I bought the Booze Hound so called "Deluxe" phono preamp PC boards and matched FETs. This project caught my interest due to its simple circuit, similar in concept to some of NP's circuit philosophy. Unfortunately it will be a bit before I have time to sniff solder flux. Anyway I was just curious if anyone has built it.
Below is the link if anyone wants a look at whats involved. Take a look at their construction manual too. For 99 bucks you receive 10 matched FET's and two nice quality PC boards. You source the R's, C's and case/hardware. If you are constructing a power supply then transformers, diodes and so forth.
Deluxe Phono Preamplifier – Boozhound Laboratories
Below is the link if anyone wants a look at whats involved. Take a look at their construction manual too. For 99 bucks you receive 10 matched FET's and two nice quality PC boards. You source the R's, C's and case/hardware. If you are constructing a power supply then transformers, diodes and so forth.
Deluxe Phono Preamplifier – Boozhound Laboratories
I have built this. It has no relation to any Pass stuff. You better use batteries...
Sounds good. Best to use MM cartridge that prefers low input capacitance since the input capacitance is quite high.
Not the best there is. But pretty good. Salas simplistic phono is a better, more complex version of this topology...but much more expensive to build.
Sounds good. Best to use MM cartridge that prefers low input capacitance since the input capacitance is quite high.
Not the best there is. But pretty good. Salas simplistic phono is a better, more complex version of this topology...but much more expensive to build.
Circuit looks like the Le Pacific with an extra adjustable gain stage and a output buffer similar to NP's.
Built the standard version as one of my first projects. I got the kit that came with the NOS Russian paper/oil caps. Have had it about 5 years.
As others have said, it is best with a battery power supply. I tried a couple of different SMPS supplies and it just wasn’t quiet enough.
I also took a couple cells out of the 24V NiMH pack I use after I realized it was charging to over 26V and I was hearing distortion. My pack now charges to just over 22V and I no longer have that issue.
I installed a cheap eBay voltage meter with a momentary switch so I can monitor the battery. It was too noisy to have running all the time.
It is a good sounding phono amp for the money.
As others have said, it is best with a battery power supply. I tried a couple of different SMPS supplies and it just wasn’t quiet enough.
I also took a couple cells out of the 24V NiMH pack I use after I realized it was charging to over 26V and I was hearing distortion. My pack now charges to just over 22V and I no longer have that issue.
I installed a cheap eBay voltage meter with a momentary switch so I can monitor the battery. It was too noisy to have running all the time.
It is a good sounding phono amp for the money.
Attachments
Nice effort and parts though.
Well something to play with now that I am resurrecting a vinyl playback setup.
I played with that phono stage for a long time. I didn’t care for the Russian pio caps in the kit and eventually replaced them with wima caps. A preferred batteries and alkalines sounded better than nimh rechargeables.
It got along really well with a denon 110 hi mc cartridge.
Then I replaced it with the salas simplistic which is kind of the same thing but better.
It got along really well with a denon 110 hi mc cartridge.
Then I replaced it with the salas simplistic which is kind of the same thing but better.
I use the Boozehound Deluxe as my daily driver phono preamp.
I experimented with WIMA caps in the signal chain. Never sounded right.
Then I put the PIO caps back in and just used it all the time. PIO caps take FOREVER to break in. You have to wait for the magic to happen.
I use the power supply from the boozehound site offering and it has sounded fine to me.
I experimented with WIMA caps in the signal chain. Never sounded right.
Then I put the PIO caps back in and just used it all the time. PIO caps take FOREVER to break in. You have to wait for the magic to happen.
I use the power supply from the boozehound site offering and it has sounded fine to me.
@grataku - No, I don't think he is still in business.
I built a couple of these a while back - like a dozen years or more - and liked them fine when used together with the power supply filter kit he also offered. The Russian surplus capacitors sounded really good to me.
When I went back to look again, maybe two or three years ago, I found a statement he made on the internet that he had moved on. Not finding it now...
I built a couple of these a while back - like a dozen years or more - and liked them fine when used together with the power supply filter kit he also offered. The Russian surplus capacitors sounded really good to me.
When I went back to look again, maybe two or three years ago, I found a statement he made on the internet that he had moved on. Not finding it now...
