I have a couple of Sabaj A10h headphone amps. I use them with two vintage receivers in the tape monitor loops because they have RCA ins/outs and remote volume control. Improves my listening experience dramatically especially when streaming because the volume varies so much. I also use remote power switches. All the comforts of modern with the coolness of vintage!Accessories can make a big difference.
Indeed. And that is the approach I plan to take going forward. If there is some modern tech add on that might bring better sound, ease of use or more functionality, I plan to try it out and review it.
It is also supposed to ideally apply the proper loading to MM carts, which was overlooked in generic vintage stereo gear like receivers. Improper capacitance loading can deviate the response curve upper end.
FYI - as an alternative - Another great phono preamp for $109 is made right here in the USA! Check out the U-Turn Audio Pluto 2 phono preamp made in Woburn, MA. I've run the original Pluto (1st version) for 9 years now. It still sounds great using high quality components and a simple circuit design. MM however only, no MC. It uses a wall wart (converts to 9V AC) to isolate the switching power supply from the internal PCB thereby reducing any generated noise. Perfect for vintage gear.
Maybe you can get ahold of an inverse RIAA generator to see if the frequency response is about equivalent between the two. See if there is a deviation in the response that could account for what you hear or if it is something else going on.
I have a Puffin phone preamp, I realize that many don't like how it converts to digital & back again but, I like it. Interesting about the Fosi. I tried out their monoblocks & thought they were somewhat harsh as well & returned them. I looked up your Sutherland battery powered phono preamp, found a used one for about $1250. Thanks for the video!
Have you tried the Schiit Mani II and the IFI Zen and compared to the Fosi? I have not heard any of them yet. Now I hear no hum and hardly anything from a low output(0.2mv) cartridge from my pre preamps at full volume. In fact I've never ran a wire from chassis to chassis and rereading my owners manuals only the Esoteric E-03 had a single sentence; 'Making a ground connection to the preamplifier may also help to improve sound quality.' Is there another advantage I'm missing?
Not an absolute requirement, if yours is running fine, no reason to fix what isn't broken. At least in my experience, it seems to be moreso related to a specific cartridge, not so much the turntable itself. I cannot explain what is the technical reason for that situation, but having it well grounded is typically the first thing to confirm.
@@stereoniche You know I'm been in to audio since the seventies(High School) and I'm always surprised at learning new things, and not just in audio. Surprisingly as I get older I keep a more open mind about how everything affects sound and enjoy really inexpensive to very expensive products. I don't discount a Koenigsegg Jesko because of its ridiculously over the top performance and price. By the way, I just realized something, since I met a new neighbor at a block party who is an audio enthusiast, he and his buddies have been asking me lots of questions on vintage audio that I don't really know much about; stuff like Schiit products, IFI and other affordable Phono pres, throwing model #s at me like I'm an encyclopedia, stuff I know nothing about. I'm going to suggest you and a couple of others and direct these questions to you. One thing I was wondering; do you have a warehouse or building to store all of your equipment or simply a very large home? Okay, one other thing: people complaining about correct pronunciation of niche? You say potato , I say potawto. Tell them to go scr@w themselves. Eh, you seem like to nice of a guy to say that. But I'm not. Great channel.
MY preamp has those little PC mount DIP switches on the back to select gain, resistance, capacitance and rumble. I wish they were up front instead of on the back. And bigger. But it is not a real expensive model.
Seeing as you brought it up in your opening comments, the word niche is a French word from the 17th century. Not something from the 1960s US. Just saying.😁 (pronounced neesh in French)
Yeah, I am trying to improve the video quality so I bought a new camera for 2025, but clearly I need a new mic. Thanks for the feedback! Now, off to research mics. LOL
I just found your channel. Thank you for an interesting video. I have the model prior to this Fosi, the X3 if I remember well, which uses tubes (small ones) and I like it pretty much. Just one thing, did I miss it or no mention of the type of cartridge you used for the test? if MM then it's fair, if MC, the Fosi might be at a disadvantage given the simplicity of its settings But I totally agree with your statement about the last 2%.... it can get crazy expensive for very minimal improvements
@@rogerboretskyjr5651 I'm sure they don't care as long as people are buying it. But there is an add in an old magazine where Technics says the proper pronunciation is "Tekneeks" It's a play on the word "technique" I thought everyone should have picked up on that.
@@robertwear1675 Yeap, I was aware of the play on technique spelling. Sometimes those reaching out even spell it that way (maybe spellcheck?). But it is used either way in the vernacular so I it is just a matter of what we are used to saying. Now, Akai? Aiwa? Hmmm. Maybe I should do a video on how to pronounce brand names. We have relatives in Austria, when Lidle grocery stores arrived here, oh boy the pronunciations we heard on that one. LOL
A phono preamp will not improve the turntable source component signal (Cartridge) It only passes on that signal with greater or lesser accuracy, You have to improve the signal from the cartridge first, before it starts its journey to be amplified.
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I have a couple of Sabaj A10h headphone amps. I use them with two vintage receivers in the tape monitor loops because they have RCA ins/outs and remote volume control. Improves my listening experience dramatically especially when streaming because the volume varies so much. I also use remote power switches. All the comforts of modern with the coolness of vintage!Accessories can make a big difference.
Indeed. And that is the approach I plan to take going forward. If there is some modern tech add on that might bring better sound, ease of use or more functionality, I plan to try it out and review it.
A phono input not only boosts the input signal
It also corrects for the RIAA eq curve added when cutting the record.
Yes it does.
It is also supposed to ideally apply the proper loading to MM carts, which was overlooked in generic vintage stereo gear like receivers. Improper capacitance loading can deviate the response curve upper end.
FYI - as an alternative - Another great phono preamp for $109 is made right here in the USA! Check out the U-Turn Audio Pluto 2 phono preamp made in Woburn, MA. I've run the original Pluto (1st version) for 9 years now. It still sounds great using high quality components and a simple circuit design. MM however only, no MC. It uses a wall wart (converts to 9V AC) to isolate the switching power supply from the internal PCB thereby reducing any generated noise. Perfect for vintage gear.
Maybe they will send one to me to compare. Thanks for the comment and heads up!
@@stereoniche You're welcome. That would be cool! P.S. I dig the channel.
Maybe you can get ahold of an inverse RIAA generator to see if the frequency response is about equivalent between the two. See if there is a deviation in the response that could account for what you hear or if it is something else going on.
I have several Fosi products and so far they are really impressing me for their cost.
I have a Puffin phone preamp, I realize that many don't like how it converts to digital & back again but, I like it. Interesting about the Fosi. I tried out their monoblocks & thought they were somewhat harsh as well & returned them. I looked up your Sutherland battery powered phono preamp, found a used one for about $1250. Thanks for the video!
it's be good to see how it compares to the phono preamp in a typical 70s receiver or integrated amp.
Have you tried the Schiit Mani II and the IFI Zen and compared to the Fosi? I have not heard any of them yet. Now I hear no hum and hardly anything from a low output(0.2mv) cartridge from my pre preamps at full volume. In fact I've never ran a wire from chassis to chassis and rereading my owners manuals only the Esoteric E-03 had a single sentence; 'Making a ground connection to the preamplifier may also help to improve sound quality.' Is there another advantage I'm missing?
Not an absolute requirement, if yours is running fine, no reason to fix what isn't broken. At least in my experience, it seems to be moreso related to a specific cartridge, not so much the turntable itself. I cannot explain what is the technical reason for that situation, but having it well grounded is typically the first thing to confirm.
I have a Schiit Mani and it performs far better than my Project PhonoBoxl Great value for the money!
@@stereoniche You know I'm been in to audio since the seventies(High School) and I'm always surprised at learning new things, and not just in audio. Surprisingly as I get older I keep a more open mind about how everything affects sound and enjoy really inexpensive to very expensive products. I don't discount a Koenigsegg Jesko because of its ridiculously over the top performance and price.
By the way, I just realized something, since I met a new neighbor at a block party who is an audio enthusiast, he and his buddies have been asking me lots of questions on vintage audio that I don't really know much about; stuff like Schiit products, IFI and other affordable Phono pres, throwing model #s at me like I'm an encyclopedia, stuff I know nothing about. I'm going to suggest you and a couple of others and direct these questions to you. One thing I was wondering; do you have a warehouse or building to store all of your equipment or simply a very large home? Okay, one other thing: people complaining about correct pronunciation of niche? You say potato , I say potawto. Tell them to go scr@w themselves. Eh, you seem like to nice of a guy to say that. But I'm not. Great channel.
MY preamp has those little PC mount DIP switches on the back to select gain, resistance, capacitance and rumble. I wish they were up front instead of on the back. And bigger. But it is not a real expensive model.
My Sutherland model doesn't even have the DIP switches, you have to pull off and move tiny little shunts to change the settings.
Seeing as you brought it up in your opening comments, the word niche is a French word from the 17th century. Not something from the 1960s US. Just saying.😁 (pronounced neesh in French)
LOL, well, I was quoting Websters, so we will have to take it up with them.
@@stereoniche don't worry, I'm French and we don't care how you pronounce niche in English. Do as you please, plus it's your channel so your rules
Love the channel but there a little distortion in the audio. Just for you to know. Keep the good work.😊
Yeah, I am trying to improve the video quality so I bought a new camera for 2025, but clearly I need a new mic. Thanks for the feedback! Now, off to research mics. LOL
Oh the irony…
@@jemsmay2167 I'll do a review of the new mic just for you. 🤣
I just found your channel. Thank you for an interesting video. I have the model prior to this Fosi, the X3 if I remember well, which uses tubes (small ones) and I like it pretty much.
Just one thing, did I miss it or no mention of the type of cartridge you used for the test? if MM then it's fair, if MC, the Fosi might be at a disadvantage given the simplicity of its settings
But I totally agree with your statement about the last 2%.... it can get crazy expensive for very minimal improvements
Can you compare it with the schiit mani preamp both around the same price point.
I don't care about how you say "niche" What bothers me more is how you pronounce "Tekneeks".
LOL, well, luckily I don't have much Technics gear to cover.
@@stereonicheLOL. I have a couple. An SP10MK3, SL 1200MK2 and a 1520 RTR.
I watched an interview with a Technics salesman and he said both pronunciations are correct. It depends on what part of the world you're in.
@@rogerboretskyjr5651 I'm sure they don't care as long as people are buying it. But there is an add in an old magazine where Technics says the proper pronunciation is "Tekneeks" It's a play on the word "technique" I thought everyone should have picked up on that.
@@robertwear1675 Yeap, I was aware of the play on technique spelling. Sometimes those reaching out even spell it that way (maybe spellcheck?). But it is used either way in the vernacular so I it is just a matter of what we are used to saying. Now, Akai? Aiwa? Hmmm. Maybe I should do a video on how to pronounce brand names. We have relatives in Austria, when Lidle grocery stores arrived here, oh boy the pronunciations we heard on that one. LOL
I’d be more it how this little preamplifier compares to a receiver preamplifier
Will this work with my Technics SL-1410mk2?
Absolutely.
A phono preamp will not improve the turntable source component signal (Cartridge) It only passes on that signal with greater or lesser accuracy, You have to improve the signal from the cartridge first, before it starts its journey to be amplified.
100 PERCENT AGREE, THE BETTER THE SOURCE THE BETTER THE SOUND.
Just don't say nucular.
NEVER! 😁
Strategery.
Improve any turntable by buying a CD Player is my take.
CDs are so 20th century.
LOL, well, for those that have ancient records, this may help. 😀
Smart guys have the ability to use various types of music media, both vintage and modern.
I did but cannot figure out how to play my records on it. CDs work but sound like crap