... and...

shock horror there was a poweramp, it REALLY looked an excellent circuit and would be nice to see it or a replacement for it

how about it? I think at least the phoonostage would sell well

[petercom]

Any one else interested in solid state kits (transistors in other words)?

[Richard]

Mmmmmmmmm, Oct 94 supplement, Andy Groves 36W class A. Never heard it, nor of anyone who built it (were kits sold?), but I'd certainly consider a good equivalent kit now.

Perhaps I'm wearing rose tinted glasses but the best ss amp I remember hearing at home was a Sugden P51 but it, and its matching C51, were too old and tatty so I never bought it . Very sweet, a little veiled perhaps, long time ago, but I'd like to hear a good one again. Sadly many cooked themselves and have replacement parts these days.

Rich

[david counter]

Originally Posted by petercom

Any one else interested in solid state kits (transistors in other words)?

yeah I have a soft spot for good solid state phonos

[Shane]

I liked the P51/C51 as well, but I have memories of it being knocked sideways by an EMI555 integrated valve amp. The one SS amp I have really strong memories of is one that Tim De Paravicini lent us at a hifi show. He had built it as a disco amp or something, it looked like a pile of poo but sounded pretty much indistinguishable to the EAR509s we were using. I think it became the basis for the Heybrook C1/P1, but I'm not certain about that. Peter, you will remember it far better than I do. I just remember being completely knocked out by it. If you can do that again, go for it!

[prince of darkness]

I built a version of the Andy Grove IC phono stage. It was significantly better than the stage in an Arcam Delta 60, but completely outclassed by Phono II (and bettered overall by the Rogers Cadet III in my opinion). I would not personally be interested in a solid state amp kit (though I might be interested in a DAC), but think there is definately room for something like this. Not everyone is in to valves.

[Ali Tait]

A SS class A amp would be of interest,perhaps to drive woofers to give a bit of grunt in the bass.

[cressy]

i like the xlps i have now, tbh i havent been inside it but im sure its ss, im sure theres better having heard various vale ones over the last few years but this little beauty is bang on for what i want. ive had a few ss ones previous to this including a 25 quid monacor one that was brilliant for the money and a qed discsaver that on battery power was a cracker. for amps, valves every time, phono stages im not sure theres a clear winner. this depends on budget of course. low end ones in my experience tend to be better ss as they dont seem to be as susceptible to mediocre build quality, but a good circuit well built in a decent case is always going to be better than a good circuit built to a price in a **** case. i got a decent jump in quality by putting the monacor in a nice heavy built wooden case instead of the pressed steel ringy earth loopy case it was in!