first phono...

[dkontos]

I have just installed a Technics SL-QX300 old turntable with the Audio Technica ATU 4040 EP cartridge, and I am looking for a phono preamp. A friend suggested the Ifi Zen Phono, but my dealer told me to go for the Pro-Ject Audio Phono Box S2 Ultra which is better, if I can spread my budget. This costs 50% more than the Ifi.... Have anyone experience with any of these phono stages ? Is the Pro- ject worth the higher price ?

 

[Gray]

I'll take a guess that the dealer doesn't sell iFi products.
Either way, I suggest you make your own decision.

 

[camcroft]

The iFi Phono is excellent read the reviews and to audition one against the Project is not a simple task you would need the same turntable . amp, speakers to test both phono stages to judge them on equal merit. When I bought my Zen Phono I still had my Schiit Mani to compare it against it definitely sounded better or is that my placebo ears at it again!

 

[dkontos]

I cannot hear them both side by side, thats why I ask if someone haw experience with them, and particular with that Pro-Ject, as for the Ifi there are a lot of reviews at the internet,

 

[camcroft]

I cannot hear them both side by side, thats why I ask if someone haw experience with them, and particular with that Pro-Ject, as for the Ifi there are a lot of reviews at the internet,

Saying you know the quality of the Zen Stream then you know that iFi make quality equipment most of which have won awards.

 

[Al ears]

Taking the price of your source into account I would suggest the Project may be overkill for what you require and the benefits over and above the iFi minimal.
Also you don't need a phono preamp with MC capabilities so why pay for it.
having said that the iFi has MC facility too but at that price you are unlikely to find a better MM only preamp

 

[Gray]

.....or is that my placebo ears at it again!

I doubt it this time 👍

 

[bigfish786]

What amp do you have at the moment?

 

[Al ears]

What amp do you have at the moment?

Do you think it might already have a phono stage internally??

 

[bigfish786]

its worth checking what it is as there’s been no mention of the rest of the setup

 

[dkontos]

What amp do you have at the moment?

I have the Rotel A11 Tribute, It has an internal phono stage, but as I do not know many things about vinyl , I wonder if I can upgrade the SQ by connecting an external phono preamp.

 

[Al ears]

I have the Rotel A11 Tribute, It has an internal phono stage, but as I do not know many things about vinyl , I wonder if I can upgrade the SQ by connecting an external phono preamp.

Thanks for clarification. You are going to have to spend a good deal of money to better the internal phono stage, so I wouldn't bother.
what you are planning to do doesn't make financial sense. Why buy an amplifier with a good phono stage of you aren't going to use it?
upgrade your cartridge or simply buy more vinyl if you have money to burn.

 

[bigfish786]

the phono stage in the rotel will be good enough for your Setup. Don’t worry about getting anything else just yet. does the tonearm take standard carts? Or is it p-mount?

 

[dkontos]

Thanks for clarification. You are going to have to spend a good deal of money to better the internal phono stage, so I wouldn't bother.
what you are planning to do doesn't make financial sense. Why buy an amplifier with a good phono stage of you aren't going to use it?
upgrade your cartridge or simply buy more vinyl if you have money to burn.

Thanks... To be honest, I did not know weather I coyld have a better SQ by adding an external phono. I do not know much about vinyl. The rotel was in my system , feeding from CD and streaming. But my cousin just gave me the turntable for free, and I do not know almost anything about the phono input of the amp or the cartridge on the TT or anything else about these things. I was just wondering if I can get more from these gear. Thank you for your advice. If you know weather I could upgrade the cartridge in the future, if you have any suggestion on this, please you are free to tell me. The TT has a P-Mount cartridge.

 

[dkontos]

the phono stage in the rotel will be good enough for your Setup. Don’t worry about getting anything else just yet. does the tonearm take standard carts? Or is it p-mount?

P-Mount....... If you have any suggestion for upgrading the cartridge, please , feel free to give any advice, because i do not think that there are much options in the market for this kind of cartridges...

 

[bigfish786]

Nope, unfortunately not. You can however get an adapter for the p-mount, allowing you to fit a standard cartridge. No idea how good they are though.
audio Technica p mount carts are available, and probably are as good as you will get.

 

[ifor]

So far as I know the available adapters work the other way round, allowing P-mount cartridges to be used on conventional tonearms.

 

[Al ears]

So far as I know the available adapters work the other way round, allowing P-mount cartridges to be used on conventional tonearms.

Precisely. The P Mount standard was designed so that any p mount cartridge could be mounted on any p mount compatible tonearm without any need for any alignment.
You could not develop an adapter that would work the other way around as the cartridge alignment ability would be lost.

 

[daytona600]

T4P ( Technics 4 Pin ) only new designs Grado just plug in a new cartridge in seconds & play a record

P-mount cartridges (T4P) are designed to be interchangeable. A "T4P" insignia is usually present on the turntable to indicate a P-mount tonearm. So, for all practical purposes any brand below will fit and work in a T4P tonearm

 

[ifor]

Here’s a good one; https://www.thakker.eu/en/pickup/ortofon-omp-40-cartridge/a-5123/

 

[Al ears]

Here’s a good one; https://www.thakker.eu/en/pickup/ortofon-omp-40-cartridge/a-5123/

It's not cheap.....

 

[ifor]

For cheap it would have to be AT or second hand. Second hand Technics P22 and P23 cartridges are plentiful.

 

[Jobb]

Here's some more: https://www.thakker.eu/en/cartridges/?attrib[Attachment][]=T4P

Most are not on stock, but there are some.