basite
09-29-2008, 10:35 AM
Hi all
since my previous Pro-ject phonobox was malfunctioning, and I thought it was time for a new phonostage anyway, I got myself a new one...
so here it is, a Clearaudio Smartphono:
http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/audio//500/phonostage.jpg
Before I begin the review:
Yes, I know, it's tiny.
but the performance is all but tiny. In this small casing, there is a complete dual mono circuit (even separated, on the bottom there are 2 switches to switch from MM to MC, one for the left channel, one for the right channel, the inputs & outputs are also arranged seperately, so on the back the inputs are arranged like this Left in, left out ground right in right out). so True dual mono. Also, while the user can make no own adjustments, the smartphono (smart, it is definitely), auto adapts for the cartridge specs, so no adjustments are actually needed...
Then, the sound...
While I was expecting some improvements, I didn't expect them to be as impressive as this little box delivered though...
I compared the smartphono to a Graham Slee Fanfare 3, and a Pro ject Phonobox SE 2...
The pro-ject was what it was, an improvement over the standard phonobox, which was nothing that special... it still sounded dull, dead, undefined & thin compared to the other 2.
The Graham slee was also really good, I was a bit skeptical when I read some reviews that stated the fanfare sounded the same as a cambridge audio 640P. That skepticism left though when I heard it. In terms of pure quality, the fanfare was a good competitor for the smartphono, both delivered very clear sound, with much much more definition in all regions than the Pro-ject phonobox & phonobox SE could deliver. Bass was tight, powerful yet very well controlled with both, albeit the Fanfare had slightly tighter bass & a more neutral sound.
The Fanfare was slightly more analog sounding as the smartphono slightly warmer, a bit more intimate (?), the smartphono sounded slightly bigger, also a slightly wider soundstage, and the instruments & voices were more separated. The smartphono was slightly faster sounding, maybe a little bit more detail as the fanfare, but definitely lightyears ahead of the pro-ject. Background was much darker with both the fanfare as with the smartphono, with again, the smartphono being slightly (not much) better...
It was a difficult decision, since both had it's strong points, the smartphono being more neutral and with slightly tighter bass, which makes it more fun to listen to genres like funk and all, where I like that extra spark of neutrality and the more analog, warmer & intimate sound of the fanfare, which I like more for Jazz.
In the end, I chose for the Clearaudio. Can't say I made a bad decision though, the smartphono was a very big improvement in my setup, I've almost been constantly spinning vinyl the past days, feets are tapping, there's life again in vinyl...
I can't wait till my lenco is finished...
oh yeah
Vinyl Rocks!
Keep them spinning,
Bert.
since my previous Pro-ject phonobox was malfunctioning, and I thought it was time for a new phonostage anyway, I got myself a new one...
so here it is, a Clearaudio Smartphono:
http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/audio//500/phonostage.jpg
Before I begin the review:
Yes, I know, it's tiny.
but the performance is all but tiny. In this small casing, there is a complete dual mono circuit (even separated, on the bottom there are 2 switches to switch from MM to MC, one for the left channel, one for the right channel, the inputs & outputs are also arranged seperately, so on the back the inputs are arranged like this Left in, left out ground right in right out). so True dual mono. Also, while the user can make no own adjustments, the smartphono (smart, it is definitely), auto adapts for the cartridge specs, so no adjustments are actually needed...
Then, the sound...
While I was expecting some improvements, I didn't expect them to be as impressive as this little box delivered though...
I compared the smartphono to a Graham Slee Fanfare 3, and a Pro ject Phonobox SE 2...
The pro-ject was what it was, an improvement over the standard phonobox, which was nothing that special... it still sounded dull, dead, undefined & thin compared to the other 2.
The Graham slee was also really good, I was a bit skeptical when I read some reviews that stated the fanfare sounded the same as a cambridge audio 640P. That skepticism left though when I heard it. In terms of pure quality, the fanfare was a good competitor for the smartphono, both delivered very clear sound, with much much more definition in all regions than the Pro-ject phonobox & phonobox SE could deliver. Bass was tight, powerful yet very well controlled with both, albeit the Fanfare had slightly tighter bass & a more neutral sound.
The Fanfare was slightly more analog sounding as the smartphono slightly warmer, a bit more intimate (?), the smartphono sounded slightly bigger, also a slightly wider soundstage, and the instruments & voices were more separated. The smartphono was slightly faster sounding, maybe a little bit more detail as the fanfare, but definitely lightyears ahead of the pro-ject. Background was much darker with both the fanfare as with the smartphono, with again, the smartphono being slightly (not much) better...
It was a difficult decision, since both had it's strong points, the smartphono being more neutral and with slightly tighter bass, which makes it more fun to listen to genres like funk and all, where I like that extra spark of neutrality and the more analog, warmer & intimate sound of the fanfare, which I like more for Jazz.
In the end, I chose for the Clearaudio. Can't say I made a bad decision though, the smartphono was a very big improvement in my setup, I've almost been constantly spinning vinyl the past days, feets are tapping, there's life again in vinyl...
I can't wait till my lenco is finished...
oh yeah
Vinyl Rocks!
Keep them spinning,
Bert.