Post by stads77 on Mar 20, 2015 7:16:19 GMT -5
Over the past 5 years my vinyl journey has consisted of:
Pro-ject Xpression III with Oyster cart
Replaced Oyster with Denon DL-110 after 6 months.
Added Speed Box after 6 months.
About 2 years ago I replaced this with a Pro-Ject RM5SE with Bluepoint cart, kept Speed Box.
replaced Bluepoint with Nagaoka MP-500 6 months later.
This is my current setup.
I have used many different preamps with my latest TT, which include:
Pro-Ject Phono Box s
Pro-ject Phono Box II
Pro-Ject Tueb box II
Pro-Ject Tube box II SE
Kraemer designs MMP-1
USP-1
XSP-1
XPS-1
MF VLPS I & II with and without 12V battery
Previous to my newly added Lounge Audio phono, I have found the largest improvements in my journey with the follow changes...
-Rewiring Pro-Ject RM5SE with Cardas tonearm wire (drastically improved surface noise and low level hum)
-Replacing BluePoint HOMC with Nagaoka MP-500 (added quiter background,less strained high end, refined low end, and improved dynamics, seperation of instruments, improved vocals, significant improved 3D imaging/soundstage)
This $300 MM phono stage has been a real revelation in my audio journey. I have often found my vinyl listening with my current setup to be very good sounding but not always pleasing. I have desired to add tube phono stages to my solid state system, in hopes that it would bring back the emotion and silk to listening to analogue over digital. I love a detailed yet pleasing to the ear and soul sound. My reference point has always been my friends setup (who in large part was the reason i pursued higher end audio), I have often been invited into his house for a few cocktails and good music. His setup consists of B&W 805's, McIntosh C2500 preamp, Adcom 555's bridged, and a VPI Scout with Dynavector 10x5.
His system is the most enveloping and pleasing I have ever heard. When you are sipping an aged Scotch or enjoying a summer Mojito, you find yourself in a state of pure enjoyment and contentment when listening to your favorite albums.
I have been chasing this dragon for the past 3 years with varied success and limited funds, but I can now confess that I am as close as i have ever been to having a very detailed and incredibly articulate system with just enough warmth and silk to make it pleasing and intoxicating. All this considering I dont have the funds for $3500 dollar speakers or $4000 pres and $2000 TT's. I have all used gear. Speakers cost me $400, Pre/Pro another $400, TT with Nagaoka $700.
The Lounge Phono has proved to be a great pairing with my current system, it brings out the most from my Nagaoka cart without introducing overly clinical, cold, or grainy adjectives as so many of my other stages have (all of them actually). I don't sense it has added any distortion or Tube like coloration, but rather a sense of cohesion to the music. The soundstage is wider and deeper then ever before, which helps to give you that sense of true musical awe. The mid range never decays, the top end lack the grain that I never knew was as prominent until listening with the Lounge Audio. I hope you all do not think I am saying this phono stage is somewhat soft or bloated, as it is as accurate and detailed as any phono stage I have used, actually more detailed. What amazes me is that the added detail and dynamics has not added what i have found to often be the case, harshness or edginess.
I am not an audio reviewer, I just like to listen to music and pursue a sound that pleases me. I am very pleased and cannot recommend this phono enough, it is cheap and sounds expensive, it reminds me of Emotiva in this way and even looks fantastic with its simple and elegant gloss black and sutle blue.
This is the review that lead me in a direction to pursue forums and such about this specific Phono, eventally causing me to purchase it.
www.newrecordday.com/lounge-audio-mkiii-lcr-phono-preamplifier/
If you find yourself perfectly happy with your MM cart, I highly recommend you consider this phono stage, especially if you find yourself in a similar situation as mine with a system that could be considerred a little bright and analytical, but not fully on board with adding Tube coloration.
Thx for reading,
Ben
Pro-ject Xpression III with Oyster cart
Replaced Oyster with Denon DL-110 after 6 months.
Added Speed Box after 6 months.
About 2 years ago I replaced this with a Pro-Ject RM5SE with Bluepoint cart, kept Speed Box.
replaced Bluepoint with Nagaoka MP-500 6 months later.
This is my current setup.
I have used many different preamps with my latest TT, which include:
Pro-Ject Phono Box s
Pro-ject Phono Box II
Pro-Ject Tueb box II
Pro-Ject Tube box II SE
Kraemer designs MMP-1
USP-1
XSP-1
XPS-1
MF VLPS I & II with and without 12V battery
Previous to my newly added Lounge Audio phono, I have found the largest improvements in my journey with the follow changes...
-Rewiring Pro-Ject RM5SE with Cardas tonearm wire (drastically improved surface noise and low level hum)
-Replacing BluePoint HOMC with Nagaoka MP-500 (added quiter background,less strained high end, refined low end, and improved dynamics, seperation of instruments, improved vocals, significant improved 3D imaging/soundstage)
This $300 MM phono stage has been a real revelation in my audio journey. I have often found my vinyl listening with my current setup to be very good sounding but not always pleasing. I have desired to add tube phono stages to my solid state system, in hopes that it would bring back the emotion and silk to listening to analogue over digital. I love a detailed yet pleasing to the ear and soul sound. My reference point has always been my friends setup (who in large part was the reason i pursued higher end audio), I have often been invited into his house for a few cocktails and good music. His setup consists of B&W 805's, McIntosh C2500 preamp, Adcom 555's bridged, and a VPI Scout with Dynavector 10x5.
His system is the most enveloping and pleasing I have ever heard. When you are sipping an aged Scotch or enjoying a summer Mojito, you find yourself in a state of pure enjoyment and contentment when listening to your favorite albums.
I have been chasing this dragon for the past 3 years with varied success and limited funds, but I can now confess that I am as close as i have ever been to having a very detailed and incredibly articulate system with just enough warmth and silk to make it pleasing and intoxicating. All this considering I dont have the funds for $3500 dollar speakers or $4000 pres and $2000 TT's. I have all used gear. Speakers cost me $400, Pre/Pro another $400, TT with Nagaoka $700.
The Lounge Phono has proved to be a great pairing with my current system, it brings out the most from my Nagaoka cart without introducing overly clinical, cold, or grainy adjectives as so many of my other stages have (all of them actually). I don't sense it has added any distortion or Tube like coloration, but rather a sense of cohesion to the music. The soundstage is wider and deeper then ever before, which helps to give you that sense of true musical awe. The mid range never decays, the top end lack the grain that I never knew was as prominent until listening with the Lounge Audio. I hope you all do not think I am saying this phono stage is somewhat soft or bloated, as it is as accurate and detailed as any phono stage I have used, actually more detailed. What amazes me is that the added detail and dynamics has not added what i have found to often be the case, harshness or edginess.
I am not an audio reviewer, I just like to listen to music and pursue a sound that pleases me. I am very pleased and cannot recommend this phono enough, it is cheap and sounds expensive, it reminds me of Emotiva in this way and even looks fantastic with its simple and elegant gloss black and sutle blue.
This is the review that lead me in a direction to pursue forums and such about this specific Phono, eventally causing me to purchase it.
www.newrecordday.com/lounge-audio-mkiii-lcr-phono-preamplifier/
If you find yourself perfectly happy with your MM cart, I highly recommend you consider this phono stage, especially if you find yourself in a similar situation as mine with a system that could be considerred a little bright and analytical, but not fully on board with adding Tube coloration.
Thx for reading,
Ben
