Vintage gear with great on-board phono stages.

[JohnVF]

I'd like to welcome everybody to nominate and discuss some of the vintage pieces they've had that have had great onboard phono stages. I've been rather vocal about -not- liking a lot of the phono stages on older gear, BUT...there have been exceptions. I've been reminded of this by acquiring another Yamaha A-1 integrated amp. But there have been others.

Yamaha A-1 (1978-ish)

This integrated amp has both MM and MC capability, though only the MM input can be tweaked for loading...and then only with loading plugs (that go into loading RCA inputs on the back). The plugs are 47kohm and 68kohm. Without any plugs, the input is 100kohm.

By pressing "DISC" on the front of the unit, all tone and selector controls are bypassed, and you essentially have the volume and phono stage being directly connected to the power amp section.

It's truly a great sounding phono stage, equivalent to some of the outboard stages I've used (it reminds me a bit of the Musical Surroundings Nova).


Onkyo A7 integrated, 2500mkII receiver, 4500mkII receiver.

I've had the three Onkyo units above, all from the late 1970s, and each of them had a phono stage that was better than equivalents in most of the other units similar to them that I've had. I'd read somewhere that Onkyo was, at the time, a smaller company than its competition and thought to set itself apart by having a phono stage a step up from them... if so, they succeeded. These are MM only...bring your SUT!

Sony TA-F808es.
This late '80s/early 1990s show-off piece from Sony's ES lineup has a stellar onboard phono stage, I ran mine with a Shelter 501 LOMC on a MItsubishi LT-30 linear tracker into big Spendor SP100s... GOOD TIMES.

Luxman 5L-15 integrated amp. 1979?

Part of Luxman Laboratory Reference Series, the 5L-15, in my use, out-shown the separates from the same series. I liked it so much, I tracked down the amp and preamp (and tuner) and... yeah, the 5L-15 was just better sounding. It had a very clean, detailed, open phono stage in it. In some ways, this integraed amp is the grandfather of the Luxman L-507u that I use today..which, also, has a wonderful phono stage. Keep it in the family...

And that's about it. Some I didn't spend enough time with to form an opinion, but most others were let-downs, considering vinyl was THE medium at the time. Even when I was collecting a wall of vintage receivers and integrateds, I often bypassed the phono stages...even with a cheap NAD PP2!

 

[Punker X]

Two that stand out for me that I have direct experience with is the Sansui AU-919, rarely gets played but sounds quite nice with a Shure V15 III when I fire up vintage living room system.

The other is in the Kenwood 700C, used as my main pre before moving on to tubes.

 

[mhardy6647]

This is the kind of thing I thought I'd test extensively after I retired.
A decade into that gig -- nope, not yet.
It's an interesting question.

 

[JohnVF]

Two that stand out for me that I have direct experience with is the Sansui AU-919, rarely gets played but sounds quite nice with a Shure V15 III when I fire up vintage living room system.

The other is in the Kenwood 700C, used as my main pre before moving on to tubes.

Nice to hear of the 919, those have always been on my "yes I would buy one of those at the right price". I had a later mid '80s, but still nice, AU-x901 but rarely used the phono input, though I have listened to one that a friend has, usually with a V-15vmr. It was quite nice... I should give it a shout out, but I think maybe the phono stage is better than the overall amp was. It was a bit dark sounding and needed careful matching with speakers.

 

[S0und Dragon]

The Phono on my Onkyo A-G10 was shockingly good. I was just dumbfounded when I finally tried it after years of ignoring it and writing it off. Goes to show you that biases can deprive you of a great experience.

The Plinius Hautonga also had a very worthy Phono stage that rivals separate phono stages. Just an all around great performing integrated amp that is under the radar.

The Phono on the Denon PRA-2000RG was so good that it allowed me to sell off a few Highly Regarded phono stages. Built purposefully by the Denon engineers to prove that they were not messing around, the transformers in the MC section were selected from S1 level pedigree. Truly an outstanding performer all around.

While the Phono in my Marantz PM90 is ok, the one in my briefly owned PM-10 was outstanding for MM and SUT but a bit limited on MC. Loved this integrated amp but fell for the naysayers that it was class D. It also didn’t beat the lovely A-G10, so I sold it and kept the Onkyo.

I have a Onkyo TX-8500 here that I have yet to try for op playback as well as a Sansui AU11000 that needs to go back to my tech.

 

[mhardy6647]

If memory serves, this GAS preamp is (was) reputed, BITD, to have a good phono section.
The Thoebe was, I believe, a reduced-frills but otherwise very close sibling to GAS's Thaedra preamp.
I've never tried it. It might be fun to try. I do own one or two decent standalone phono preamps to compare it to (believe it or not!).



GAS hardware tended to be a little over-designed and a little finicky and a little more glitch/failure prone than mass-market contemporaries -- but it sounded good when working properly. This particular preamp, if memory serves, has been semi-rehabbed, but isn't necessarily in 'good as new' condition (much less better than new condition).

 

[JohnVF]

From the sane era, I had an Audire Legato preamp that was very simple but had a lovely phono stage. I had convinced myself that the Klyne Sk6 that replaced it had a better phono stage, because Klyne stages were “legendary” but looking back, I think my ears were right. The Audire just sounded better. I think the Audire fella was an Apollo engineer so there’s that.

 

[JohnVF]

The Phono on my Onkyo A-G10 was shockingly good. I was just dumbfounded when I finally tried it after years of ignoring it and writing it off. Goes to show you that biases can deprive you of a great experience.

The Plinius Hautonga also had a very worthy Phono stage that rivals separate phono stages. Just an all around great performing integrated amp that is under the radar.

The Phono on the Denon PRA-2000RG was so good that it allowed me to sell off a few Highly Regarded phono stages. Built purposefully by the Denon engineers to prove that they were not messing around, the transformers in the MC section were selected from S1 level pedigree. Truly an outstanding performer all around.

While the Phono in my Marantz PM90 is ok, the one in my briefly owned PM-10 was outstanding for MM and SUT but a bit limited on MC. Loved this integrated amp but fell for the naysayers that it was class D. It also didn’t beat the lovely A-G10, so I sold it and kept the Onkyo.

I have a Onkyo TX-8500 here that I have yet to try for op playback as well as a Sansui AU11000 that needs to go back to my tech.

When the Japanese companies get on a bug to prove something -that’s the gear to get. That Denon looks sweet.

 

[mhardy6647]

Wish I had an Advent 300...

 

[JohnVF]

Wish I had an Advent 300...

Does it live up to the hype? I've always wanted an Apt Holman but I have no place to put it and there's a bunch of external phono stages in the closet. I've also had a few things that were said to have great phono stages and when I got them? They were fine. Nothing special. The ARC SP-3a1 comes to mind. My mid-life-crisis use of kid-slang would say it's "mid".

 

[prime minister]

Sansui AU-D11ii - beautiful built in phono preamp. Flaky amp design that can sound great if it's been in the right hands.

Sony 808ES - Not the most detailed, but smooth and lovely to listen to. Quiet enough for my oddball low output Grados too.

 

[adaug]

DI've always wanted an Apt Holman but I have no place to put it and there's a bunch of external phono stages in the closet.

also wanted to try Apt Holman and finally did. in my system to my tastes it was fine, but not exceptional. one of those things that points out that modern gear really might be better than vintage

 

[JohnVF]

also wanted to try Apt Holman and finally did. in my system to my tastes it was fine, but not exceptional. one of those things that points out that modern gear really might be better than vintage

That’s the other thing holding me back. Even what I recommended in my first post- it’s good compared to its contemporaries. Not compared to everything current.

 

[prime minister]

also wanted to try Apt Holman and finally did. in my system to my tastes it was fine, but not exceptional. one of those things that points out that modern gear really might be better than vintage

I wish it weren't the case, but it usually is.

 

[mhardy6647]

Yup.
And I don't really know vis-a-vis the Advent 300.
That's why I'd like to have one!

I have, courtesy of Gary Kaufman, an Advent 400 (well, part of one) -- but no phono section in those.

 

[JohnVF]

Yup.
And I don't really know vis-a-vis the Advent 300.
That's why I'd like to have one!

I have, courtesy of Gary Kaufman, an Advent 400 (well, part of one) -- but no phono section in those.

Is that an audiophile thermostat?

 

[Andyman]

Wish I had an Advent 300...

Ugh, I just sold mine a few months ago. It was a tweaked one I got from Rich at AK who got it from Dennis there. I never used the phono, so I can’t comment, but the amplifier was the weak spot.

All I used it for was FM in the bedroom, and BT streaming from my phone. When I found a stream for my local NPR, I sold it and run the streams into an SMSL chip amp I was using as a power amp off the Advent.

They aren’t too expensive online; you could probably find a serviceable one for phono duty under $100 if none show up at the transfer station for you!

 

[JohnVF]

Even the ones I recommend from the vintage receivers I had, like the Onkyos…. They’re perfectly serviceable but I think a Schiit Mani would give them a run. Which is also as much a compliment to the Schiit. It’s not perfect but it’s sins of omission, it doesn’t offend in any way to my ears.

But there’s just something right about using the phono input….

Anybody have a Mac-4100? I had one but never used it with a turntable. It did 2-channel AV and CD in a bedroom setup. I’m curious how their stages were.

 

[ontheroad]

Onkyo A7 integrated

Ah one of my first big scores, alongside a T-4 tuner and a few other pieces for a benjamin and change.

I recall it sounding more clinical than any other vintage amp I had listened to at that point, in the most enjoyable sense - detailed, yet an easy listen day or night. Wife hated the look of them stacked so they found new homes.

Although, one was up for sale here locally just yesterday...

 

[JohnVF]

Ah one of my first big scores, alongside a T-4 tuner and a few other pieces for a benjamin and change.

I recall it sounding more clinical than any other vintage amp I had listened to at that point, in the most enjoyable sense - detailed, yet an easy listen day or night. Wife hated the look of them stacked so they found new homes.

Although, one was up for sale here locally just yesterday...

Mine was resto-modded by Quirk Audio, who sometimes posts here. The list of things done is similar to what's mentioned here, it's rather extensive, and in fact I think my unit may be one of the ones referred to. If you find another I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the upgrades here...its a terrific amp.

Onkyo A7 Upgrade - QuirkAudio

Onkyo A7 upgrade

quirkaudio.com