Comments on: Boozhound Labs Phono Preamp Kit

By: Lee DeForest

Lee DeForest — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 23:11:01 +0000

I scratch-built this phono preamp from a circuit diagram at DIY Audio Projects. Even working with a perforated board, it wasn’t a difficult build. I went nuts with premium parts: Mills, PRP and Vishay S-102 resistors, mostly film and foil capacitors in the signal path, and solid silver, shielded, hook-up wire. For the power supply, I took an Antek toroid transformer rated at 50W (because over-size transformers sound better) and built the section with numerous inductor-capacitor stages and an LT1084 voltage regulator. Truly, I’m glad that I went to such effort, because the Boozhound really delivers. Subjectively, it has a ruler flat frequency response, very low noise floor, and oodles of detail. This is the first solid state component I have built, and the first one that I would place on the same level as tube components. In fact, it’s quieter and more detailed than my homemade tube phono preamp, based on a circuit from the RCA Tube Receiving Manual. Yes, the tube phono preamp has that certain je ne sais quoi – mainly harmonic richness, but it’s fair to state that it comes at the expense of ultimate detail. I swap between the Boozhound and tube preamp depending on my mood, and regard them as different, but equally good.
It should be mentioned that the voltage gain of the Boozhound is a little on the low side, measured at around 33 dB; whereas, most commercial moving magnet stages have a gain of 40 dB or more. My guess is that in 99 out of 100 cases, this is a non-issue, especially if there is an active line stage between the Boozhound and power amp.

By: admin

admin — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 13:15:06 +0000

In reply to Franco Lebrino.

English translation via Google: “I can’t say anything about my old pre mm, regarding its technical features, I know it was artisanal and it sounded much better than the MM module inserted in my amp nad 3020. With time, my expertise rose, I updated the components with devices more performing, meanwhile the number of my MM heads grew. Today I find myself in the hands of this Boozhound, after having studied its characteristics in depth and made the mounting improvements in the editing, I must recognize the beauty of its sound that manages to give back, after my manic attention, a big “little” pre that puts highlighting important details hidden in the grooves of the black disks, which I did not know, resulting more silent, better satisfying and engaging, than the appreciated “old” pre, versatile with the option of load change, makes me listen to all my 17 heads, in the best way. I’m happy!”

By: Franco Lebrino

Franco Lebrino — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 04:04:28 +0000

Non so dire niente riguardo il mio vecchio pre mm, in merito alle sue caratteristiche tecniche, so che era artigianale e suonava molto meglio del modulo MM inserito nel mio amp nad 3020. Con il tempo, salita la mia competenza, aggiornai i componenti con apparecchi più performanti, intanto cresceva il numero delle mie testine MM. Oggi mi trovo tra le mani questo Boozhound, dopo averne studiato in profondità le caratteristiche e apportato le sogettive migliorie nel montaggio, devo riconoscere la bellezza del suo suono che riesce a restituire, dopo le mie attenzioni maniacali, un grande “piccolo”pre che mette in risalto particolari importanti nascosti nei solchi dei dischi neri, che non conoscevo, risultando piu silenzioso, meglio appagante e coinvolgente, del pur apprezzato “vecchio” pre, versatile con l’opzione del cambio carico, mi fa ascoltere tutte le mie 17 testine, nel miglior modo. Sono felice!

By: chris

chris — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 00:35:07 +0000

In reply to denny. well,,, yr gonna need a phono pre and an audio interface. As far as phono pre, yes i highly recommend this one if you have the desire and skills to assemble it yrself. c.

By: denny

denny — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 00:15:05 +0000

Very Nice.
I need something with a USB out.
My daughter is getting married…she wants me to record a bunch of “older music” for her. So I need to be able to get many of the songs that I have on vinyl, from the records and into my computer.
I suppose it will be best to buy a preamp for this application.?
Thank You