Hello! I have a Project PhonoBox MM which I’m thinking of upgrading. Does anyone know how I can audition both a Cambridge Audio Duo AND a Rega Fono MM Mk5? Am I right in thinking that Richer Sounds is the sole dealer for Cambridge Audio, and doesn’t stock Rega? Thanks.
Phono Amps
- Thread starter Carpinus
- Start date
Al ears
Well-known member
They certainly are the main, and possibly sole, dealer when it comes to Cambridge gear.
Can I ask why you want to upgrade, or sorts, the phono preamp you already own?
Depending on whatever you currently own a cartridge upgrade will bring more immediate improvement.
Al ears
Well-known member
Noted the Rega you mentioned is about £220, what cartridge do you currently use?
I’ve got a 2017 Rega Planar Record Store Day turntable - essentially a Planar 1 and RP3 hybrid. Rega carbon cartridge I think. Sending through to a Denon DM3 system. I reckon I’ll be in the market for an amp upgrade next year, but passing the phono amp on to a friend who needs one, and using the excuse to upgrade that!
DiggyGun
Well-known member
daytona600
Well-known member
Al ears
Well-known member
Your money is better spent replacing that cartridge in my opinion
DiggyGun
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DiggyGun
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Clarkey_71
Well-known member
Have you considered Graham Slee?
I've used his products before and always found they punched well above their weight.
They used to do home demos.
Worth a try?
Gram Amp 2 Special Edition MM Phono Preamp
The Gram Amp 2 Special Edition MM Phono Preamp sets the standard for value-for-money phono stages. Buy it at HiFi System Components.
Thank you! I guess I’m looking at Ortofon 2M Red or Goldring E3 in that case. Any thoughts?
Thank you. To clarify, are you suggesting upgrading the cartridge instead to an Ortofon 2M Red? I think the Tube Box DS3 might be overkill!
I’ll check it out! Thanks!Have you considered Graham Slee?
I've used his products before and always found they punched well above their weight.
They used to do home demos.
Worth a try?
Gram Amp 2 Special Edition MM Phono Preamp
The Gram Amp 2 Special Edition MM Phono Preamp sets the standard for value-for-money phono stages. Buy it at HiFi System Components.www.hifisystemcomponents.com
andybebbs
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jamesrfisher
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DiggyGun
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Hisold
Active member
Al ears
Well-known member
Personally I would take the Goldring
Al ears
Well-known member
daytona600
Well-known member
Thank you. To clarify, are you suggesting upgrading the cartridge instead to an Ortofon 2M Red?
( 2MR ) reduced height range for rega
Ortofon 2MR features a specially designed cartridge housing tailored for Rega turntables and tonearms matching their requirement for low-form factor cartridges. With its narrow 14mm Deep cartridge housing, it seamlessly integrates without a need for modifications or spacers under the tonearm, enabling quick and easy mounting with just two screws
VTA - WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA) is the angle between the pivot-point of a cartridge's cantilever and where the diamond touches the record groove. Ortofon cartridges are constructed so that the cantilever angle corresponds to the 20º record cutting angle, when the cartridge is loaded with recommended tracking force and the cartridge base is parallel with the tonearm, which in turn is parallel to the record surface. As a result of this design, if your cartridge is ever mounted on a tonearm where it must lean even slightly backward compared to the record surface, the VTA will not be correct and you will lose important musical details.
14mm The existing 2M range is well suited to many tonearms in the modern market, and is perfectly at home on tonearms with adjustable VTA. However, there are many tonearms uch as Regas, where the VTA is not adjustable and the regular 2M cartridge height is too high. Similarly, there are instances where you may wish to modify your turntable with a thicker mat or platter upgrade and you need to compensate with reduced cartridge height.
( 2MR ) reduced height range for rega
Ortofon 2MR features a specially designed cartridge housing tailored for Rega turntables and tonearms matching their requirement for low-form factor cartridges. With its narrow 14mm Deep cartridge housing, it seamlessly integrates without a need for modifications or spacers under the tonearm, enabling quick and easy mounting with just two screws
VTA - WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA) is the angle between the pivot-point of a cartridge's cantilever and where the diamond touches the record groove. Ortofon cartridges are constructed so that the cantilever angle corresponds to the 20º record cutting angle, when the cartridge is loaded with recommended tracking force and the cartridge base is parallel with the tonearm, which in turn is parallel to the record surface. As a result of this design, if your cartridge is ever mounted on a tonearm where it must lean even slightly backward compared to the record surface, the VTA will not be correct and you will lose important musical details.
14mm The existing 2M range is well suited to many tonearms in the modern market, and is perfectly at home on tonearms with adjustable VTA. However, there are many tonearms uch as Regas, where the VTA is not adjustable and the regular 2M cartridge height is too high. Similarly, there are instances where you may wish to modify your turntable with a thicker mat or platter upgrade and you need to compensate with reduced cartridge height.
andybebbs
Well-known member
i would go with audio technica or the goldring you suggested, I personally use the at vm540ml on my p3 and it sounds great.
Al ears
Well-known member
I might agree.
All the cartridges suggested are various entry levels.
Unfortunately, until you go past these you don't know what you are missing.
I have always said playback of LPs cannot be justified on the cheap .
By that I mean you are never going to get the best from an LP without spending money.
I am amazed at those that have embraced the so called vinyl revival when committing so little money to actual playback.
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