Question re TEAC PE-505 phono pre-amp

[GXAlan]

Has anyone had experience with the TEAC PE-505? I'm really torn between getting a Schiit Mani 2 or rewiring my setup for a fully balanced setup.

PE-505 Fully-Balanced Phono Amplifier

The TEAC PE-505 phono amplifier will pick up even very faint audio signals from your turntable cartridge, process them, and then deliver them as though you were in the studio. Shop Now.

teac-usa.com

The marketing looks spectacular in low-gain mode (34dB MM and 54dB MC)

But the only independent review I could find, in German, has much more mundane results, presumably in the higher gain modes.

 

[restorer-john]

The marketing looks spectacular in low-gain mode (34dB MM and 54dB MC)

The S/N numbers and the residual noise numbers do not tally with the specs.

With those residual numbers, S/N could only make it into the 80s (dB).

It does have to be the sexiest looking phono stage I've ever seen though. But at AU$2699 it'd want to be sexy- maybe come with a few strippers and some beer.

 

[DVDdoug]

I'm not really into vinyl but I don't think balanced connections (from the cartridge to the preamp) necessarily improve things. It think any hum is picked-up by the coil in the cartridge (not the wiring) and since the cartridge is normally only grounded at the preamp input there shouldn't be any ground loops.

The S/N numbers and the residual noise numbers do not tally with the specs.

Yeah... I didn't do any calculations but the "S" has to be realistic... Push-up the signal and the S/N gets better.

 

[GXAlan]

The S/N numbers and the residual noise numbers do not tally with the specs.

I didn't think about it. You're right!

5 mV + 34 dB MM gain = 250 mV
0.5 mV + 54 dB MC gain = 250 mV

10 microvolt residual noise MM = 88 dB
85 microvolt residual noise MC = 69 dB

But yes, it is beautiful