Phono pre amp question

[S Clark]

All excellent gear.  Go get your pricey phono pre and let us know what you think. 

[long_island_audio_nut]

It would help to know what it will match up with.   Every phono preamp I have owned were different from each other, but none made as much difference as a cartridge upgrade or even a stylus upgrade.
What is your table, your cartridge, your tonearm, your tonearm cable, and the interconnects from phono pre to preamp?

My system is:
Classe C200 200 watt power amp
Mctintosh C2600 pre-amp
VPI Classic II turntable with a Clear audio Mastro MM cartridge
Sonus Faber Olympia II speakes

[S Clark]

That's a nice vinyl rig.  A good phono preamp will definitely make a difference. 

[long_island_audio_nut]

That's a nice vinyl rig.  A good phono preamp will definitely make a difference.

Thanks.  I am very happy with it and I know that I would get a better sound out of a good phono pre-amp verses directly into the Mac. 

The reviews of the Coincidence are all excellent but would still love to be able to hear the dam thing before I go out and spend 6 to 7 k on it

[S Clark]

The reviews of the Coincidence are all excellent but would still love to be able to hear the dam thing before I go out and spend 6 to 7 k on it

Unfortunately, reviews are often suspect... and none tell you what it will sound like in your system.
Do they ever come up used?  If it disappointed, you could move along and probably get 80% of your money back.   

[James Edward]

It's not the only game in town- there are many great phono preamps out there that offer a trial period, either sold directly or through online dealers that offer a trial. I'm old enough to have been disappointed by a number of expensive audiophile products and their reviews.
Good luck in your quest, but don't get too caught up on one product and it's reviews. Ten years ago I was laid up with shoulder surgery, and auditioned DACs from four different companies. Sure, it costs shipping to send them back, but it was eye opening. I only say this because phono preamps are relatively light and small to ship, nothing like amplifiers and speakers.
Spoiler- I kept what I had because the cost of 'upgrading' was not justified.

[GDHAL]

The reviews of the Coincidence are all excellent but would still love to be able to hear the dam thing before I go out and spend 6 to 7 k on it

Unfortunately, reviews are often suspect... and none tell you what it will sound like in your system.
Do they ever come up used?  If it disappointed, you could move along and probably get 80% of your money back.

True. Reality though is that these days a $7K purchase not seeing and/or hearing is more common and IMO really with only moderate risk, provided of course there is sufficient do diligence on the part of the buyer.

EDIT: If I'm not mistaken I think Mark Cuban holds the record for largest financial transaction via the internet, and without seeing the item prior and in person....it was/is a jet plane, and it cost him few million 

[GDHAL]

It's not the only game in town- there are many great phono preamps out there that offer a trial period, either sold directly or through online dealers that offer a trial. I'm old enough to have been disappointed by a number of expensive audiophile products and their reviews.
Good luck in your quest, but don't get too caught up on one product and it's reviews. Ten years ago I was laid up with shoulder surgery, and auditioned DACs from four different companies. Sure, it costs shipping to send them back, but it was eye opening. I only say this because phono preamps are relatively light and small to ship, nothing like amplifiers and speakers.
Spoiler- I kept what I had because the cost of 'upgrading' was not justified.

I propose it is or at least can be normal to get caught up on a product and reviews.

Terrible, the only game in town
Passenger, don't you hear me?
Destination seen unclearly.

Best.

Hal

[steve]

Unfortunately, reviews are often suspect... and none tell you what it will sound like in your system.
Do they ever come up used?  If it disappointed, you could move along and probably get 80% of your money back.

So true. Both personal and professional.

Cheers

steve

[long_island_audio_nut]

The reviews of the Coincidence are all excellent but would still love to be able to hear the dam thing before I go out and spend 6 to 7 k on it

Unfortunately, reviews are often suspect... and none tell you what it will sound like in your system.
Do they ever come up used?  If it disappointed, you could move along and probably get 80% of your money back.

True. Reality though is that these days a $7K purchase not seeing and/or hearing is more common and IMO really with only moderate risk, provided of course there is sufficient do diligence on the part of the buyer.

EDIT: If I'm not mistaken I think Mark Cuban holds the record for largest financial transaction via the internet, and without seeing the item prior and in person....it was/is a jet plane, and it cost him few million 

I totally agree.  And what worries me is I have never read a review where they say "Do not waste your money".  Of course they never would because it's the companies that make the equipment that are putting money in their pockets