Good RIAA phono preamp for sampling vinyl?

I used to sample my vinyl from a Vestax PMC05 ProII and then I sampled through my Akai MCF42 till I had humming issues on the MFC and switched back to my Vestax. Now that my MFC is working again I recorded the same thing on my DAW with both PMC05II and MFC42 at same levels to compare. Both samples were recorded using a Shure Whitelabel.

The Vestax sounds nice and round and you have the idea that nothing is missing in the sonics.

The MFC42 sounds more bright but not as round as PMC05II. I think the MFC sounds a bit more hard at the lower end but there are a bit more highs.

I have the PMC05II since 1998 and maybe its safe to say that the channel EQs (highs and lows) might have an affect on the sonics even when I have them at 12 o'clock. It might not be just flat 0db but slightly + or - due to aging.

Eitherway, I think i started tripping on both phono preamps and now I want to purchase a dedicated and better RIAA phono preamp to sample through there. Maybe run the signal through a dbx graphic equalizer if I plan to sample on my MPC60.

Does anybody have experience with RIAA phono preamp devices?

Im not looking to get a high end phono preamp that would cost 1000-2000 bucks.
Just something that would be better than MFC42 and PMC05II. If the PMC and MFC cost about 300 bucks wouldnt a preamp at the same price be better since it does just one thing?

*Ive attached the recorded parts from PCM and MFC. Maybe its just my idea and it doesnt matter where I sample from. Your advise is welcomed.

http://djalx.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Vestax_PMC05II_test.wav

http://djalx.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Akai_MFC42_test.wav

Peace!

Best bang for buck:

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=29

Read some reviews, it's a very nice phono-preamp (yes, i have one of these and love it).

A lot of overpriced gear here and there imo. I would stay away from retail products and lean towards a DIY build. Save money that you can invest in real phono/turntable cables or a nice cart/arm for your tt.

There are few nice discrete designs with links for kits out there :

http://diyaudioprojects.com/Solid/JFET- ... ifier-Kit/
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-lab ... build.html
http://phonoclone.com/diy-pho5.html

If you buy one make sure they're adapted to your cartridge type, MM or MC or dual if you need flexibilty. Good luck.

olivr wrote:A lot of overpriced gear here and there imo. I would stay away from retail products and lean towards a DIY build. Save money that you can invest in real phono/turntable cables or a nice cart/arm for your tt.

There are few nice discrete designs with links for kits out there :

http://diyaudioprojects.com/Solid/JFET- ... ifier-Kit/
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-lab ... build.html
http://phonoclone.com/diy-pho5.html

If you buy one make sure they're adapted to your cartridge type, MM or MC or dual if you need flexibilty. Good luck.

Thanks, I know I can DIY but since im doing work on a professional level I'd want to get something more solid and accurate. Id prefer paying 150 bucks for it and be satisfied than less and not satisfied.

I use a Technics 1200KMII with its original tone arm. After getting the phono preamp I will get a better cartridge/needle too.

Thanks!

jibber wrote:Best bang for buck:

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=29

Read some reviews, it's a very nice phono-preamp (yes, i have one of these and love it).

I took time and looked at their site and I does look like the best bang for the buck.
How long have you been using this phono preamp?
How does it compare with any others you had?

Yo ALX,

I had written a reply on GS and I wish I would have seen this posted here frist. Dont want to blow up the spot on the old recievers until I get me another one. Is this for gigging or for a stationary studio / home setup. Gigging / Travel would give the Radial my vote. The AT EQP-3 is a bargain that can be upgraded. Mid level Pro-Ject Phono SE is nice sounding. Nice features. The NAD has a level control which is nice. If you are using it to sample hip hop and it will be stationary, I say stick with the old school and I would suggest this: (Also there is a NAD 70's model with rack ears in 19" form factor taht is well regarded, by the budget minded. Not sure I would tour with it. Not sure I wouldnt though.)

Instead of the dbx get an old receiver from the 70's. (When preamp sound was a major feature due to vinyl still being king) Audiophile types get into this quite a bit. Well within / under your range is the polar NAD 3020. Also have a loom at Marantz they were nice in their day. Still coveted to this day.

I found an old reciever under your min budget with:

1. lpf
2. hpf
3. lo - hi eq / tone
4. MID eq / tone
5. eq controls are stepped pots (easy to recall settings)
5. A feature that makes either Chanel play mono through both speakers. (MVP feature if you sample from vinyl.
6. And lastly....... pre-out. (I use tape out to send to my living room receiver for general listening).
7. Honorable mention. Blinged out silver faceplate.

I almost passed out when I saw it. It was built for me to sample through!

Thrift store, CL, pawn shops are your friend.
Just wanted share some game with a kindred spirit. Long live the DJ.

jrides wrote:Yo ALX,

I had written a reply on GS and I wish I would have seen this posted here frist. Dont want to blow up the spot on the old recievers until I get me another one. Is this for gigging or for a stationary studio / home setup. Gigging / Travel would give the Radial my vote. The AT EQP-3 is a bargain that can be upgraded. Mid level Pro-Ject Phono SE is nice sounding. Nice features. The NAD has a level control which is nice. x If you are using it to sample hip hop and it will be stationary, I say stick with the old school and I would suggest this: (Also there is a NAD 70's model with rack ears in 19" form factor taht is well regarded, by the budget minded. Not sure I would tour with it. Not sure I wouldnt though.)

Yes this is stationary, for my beatmaking/producing setup. I wouldnt ever gig with hardware like this since I already gig with Traktor/Serato...
Thanks for mentioning these models though.

jrides wrote:Instead of the dbx get an old receiver from the 70's. (When preamp sound was a major feature due to vinyl still being king) Audiophile types get into this quite a bit. Well within / under your range is the polar NAD 3020. Also have a loom at Marantz they were nice in their day. Still coveted to this day.

I found an old reciever under your min budget with:

1. lpf
2. hpf
3. lo - hi eq / tone
4. MID eq / tone
5. eq controls are stepped pots (easy to recall settings)
5. A feature that makes either Chanel play mono through both speakers. (MVP feature if you sample from vinyl.
6. And lastly....... pre-out. (I use tape out to send to my living room receiver for general listening).
7. Honorable mention. Blinged out silver faceplate.

I almost passed out when I saw it. It was built for me to sample through!

Thrift store, CL, pawn shops are your friend.
Just wanted share some game with a kindred spirit. Long live the DJ.

Wow, sounds like this is what im looking for.
What model are you talking about?

DJ ALX wrote:

jibber wrote:Best bang for buck:

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=29

Read some reviews, it's a very nice phono-preamp (yes, i have one of these and love it).

I took time and looked at their site and I does look like the best bang for the buck.
How long have you been using this phono preamp?
How does it compare with any others you had?

I have mine since a little over a year if i recall correctly.

Before i was using a Yamaha 397xe something hi-fi amp with a "well regarded" built in phono-pre. No comparison really.

Then i was using a Revox B750 MKII Hi-Fi amp with a built in phono-pre (old vintage amp, which are supposed to have nice phono-pres). No comparison.

In comparison to the Hi-Fi amps, the dedicated phono-pre doesn't sound as "thin" and has a way better stereo image, way better definition of frequencies, little details in the music that you suddenly can hear, etc.

For the cambridge audio phono-pre there's even a mod available somewhere which supposedly makes it even better, but i didn't attempt this yet.

jibber wrote:

DJ ALX wrote:

jibber wrote:Best bang for buck:

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=29

Read some reviews, it's a very nice phono-preamp (yes, i have one of these and love it).

I took time and looked at their site and I does look like the best bang for the buck.
How long have you been using this phono preamp?
How does it compare with any others you had?

I have mine since a little over a year if i recall correctly.

Before i was using a Yamaha 397xe something hi-fi amp with a "well regarded" built in phono-pre. No comparison really.

Then i was using a Revox B750 MKII Hi-Fi amp with a built in phono-pre (old vintage amp, which are supposed to have nice phono-pres). No comparison.

In comparison to the Hi-Fi amps, the dedicated phono-pre doesn't sound as "thin" and has a way better stereo image, way better definition of frequencies, little details in the music that you suddenly can hear, etc.

For the cambridge audio phono-pre there's even a mod available somewhere which supposedly makes it even better, but i didn't attempt this yet.

I paid $40 for my phono pre / amp in mint condition, and a thrift store. No comparison. I will recap it for around $30 max.

As far as I know, the OP is not doing vinyl transfer. For that purpose on the cheap I would go with the Cambridge, but there are much better options out there. To take full advantage of the Cambridge and others higher up you really need the cartridge, tonearm, etc to match. I had this and the Phono Pre SE in for a recent low budget vinyl transfer job. I liked each one with a different table. A fine choice. Keep in mind you will still need an EQ / filter if you go this route.


A lot of times the internetz can get pretty anal about sampler input / output stages. 90-98% of the sampled hip hop in rotation in the U.S. was sampled through and older DJ mixer, All of the classic figures who defined / redifined U.S. hip hop sampled through older phono stages, with a 1200 deck and a beat up DJ needle. Pete Rock, Primo, Dilla etc. For the current crop of hitmakers who have studio footage on the youtubez, just check out their setups to see how hard they go with DI's, preams, phono pre's, mogami cables etc.

You wont find that stuff. They keep it simple, and focus on making music. At the end of the day you are sampling into a MPC, not a Lynx Hi Lo. Just to keep things in persepective.

I use it together with an SL1210 MKII with original tonearm and a shure m97xe cartridge (everything set up correctly, tracking weight, etc).

I agree that many songs have been sampled with cheap phono stages and beat up cartridges, but still... i feel like improving the "quality of the sample" can never hurt... to me it feels like my stuff sounds better (just the sound quality) and is easier to mix since i've upgraded my "sample source/signal path".

Is it a must have to be able to make dope beats? Clearly that's not the case...

jibber wrote:I use it together with an SL1210 MKII with original tonearm and a shure m97xe cartridge (everything set up correctly, tracking weight, etc).

I agree that many songs have been sampled with cheap phono stages and beat up cartridges, but still... i feel like improving the "quality of the sample" can never hurt... to me it feels like my stuff sounds better (just the sound quality) and is easier to mix since i've upgraded my "sample source/signal path".

Is it a must have to be able to make dope beats? Clearly that's not the case...

Agreed.
For me it's a compromise perhaps. The features on my. 70's joint are pretty indispensibpe to me, for the money. Saves me time in the mix, filtering and fiddling around. Sound quality is higher than the Vestax for sure.

However I know cats with $500 phono stages, sampling through neve / api and pultec eq, with a $250 delifae cart. I was one of them.l for a hot minute. Sounded great.
I made better music without all the fuss. So I stopped all the fuss, and headed back to the dollar bin lol.

jrides wrote:A lot of times the internetz can get pretty anal about sampler input / output stages. 90-98% of the sampled hip hop in rotation in the U.S. was sampled through and older DJ mixer, All of the classic figures who defined / redifined U.S. hip hop sampled through older phono stages, with a 1200 deck and a beat up DJ needle. Pete Rock, Primo, Dilla etc. For the current crop of hitmakers who have studio footage on the youtubez, just check out their setups to see how hard they go with DI's, preams, phono pre's, mogami cables etc.

jibber wrote:I agree that many songs have been sampled with cheap phono stages and beat up cartridges, but still... i feel like improving the "quality of the sample" can never hurt... to me it feels like my stuff sounds better (just the sound quality) and is easier to mix since i've upgraded my "sample source/signal path".

I agree with both of you.
I have made nice music with both expensive and poor setups (monitors/cart-needles/mixers etc).

I just feel that I cant shut my eyes if there are a few good options for me out there.

I think Ive made up my mind. Ill go for both! A vintage 70s phono preamp on an old receiver for making 90s hip hop and when I gather money I will go for the Cambridge Audio phono preamp to use when I make more modern sounding beats and even for restoration purposes.

Please take the time and listen to the soundcloud audio in my signature.
Most beats are sampled through my PMC05II and some on an old Gemini scratchmaster and I rocked the Stanton 500-AL needle back then.

At the end of the day it didnt matter what preamp I used. A good track was always a resault of good beatmaking and good mixing on the console.

Peace!