Best Digital Phono preamp

[Laagman]

Is the Waxwing Phono the best phono preamp with digital outs or are there better options around?

 

[JP]

Define “better”.

 

[Laagman]

Define “better”.

Maybe I shouldnt have said better. Im just looking into alternatives.

 

[Petrushka]

Maybe I shouldnt have said better. Im just looking into alternatives.

WIIM ultra?

 

[Count Arthur]

RME's Latest DAC has phono input: https://rme-audio.de/adi-2-4-pro-se.html

I'm not certain, but I think it's only suitable for MM.

Edit, it is MM only:

Shortly after the release of the original ADI-2 Pro we received many requests for digitizing vinyl records. Thanks to MM (Moving Magnet) compatibility, the ADI-2/4 Pro SE does not require an external preamplifier anymore and can directly be connected to turntables. It has suitable input impedance, RIAA equalization, and the necessary preamplification.

 

[staticV3]

https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/adept

 

[Balle Clorin]

Parks Audio Puffin user here.. Super wonderful tool for Vinylist. The features are so useful that I will never have any other RIAA, sounds just perfect too.( superb RIAA implementation and good sub filter and balance control). Some would want more loading options , but sound tweaking is much easier and accurate via the DSP eq. If you want more loading options add DB Systems loading plugs
The usefulness of Puffin/Waxwing is worth 10 times the price. My best hifi purchase ever!

 

[Laagman]

Thanks for all great suggestions. The Waxwing Phono still looks like a great deal because of the functionality Balle Clorin mentions.

 

[mike70]

https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/adept

that preamp cost half than waxwing ... it will be very good a review here.

 

[cgallery]

My DIY phono stage feeds a MiniDSP 2x4 HD.

I don't have any Magic type function but I do have very good response levelling.

I also like the ability to channel balance, as some of my cartridges and styli are off over 1dB.

 

[Chrispy]

As good as the best digital output from a cartridge?

 

[pogo]

that preamp cost half than waxwing

However, the price-performance ratio here is not as good as with the Waxwing.

 

[mike70]

However, the price-performance ratio here is not as good as with the Waxwing.

Why?

 

[pogo]

The miniDSP only has 4 presets. That would be too few for me. Only L/M/H are offered as analog gain stages and position H would be too low for my LOMCs. You would have to use the digital gain here, which can also be used for the intermediate values. The Waxwing, on the other hand, offers an analog gain in 1dB steps before the ADC.
We haven't even talked about remote control and the other functions (Magic, Air, ...). And further features will be added in the future.
Resonance is a new test feature currently in prototype that I would like to roll out this fall for the Waxwing. Meant to measure the excited tonearm resonance without the need of a special test record.

 

[mike70]

Well, resonance detection will be a very good feature ... the eq "magical potions" are useless to me, I want the source as pure as possible.
Flexible gain / capacitance / impedance settings are, of course, very welcome.

The clipping detection in analog/digital and USB output/ recording is a good difference for minidsp. Overloading is one of the worst sources of distortion, together with bad RIAA EQ (I think both are very good in the RIAA correction).

So ... I think it's a tie situation ... minidsp cheaper with less features (80% waxwing features are useless in my opinion) and with more flexible options for more money in waxwing.

I cannot find the internal ADC chip / settings in waxwing ...

 

[morillon]

Well, resonance detection will be a very good feature ... the eq "magical potions" are useless to me, I want the source as pure as possible.
Flexible gain / capacitance / impedance settings are, of course, very welcome.

The clipping detection in analog/digital and USB output/ recording is a good difference for minidsp. Overloading is one of the worst sources of distortion, together with bad RIAA EQ (I think both are very good in the RIAA correction).

So ... I think it's a tie situation ... minidsp cheaper with less features (80% waxwing features are useless in my opinion) and with more flexible options for more money in waxwing.

I cannot find the internal ADC chip / settings in waxwing ...

your posture will just point out a normal quality prephono..coupled punctually with a correct sound card for possible measurements observations for adjustments etc.

 

[pogo]

@mike70
You should download the Waxwing app and give it a try. It also works well without a device connected. If you click on the function names, you will get explanations and/or tips. Then you can adapt your post #15

 

[cgallery]

The miniDSP only has 4 presets. That would be too few for me. Only L/M/H are offered as analog gain stages and position H would be too low for my LOMCs. You would have to use the digital gain here, which can also be used for the intermediate values. The Waxwing, on the other hand, offers an analog gain in 1dB steps before the ADC.
We haven't even talked about remote control and the other functions (Magic, Air, ...). And further features will be added in the future.
Resonance is a new test feature currently in prototype that I would like to roll out this fall for the Waxwing. Meant to measure the excited tonearm resonance without the need of a special test record.

Does the Waxwing offer true parametric EQ? Because I can use the MiniDSP to pretty much flatten the response of even the most egregious offenders.

And once I do, the differences among cartridges all but vanish, save for tracking/tracing.

 

[mike70]

your posture will just point out a normal quality prephono..coupled punctually with a correct sound card for possible measurements observations for adjustments etc.

Ok, but all in one device, a little more convenient

 

[staticV3]

Does the Waxwing offer true parametric EQ? Because I can use the MiniDSP to pretty much flatten the response of even the most egregious offenders.

And once I do, the differences among cartridges all but vanish, save for tracking/tracing.

Afaik, the ADept does not support use adjustable EQ, except for a few, fixed presets.