MikeH
Well-Known Member
Is there a specific newsletter for open box? Or it’s in the regular newsletter?
Audio Hardware Deals: Speakers, Headphones, Turntables, Etc.
- Thread starter AnthonyI
- Start date
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
I've gotten specific "Open Box" newsletters, but it's generated from the same sign up/newsletter.
zdkaiser
Well-Known Member
Yeah, saw those. I'm passing on the MoFi preamp for now. I've read it doesnt always pair well with Rega turntables because they lack external ground wires. Hums.
$450. Very intrigued by the Project Tube S2. Looks like it can handle both MC and MM carts, plenty of adjustable gain settings, sub filter, and removable tubes. Also like the small size, so I can tuck it in between my components. Seems like one of the few affordable tube preamps that isn't just garbage.
Also, it used to sell for $399. Now it's S450 everywhere. So, my frugal side demands I find it for $400 or less.
I wouldn’t buy that unit. It’s not a true the unit. It’s a solid state unit with a tube buffer- basically the tube acts as a tone control.
I’d buy this. Under budget too. Factory direct so you aren’t paying for dealer markup.
Darlington Labs MM-6 Phono Preamplifier Review
Behind the phono cartridge, a system’s phono preamplifier has the second most difficult job in an analog lover’s system, and is often overlooked. The phono preamplifier’s job is twofold. First, it amplifies the tiny voltage put out by the phono cartridge to a voltage high enough for the...
www.needlesandgrooves.com
I’d just caution on that one. It isn’t a tube preamp. It’s a solid state preamp that uses tubes to colour the sound. I like some of their tables but I’m also not 100% on board with pro-jects electronics side. I’d be tempted to save some money and buy the Darlington that HiFi Guy reviewed unless you’re 100% set on needing to use MC cartridges.
zdkaiser
Well-Known Member
Thanks, I will look into the Darlington.I wouldn’t buy that unit. It’s not a true the unit. It’s a solid state unit with a tube buffer- basically the tube acts as a tone control.
I’d buy this. Under budget too. Factory direct so you aren’t paying for dealer markup.
Darlington Labs MM-6 Phono Preamplifier Review
Behind the phono cartridge, a system’s phono preamplifier has the second most difficult job in an analog lover’s system, and is often overlooked. The phono preamplifier’s job is twofold. First, it amplifies the tiny voltage put out by the phono cartridge to a voltage high enough for the...
Not sure you guys are right about this. I've read there is no solid state in the S2 and it's pure tubes.
Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Review | Vinyl Restart
A few months ago I bought my first ever tube phono preamp to use with my turntables.
vinylrestart.com
dansomeone
Well-Known Member
That review states the S2 is a hybrid, with both transistors and tubes.Not sure you guys are right about this. I've read there is no solid state in the S2 and it's pure tubes.
Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Review | Vinyl Restart
A few months ago I bought my first ever tube phono preamp to use with my turntables.
zdkaiser
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I am wrong. I didn't think it said it was explicitly a hybrid, not clear to me. Says they are "usually a hybrid." So I guess that must be the case. Guess it is back to the drawing board for me. Thanks for your help everyone.
Avoid anything with a tube at your price point. The Pro-ject is a hybrid: solid state with a tube buffer on the output.
zdkaiser
Well-Known Member
Thanks. Yeah, I misinterpreted the review.
displayname
Well-Known Member
A good dealer can hit those price cuts, but they won't usually advertise them. Buy more with them, send them business, you'll see them start knocking some off the top, especially when you ask.
displayname
Well-Known Member
And now a preachy addition:
If you stop shopping for the lowest possible price, you might find a retailer or dealer is still in business when you're ready to upgrade. Consistency and trust with vendors does have a value, and it's normally worth more than 10%.
If you stop shopping for the lowest possible price, you might find a retailer or dealer is still in business when you're ready to upgrade. Consistency and trust with vendors does have a value, and it's normally worth more than 10%.
Last edited:
Russ I
Well-Known Member
I don't think the two (looking for a good price and working with a local dealer) are incompatible, and I believe that's part of what you're saying. I'm fortunate to have a local dealer of multiple brands (mid- to high-end), which allows me to hear before I buy, and he's very fair with his pricing.
MikeH
Well-Known Member
I'm hoping to find a decent dealer when I move. I really disliked the dealer I bought my amp from in NYC but they were the only place I could demo and buy the amp I wanted at the time. I'd love to find a good somewhat local place after I get settled in. I'd love a place I could demo and trade in gear/buy stuff local.
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
I wish I had a decent local, the only one near me is about 45 minutes away and when I reached out to them for a simple question they pretty much snubbed me. I'm happy giving my money to Upscale at the moment, they've really done good by me both in taking the time to discuss options and offering up discounts for being a repeat customer.
In a perfect wall it could be like back in the day where dealers were plentiful and you could find somewhere to demo the gear you were looking into, alas, not the case for most of us in the here and now.
MikeH
Well-Known Member
my "local" dealer was in manhattan and the epitome of a snobby audio dealer. i went there on a lunch break once because they were the only place that had some of the brands i was initially looking at for amps. the place was empty and they had 4 salespeople in there. not a single one said anything to me because i was in my late 20s at the time and I guess I didn't look the part of someone who wanted to buy some nice gear. one salesman just actively ignored me when i asked for help and pretended to walk to the back of the store. i was about to leave when one guy finally came out from another room and asked if anybody had helped me yet. i ended up buying my amp there since it was the only place i could buy it in person and felt weird ordering online at the time but never went back.
Russ I
Well-Known Member
I
NY haha
MikeH
Well-Known Member
I was ready to drop a few thousand dollars there too. They didn't have to sell me on anything. Ended up spending way less than I would have because of how unfriendly they were. They were all working on commission and ran to help out anybody dressed in a suit hah.I
Russ I
Well-Known Member
It's so cliche, it's kind of funny and definitely true. Of course, if they had helped you, it wouldn't have been wise to have believed anything they'd said!
JohnnyCashFan
Well-Known Member
Thanks, I will look into the Darlington.
Not sure you guys are right about this. I've read there is no solid state in the S2 and it's pure tubes.
Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Review | Vinyl Restart
A few months ago I bought my first ever tube phono preamp to use with my turntables.
Alot of fans of the Hagerman Cornet out there. Not much to look at but supposed to sound very good (3 12AX7 tubes).