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Preamp advice for record player

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 9:52 pm
by Apricat
Looking for some advice here :)

Latlat and I have been looking to purchase a record player preamplifier for a few months now. I've just spent about two hours online looking for something interesting and am a bit overwhelmed by what I'm seeing. I was thinking that our budget should be 100$, but after doing more research I'd say 250$ should be good.

I'm a sucker for pretty pretty things so after seeing the Bellari VP130 I went a bit crazy

Image
Tube pron

http://www.needledoctor.com/Bellari-VP1 ... ono-Preamp

Reviews are good. However, people are saying you need to replace the cheap chinese power supply and tube to get good quality sound... bringing the whole deal quite a bit over budget with shipping.

There's also really cheap preamps out there like the BBE

Image
Obvious lack of tube pron...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... ono-preamp

But I'm not finding many reviews... and I'm not sure what really sets this apart from the oh-so-pretty Bellari.

Do any of you guys have experience with cheap preamps? If so I'd love to hear what has worked/hasn't worked for you in the past. Also, what would you guys recommend for us? :)

Thanks in advance!

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:31 pm
by robroe
mine is made by ROLLS.

I've had it for about 10 years. still in mint condition. its got phono ins line ins. 1 1/4" in 1mic in 1 1/8" in. rca outs headphone outs.

ducking knob for radio work/podcasts

http://rolls.com/product.php?pid=GCI404

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:36 pm
by Apricat
is it something like this one?



What do you use for a power amp, Rob?

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:39 pm
by robroe
I also have used it in the drive bay of my computer running on jummper motherboard power running directly into my sound card.

its extremely versitile

now it chills in my basement with various things plugged into it warming up the signal to my PA.

I GOT TV COMPUTER RECORDS KEYBOARDS GUITARS ALL RUNNING BASEMENT PA

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:41 pm
by robroe
650 watt pa made by TOSH. solid state. early 90s

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:38 am
by riotshield
You might want to check this out

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?p ... es&lang=en


I have the older version and does what I got it for.Image

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 11:05 am
by Bacchus
Who gives a shit, buy the Bellari even if it just sits on your unit, not plugged in. Look at it!

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 11:13 am
by ekwatts
BacchusPaul wrote:Who gives a shit, buy the Bellari even if it just sits on your unit, not plugged in. Look at it!
This.

Sometimes touch the nipple of the tube, cheekily, too.

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 4:56 pm
by NickS
Must admit I made one from a design in Hi-Fi News & Record Review in the 70s using the LM384AN dual low-noise op-amp. Not as pretty.

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:50 am
by Apricat
So I couldn't resist the sexy tube nipple + green led and bought the Bellari...

Hopefully it'll sound good... if not I'll just put it on display to impress the ladies