Over the past 25 years or so I’ve had various Rothwell products and they are superb. Currently have monoblocks with Indus passive pre amp, phono stage and step up transformer. Very happy.
Well done Phill for championing the lesser known products the gems drowned out by the shouting mainstream look at look at me’s. The company’s that are creating something for the pleasure and sound quality where everything is there or possibly not for a reason
I'm so delighted you have reviewed this. I have the railto and a headspace 2. Had them for years and I have been telling everyone I could how brilliant they are. Plus when I needed to know something from Rothwell, I got a phone call from Mr Rothwell himself. I have to say the products are 1st class. I love your channel and have been watching you since you started and were getting 20 views! Please can you review the simplex and the headspace 2 as well. Many thanks Rico
The Rothwell River interconnects are superb and great value for money. I haven't got a Rothwell phono amp but they sound great when partnered with my Graham Slee phono amp and headphone amp.
Looks a great product and the ideas behind it make perfect sense. There is no need for impedance switches etc. I had an original Groove from Tom Evans and that didn’t have any impedance or capacitance switches for the same reason. They were eventually added, not sure if for technical or customer requests. I have the latest version of the Groove + and there is barely any audible difference when using the switches to change things so are, in my case, surplus to requirements. I would be interested to hear the Rothwell SUT. Cheers
Thanks for sharing your opinions on this very interesting preamp, Phil. For the Simplex version, I hope you will be able to predict its match in terms of performance with the good old Stanton 681EEE cartridge, mounted on a midrange quartz locked turntable by JVC from the early 80's (no modifications on cabling and so, yet). Originally specified by Stanton as having 3,5 mV output and a load capacitance of 275 pF, with the normal 47 K Ohms resistance. Also wondering if it can be delivered with a power adapter with a European connector.
Hi Phill. Video idea. What would sound better. A MC into a Rothwell MCL step up then into the MM input on the Rothwell Rialto or MC cart into the Rialto MC input
I loved the Rothwell Simplex, but have just changed to a Spartan 15 by Michael Fidler. He’s another very good and fastidious engineer. I’d be interested on your option of these Philip.
Hi! I love your videos. I enjoy how low key you keep things. I have a Rega Planar 6 with the Apheta 2 MC cartridge, and a Fono MC preamp. I think you mentioned the Fono MM, but for what I have, would I be likely to hear a significant improvement if I replaced the Fono MC with this preamp?
Is it Rothwell who make the little Rca in line attenuators? Pretty sure I have a pair of those in a drawer somewhere. I agree that sometimes simplicity is best, and given that you only need to change settings on a phono stage when you change carts, it seems the right call. If you have multiple tables or like to swap carts regularly, there are plenty of other options available.
Phil - you might have noticed some mentions of Michael Fidler's Classic Audio products such as Spartan 5, 15 etc. I don't know if you obtain these for customers but if you do could you be persuaded to review one of his stages?
there is a benefit of having a small box you can put it close to the turntable you want the rca lead as short as possible to the phono stage ideally under the foot, at 50 ohm cable double shielded microphone cable is ideal. or you could try blue jeans zero capacitance cable. it doesn't matter about the length coming from the phono stage that can be 5-10 m at 50 ohms.
I owned a step up transformer from Rothwell dropped cod in selling it on ,recently I tried to purchase another one but never got a reply to my request a bit sad really because the SUT I had was brilliant
he follows a similar ethic to Michael fidler at classic audio, but not as well engineered. you don't want to have moving coil and and moving magnet in the same amplifier stage it degrades the sound ads noise. they need to be separate. it's about the same price as the Spartan 15. you can easily change your settings anyway without using a switch by getting a y adaptor and another RCA jack putting a capacitor and resistor of the value you need in parallel usually 220 ohm resistor, you can make different types of plugs to suit your needs and countries. you can buy them already made.
Rothwell have been going for decades. I tried the Classic Audio mc phono stage and didn't think much of it. Boring mid-fi. The Rothwell Simplex and MCX SUT was much more enjoyable.
@@hoodoo-man yeah it might be more enjoyable but it's not as accurate probably why you found it boring, didn't suit your system. and depends what cartridge you're using with it can have a bearing. what cartridges did you try?
Keeping it simple. I'm sure there's plenty of armchair engineers who'll spout some ignorant opinions. The people who build equipment like this do know what they are doing.
Moving coils work with MM inputs.... A dedicated MC input is never questioned... It's a bit of a myth... Try ur MC in ur MM... Note cheap Wima caps..Easily bettered by Mundorf Evo Oils etc
Over the past 25 years or so I’ve had various Rothwell products and they are superb. Currently have monoblocks with Indus passive pre amp, phono stage and step up transformer. Very happy.
Well done Phill for championing the lesser known products the gems drowned out by the shouting mainstream look at look at me’s. The company’s that are creating something for the pleasure and sound quality where everything is there or possibly not for a reason
I'm so delighted you have reviewed this. I have the railto and a headspace 2. Had them for years and I have been telling everyone I could how brilliant they are. Plus when I needed to know something from Rothwell, I got a phone call from Mr Rothwell himself. I have to say the products are 1st class. I love your channel and have been watching you since you started and were getting 20 views! Please can you review the simplex and the headspace 2 as well. Many thanks Rico
He is really good with handling questions. When I bought from him there was an offer to do a custom version with slightly different loading.
Another interesting video - thanks for taking the time.
I'm in the market for a new phono stage. I think your video has just made my mind up.
The Rothwell River interconnects are superb and great value for money. I haven't got a Rothwell phono amp but they sound great when partnered with my Graham Slee phono amp and headphone amp.
Looks a great product and the ideas behind it make perfect sense. There is no need for impedance switches etc.
I had an original Groove from Tom Evans and that didn’t have any impedance or capacitance switches for the same reason. They were eventually added, not sure if for technical or customer requests. I have the latest version of the Groove + and there is barely any audible difference when using the switches to change things so are, in my case, surplus to requirements.
I would be interested to hear the Rothwell SUT.
Cheers
Brilliant review and looking forward to seeing more reviews of smaller British brands Rothwell are really good as you say
I appreciate minimalist equipment. Thanks for using the word "magic." Now, to define this if possible....
Thanks for sharing your opinions on this very interesting preamp, Phil. For the Simplex version, I hope you will be able to predict its match in terms of performance with the good old Stanton 681EEE cartridge, mounted on a midrange quartz locked turntable by JVC from the early 80's (no modifications on cabling and so, yet). Originally specified by Stanton as having 3,5 mV output and a load capacitance of 275 pF, with the normal 47 K Ohms resistance. Also wondering if it can be delivered with a power adapter with a European connector.
I own two of the upgraded Simplex’s. I’ll never own anything else. They are excellent. You get far more return for your money with Rothwell.
Hi Phill. Video idea. What would sound better. A MC into a
Rothwell MCL step up then into the MM input on the Rothwell Rialto or MC cart into the Rialto MC input
I loved the Rothwell Simplex, but have just changed to a Spartan 15 by Michael Fidler.
He’s another very good and fastidious engineer.
I’d be interested on your option of these Philip.
Hi! I love your videos. I enjoy how low key you keep things. I have a Rega Planar 6 with the Apheta 2 MC cartridge, and a Fono MC preamp. I think you mentioned the Fono MM, but for what I have, would I be likely to hear a significant improvement if I replaced the Fono MC with this preamp?
Is it Rothwell who make the little Rca in line attenuators? Pretty sure I have a pair of those in a drawer somewhere.
I agree that sometimes simplicity is best, and given that you only need to change settings on a phono stage when you change carts, it seems the right call.
If you have multiple tables or like to swap carts regularly, there are plenty of other options available.
Phil - you might have noticed some mentions of Michael Fidler's Classic Audio products such as Spartan 5, 15 etc. I don't know if you obtain these for customers but if you do could you be persuaded to review one of his stages?
Looks a nice box phil. Can you do a review on the nd3 this week?
there is a benefit of having a small box you can put it close to the turntable you want the rca lead as short as possible to the phono stage ideally under the foot, at 50 ohm cable double shielded microphone cable is ideal. or you could try blue jeans zero capacitance cable. it doesn't matter about the length coming from the phono stage that can be 5-10 m at 50 ohms.
Have you tried a Schiit Skoll from the US? Discreet class A and balanced. Just released
I owned a step up transformer from Rothwell dropped cod in selling it on ,recently I tried to purchase another one but never got a reply to my request a bit sad really because the SUT I had was brilliant
When are you going to do the new rega aya.
Can you use it with a P6 where the phono stage appears to be integrated into the system
I'm confused. If you mean the Rega P6 turntable it has never had a built in phono stage. Only the P1+ has one.
How does it compare to the rega aria?
I have the same question.
he follows a similar ethic to Michael fidler at classic audio, but not as well engineered. you don't want to have moving coil and and moving magnet
in the same amplifier stage it degrades the sound ads noise. they need to be separate.
it's about the same price as the Spartan 15.
you can easily change your settings anyway without using a switch by getting a y adaptor and another RCA jack putting a capacitor and resistor of the value you need in parallel usually 220 ohm resistor, you can make different types of plugs to suit your needs and countries. you can buy them already made.
Rothwell have been going for decades. I tried the Classic Audio mc phono stage and didn't think much of it. Boring mid-fi. The Rothwell Simplex and MCX SUT was much more enjoyable.
@@hoodoo-man yeah it might be more enjoyable but it's not as accurate probably why you found it boring, didn't suit your system. and depends what cartridge you're using with it can have a bearing. what cartridges did you try?
Appreciate your reviews Phil, I actually found the Rialto too bright and went back to the one in my little Edwards Audio IA
Keeping it simple. I'm sure there's plenty of armchair engineers who'll spout some ignorant opinions. The people who build equipment like this do know what they are doing.
Moving coils work with MM inputs.... A dedicated MC input is never questioned... It's a bit of a myth... Try ur MC in ur MM... Note cheap Wima caps..Easily bettered by Mundorf Evo Oils etc