Audiophilepure

Running the Gamut- PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier

My last course of listening is much less conventional. Rather than switching to a second tone arm, I change the settings of the Stellar over to another turntable, as mentioned earlier. A bit of a departure from the $15,000 Triangle Art, my somewhat humbler Music Hall mmf1.3 is set up strictly for the purpose of playing 78s, complete with proper mono 78 needle and all.

First up, a release from July of 1946—Roy Acuff and His Crazy Tennesseans, “Great Speckled Bird” b/w “My Mountain Home Sweet Home.” Entering into this 75-year-old, monaural, high-revolution experience with no expectations, I lower the needle, and quickly sit down.

While scratchy and clearly showing every bit of age, what ends up coming forth from this record is truly a surprise. The Stellar Phono Preamplifier brings fresh life out of this recording, which now belies the antiquated single microphone in the room that was used to capture the three instruments and voices. There is an unexpected expansiveness from a disc that was originally played on a parlor Victrola. An illusion of stereo almost creeps in a time or two as vocal harmonies work in and out. I cannot resist but to dive deeper into my completely un-audiophile audiophile test.

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