Uber 7 Phono Amplifier - Background.... the choice.

Once upon a time……., as an impressionable young teenager following my older sister around like a lost puppy, I was introduced to maybe the finest audio system I’d ever heard (certainly the finest for quite a few years). Owned by a guy named “Doug”, a very good friend of my sisters’ boyfriend (later to become her husband) and comprised of the following: B&O Beogram 4000 linear-tracking turntable, Marantz Model 7 Pre-amplifier, Marantz Model 8b Stereo amplifier and a pair of the most iconic speakers of the day…. Klipschorns.

We spent many hours on several occasions listening to some of the finest vinyl of the era on that system. From Purple - Made in Japan to the MFSL reissue of Dark Side of the Moon. It was a magical experience. Conversely, and as luck would have it, we also had one of the premier audio salons (Flanner and Hafsoos) located in the local mall at our listening disposal as well……..(this is another long story, better saved for another installment). This audio salon was a dealership for the audio pairing that everyone my age (and older) remembers…… Klipsch and McIntosh…. Flanner’s had a special listening room set up at the back of the store featuring their “Ultimate” system…yeah you guessed it, the B&O Beogram 4000 linear-tracking turntable, McIntosh C28 Pre-amplifier and a pair of McIntosh MC30’s driving the very same Klipschorns… Long story short, the sales guys at Flanner and Hafsoos were more than happy to let a couple of teenagers “kick the tires” on Saturday afternoons when the mall was filled with screaming kids and “buyers” wouldn’t even think of stopping by for a demo….. so again, many hours spent listening to some of the very same albums, lots of MFSL titles and the sales guys’ favorites….

Although it sounded “good”, it simply did NOT have the same magic that Doug’s system did….., Why? Surely the C28 and MC30 MONO-BLOCKS would destroy the Marantz stuff? Same TT, same speakers….but, NO, the Flanner’s system didn’t have the same “you are there” feeling, it didn’t have the same magic. Years later I had the opportunity to A-B the Marantz 8b and a pair of McIntosh MC30’s….., the MC30’s were CLEARLY better. More weight, more air, more of everything really. I also happened to own a McIntosh C28, in fact it was the pre-amp of choice in my main system for many years. As an example of an early solid-state design it sounded pretty good AT LINE LEVEL…, the phono section was best described as…. meh.

OMG! The epiphany! The magic difference-maker in Doug’s system was the phono section of the Marantz 7, able to even overcome the handicap of the power amplifier performance differential. Who would’ve thunk? Well, unbeknownst to me, a LOT of people in the DIY community…. The consensus for the three “best” phono-stage circuits are: The Marantz 7, the EMT JPA 66, and Tim de Paravicini’s EAR 864 in all of it’s iterations and modifications…….. So, nowhere in this list is the highly regarded LCR phono amplifier that I’m currently using, and to clarify: IT DOESN’T HAVE THAT MAGIC EITHER.

Ultimately, the choice is clear. The Marantz circuit is the only one that can be pared-down to just the essential elements for the playback of 33 1/3 and 45 rpm LP’s. Although the EMT is a fine unit, it’s the “jack of all trades”, capacitance, loading, and every single curve ever produced….., yeah, not for me. Hmm, the EAR 864 may be great, who knows? I haven’t heard it. But the Marantz 7 is the only phono amplifier that brought this 15 year old to tears listening to Child in Time some 40+ years ago.

So why build a phono amplifier at all? Why not just find an original Marantz 7? These questions I’ll address in the next installment, stay tuned…. ;) Matt.