Portland Sheriff
Well-Known Member
On the MP7B and MP8B, is the mono switch a standard fold down type switch or is it a cart-switching function for those switching between a mono cart and a stereo cart?
From Darlington Labs F.A.Q.On the MP7B and MP8B, is the mono switch a standard fold down type switch or is it a cart-switching function for those switching between a mono cart and a stereo cart?
Thank you. I meant to edit my post to say I’d emailed with Keith and confirmed the fold-down.From Darlington Labs F.A.Q.
How is your mono switch configured electrically?
Our mono switch places the positive inputs from the cartridge in direct parallel (this parallel junction is accomplished in series with a 1 ohm resistor intended to damp any possible parasitic effects in the input leads). No additional circuitry is added. When not in use I.e., ’normal stereo”, there are no additional circuit elements including switches are in the signal path.
It is the equivalent of wiring a stereo cartridge to mono right at the headshell.
Ours is completely silent in its sonic operation and can be switched while listening to a record, without muting your system or worrying about transient “pops” like some of our competitors.
Are the power supply and the included mono and jack upgrades the main difference between the MP7B and the MP8B?Thank you. I meant to edit my post to say I’d emailed with Keith and confirmed the fold-down.
Darlington MP8B ordered. Looking forward to hearing the difference between it and my Elac Alchemy PPA-2, which I really like and is more expensive.
Thanks for this response. I am thinking about switching out my MP7B for an MP8B. I've only had the MP7B for about 2 weeks and it's excellent. I 'm thinking I'll just go all in on the MP8B and be done with phono preamps for a while. That said, I'm very happy where I am at now. It's only money.I’m not completely certain of the answer. I went with MP8B for general flexibility and I wanted the core upgrades anyway (power, jacks and switch). I hesitate to send anyone to Steve Hoffman Forums, but that’s where the most anal retentive “audiophiles” reside, and Keith is very responsive there.
This is from a post on SHF where someone is quoting an email from Keith: “MP8B – Includes all features from MP7B and steps up to a 70V rails with Dual Mono power supply regulation, and also upgrades certain critical resistors to precision thin-film resistors.”
And also from Keith a page or two later on SHF: “MP8B has 70VDC full dual-mono power supply regulation and a number of enhanced quality passive parts over the MP7B which has one shared 68V power supply regulation circuit powering both channels. Note that the MP8B includes a Mono switch and Upgraded jacks as the base model. Compare MP7B with the Mono switch and Upgraded Jacks options from the base model which lacks them to determine exact cost differential for your needs. User adjustment feature set is the same. Slightly better distortion, overload and max out specs on the MP8B.“
I’m sure there’s more on SHF if you continue through that thread.
Lastly, Keith’s answer to an inquiry on the Darlington FAQ page:
View attachment 198896
Do they not make the MM-5 anymore? I don't see it on their website.
Darn, that was a great preamp at it's price point.I think they discontinued it in favour of the 6, 7 and the new 8.
I don’t see you defending the 1-4.Darn, that was a great preamp at it's price point.
Darn, that was a great preamp at it's price point.