First post

Hello everyone, I'm Mike.

I recently got back into cassettes and since then have restored a couple Walkmans and have also built a phono tube preamp for myself.

I'm actually looking for some Sony Wm-dd1 parts, so I'll make another post over in that section.

 

Welcome! Please post more about your phono preamp build!
Building my own is beyond my skills, so I got mine from PJL Electronics. My previous setup had a SS phono from Naim Audio, but being able to adjust RIAA setting to my present (rather modest) system has turned out to be a serious benefit

 

It was a kit from Tavish Design but I changed some of the parts where I saw fit (upgrading a couple caps) or when a part was unavailable. All I got was the board from Tavish with 4 tiny SMD FETs pre-installed.

I recently had to open it back up to resolder some joints as I was getting some noise but it's all back together.

The preamp runs off 6SL7 tubes, but instead of opting for the expensive new Tung Sols I've been trying used RCA and Sylvania tubes. Sylvanias have an airy sound where as the RCAs have a more detailed lower mid range. I usually go with the Sylvanias but I recently have kept 2 Sylvanias in the front 2 positions and have left an RCA in the back position to try to gain the benefits of both. They do sound nice. Nice enough I've been doing several needledrops lately that sound fantastic.

I chose that kit/design since it supports both MM and MC and has adjustable cartridge loading settings. I really think it's an upgrade to the Pro-ject Tube Box DS I used for several years.