Anyone using Musical Fidelity V-LPS?

[dtainer]

I've done a search on the forum and saw only one mention. Since I've bought the V-DAC from the same line and, having been stunned by how good it's made my digital sound (it currently sounds better than my vinyl, which I had never before experienced!), I'm considering upgrading my phono preamp to the V-LPS for my Rega Planar 3.

There are a few phono preamps I've seen in the $149 price range, including the Rega Fono Mini, Music Hall, Cambride Audio, and NAD, among others, but I'm really interested if someone has comments, good or bad, on the V-LPS that they've put in their systems (or at least auditioned).
Thanks

[Rockstars]

The Musical Fidelity gives a good quality in this price range. I work in a HiFi store and we have several Phono pre-amps in this range. We did some testing and I think the V-LPS is much better then the Cambridge Audio 640P. But my choice was the Vincent PHO111. You need to give it some time. In the beginning it isn't that good but after a few day it's great.

http://www.vincent-tac.de/en/product-ty ... o-111.html

[dtainer]

That sounds really interesting--and it's also sold by the same folks I bought my V-DAC from, Audio Advisor. Unfortunately, there is very little in the way of reviews or comparisons with V-LPS or Cambridge 640P (or the other usual suspects in that price range).

One thing that appeals to me about the V-LPS is that I would imagine that it matches the sonic signature of the V-DAC, which I like very much. The one comment on the PHO-111 that I found in a search seems to suggest that I would like that one as well (in addition to your recommendation, thank you), and frankly, it looks a lot better than the Musical Fidelity--not that I should make that my deciding factor.

It's funny: I live in New York City, biggest city in the US, yet, I cannot find a place where I could audition this kind of equipment. There's Best Buy to get cheap stuff, or there's In Living Stereo that won't even look at me unless I have $100 bills falling out of my pockets and sleeves...

If anyone else on the board has comments about any of these phono pre's, but especially V-LPS or the Vincent PHO-111, I'd love to hear them.
DT

[Rockstars]

there's In Living Stereo that won't even look at me unless I have $100 bills falling out of my pockets and sleeves...

I hate this kind of stores!!!!!
I try to respect every costumer with his budget. And it's good for business also because if you help them in the right way now they may be come back later to buy a better turntable or pre-amp!!

[dtainer]

You're EXACTLY right!

Back in the days of stereo stores on every block, there certainly was a bit of an attitude, but they absolutely helped you at your price point. Now, the only bricks and mortar places that are still in business are extremely high end.

And don't get me wrong, In Living Stereo by no means treated me bad, but they did make it known that the price range I was in was not what their store was about.

I know rent in the big city is expensive and so you probably can't carry an extensive line of products, and want to maximize what you do carry, but the "long tail" as marketers call it, is something that is better done on-line than in a store, where you want to reach as many people as possible, especially those who live nearby...

[utahusker]

I realize I'm digging up an old thread, but did you buy the V-LPS? I bought one and added a Pyramid power supply, and I'm very impressed.

It has great dynamics top to bottom, and is silent. I hate to admit it, but it's better than my built-in phono stage on my Blueberry. Very happy indeed, considering I paid $150 for the V-LPS and power supply.

I'm using an AT33 PTG, Thorens TD-124, Hagerman Piccolo head amp, V-LPS into a Juicy Music Blueberry Extreme Preamp.

[alexg_ht]

I just acquired a VLPS and it sounds excellent for the price.

I replaced the electrolytic output capacitor with a smaller value polypropylene and the improvement is noticeable.

I also created a linear regulated power supply using toroidal transformers and it was another improvement.

After modification, this phonostage sounds like those in the $1K range.

[Whitneyville]

Alex, congratulations! You get to join the "I can improve this piece of equiptment for not a lot of money" club. I have an old Crown tube phono pre-amp, and I took it to the guy here in town that repairs tube-type Fender, Vox, and other good guitar amps,(and electric guitars) for re-building with new/better caps, metal film resistors (less noise) and we took the old linear supply out of the case and replaced with a MUCH higher powered switching supply, with the voltages carried by RG-6. He rarely does any hi-fi work but I think it was a challenge to him. My ooooold four channel record decoder box kit I built in high-school, is on it's third near total re-build. I get better components and better power supplies with now "dead-on" voltage regulation, and it sounds much better than new. I really wish I had bought a Heathkit component stereo system instead of a string of sportscars, because you know exactly what caps and resistors and transistors to replace in them to improve them, like my Heathkit Ham rig.

[dtainer]

I did end up getting the V-LPS. The first thing I did was get a new regulated power supply (Tripp-Lite PS-3a).

With the supplied wall-wart, it was good. Even though it was noticeably better than the vp29 rolls it replaced, it wasn't a stunning difference. However, after I plugged it into the PS-3a, the difference was substantial. The bass response was now excellent and as good as anything I've ever heard before. I have not heard $1000 phono preamps, but I have heard $300-$500 ones, and my current setup is at least as good.

If you get the V-LPS, since it uses opamps, which are sensitive to power supply, immediately get yourself a regulated power supply like a Pyramid PR-3 or the Tripp-Lite PS-3a. This will improve the performance level.

With my setup--a Rega Planar 3 through a V-LPS into a Yaqin MC84-L tube amp--my vinyl (clean, good condition records) sound exactly like my Apple Lossless through my V-DAC. I have Klipsch KG-2 speakers that work extremely well with my system in my NYC "living room".

[pbinpb57]

dtainer, I also bought a V-LPS recently and am very impressed. I've been A/B'ing the V-LPS with my trusty Phono Box SE II and the Musical Fidelity is the clear winner. I have a question about upgrading the power supply. Hopefully you can help me out. How did you connect the power supply to the preamp? Did you snip the cord off the wall wart or did you manufacture your own DC connector cable? One more thing, if you used the connector from the wall wart, which lead is the positive?

Thanks and Cheers

pb

[dtainer]

Someone PMd me about this on head-fi regarding my V-DAC. Here is the response I gave him:

Actually, I had an old USB-12V DC power cable that I used instead of cutting the one that came with the wall wart--I figured it would be better to have in case something happened to the PS.

What I did was cut off that cable at about the 3-inch mark by the 12v plug. I then stripped the wire down to the 3 leads (black, red, white) and the foil shield. I had an old 12awg extension cable that I cut off about a foot from. This had 3 leads also: green, red and white.

On the 12v cable, I twisted red and white together and left the foil intact and unfurled for use when I taped. I then twisted red and white on the cut extension cable. I connected (twisted, then soldered) the black to green, red-white to red-white (both from 12v cable to extension cable). I wrapped the black/green tightly with electrical tape, then wrapped the foil ground around the whole assembly (touching the red/white wiring) and wrapped that tightly in electrical tape around the entire cable. I added heat-shrink tubing to make it look a little better.

Finally, I stripped off the wire ends on the other side of the extension cords. I twisted the red-white together and left the green by itself. I then soldered these onto red and black banana plugs (yes, the same as used for speakers); with the red-white combo going to the red and the green (in my case) going to the black. These then plug into the same colored binding posts on the power supply.

I don't have a site for pictures so I can't include any, but this is basically the process. Others on head-fi have also mentioned this process in the V-DAC thread, though it is a long read (about 1000 posts?).
Good luck,
DT

[pbinpb57]

Thanks D

[utahusker]

This is the power supply I use. http://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-PS3-3-Amp-12-Volt-Supply/dp/B0002JTD2K/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270996193&sr=8-12

The more I listen to this phono stage, the more I like it. Granted my head amp costs over 3 times the price of the V-LPS.

[pbinpb57]

Have the same one. Just completed making the power cable for it. A quick trip to Rat Shack and now all is good.