ART DJPREII Phono Preamplifier

Full disclosure: I'm a vinyl record enthusiast, I've been using turntables for over 30 years, and I repair/rebuild/restore vintage turntables. I spent a couple of weeks trying to decide which sub-$100 phono preamp I should buy. Most of the preamps in this price range get mediocre reviews. I stumbled upon the ART DJPRE II almost by accident, and was impressed with the high number of favorable reviews, so I decided to give it a try. I've been using it for almost three months, and thus far I've been very impressed by it. The build quality is very good, the sound quality is excellent, and it has some nice features that I haven't seen in other comparably priced preamps. One of the things I like most about this preamp -- a feature that most other preamps in the same price range are lacking -- is the level adjustment knob. There are two scenarios where this feature comes in handy: first, if you use different cartridges with different output levels. For example, one of my cartridges has a high output level (9 mV), and one of my other cartridges has a much lower output level (2.5 mV). The level knob on the preamp allows me to adjust the preamp's amplification to match the cartridge I'm using. The other scenario is that some of my records were recorded at very low levels, and some of my other records were recorded at very high levels. The level adjustment knob, along with the signal/clipping light, makes it easy to adjust the output level, and this is VERY helpful when transferring vinyl records to CD/MP3. This might not seem like a big deal, but I find it to be a really great feature, and theoretically it should offer better audio quality than attempting to boost or lower the audio after the fact with an audio editing program -- which is what you'd have to do if your preamp didn't have a level adjustment knob. I also really appreciate the rumble filter, which is another great feature that isn't typically found on preamps in this price range. It works as advertised and does not alter the audio quality. I do find that the blue power light is very bright, as other reviewers have pointed out, but I'm not particularly bothered by it. If you find it disturbing, you can always put a small piece of black tape over it. If you need a phono preamp and you can't afford to spend big bucks, I think this is absolutely your best bet. UPDATE: I've now been using this preamp for almost two years and it still works flawlessly. I'm very happy I chose it.

I'm not about to try and expound on the sonic quality of this device. I will tell you though that it does exactly what it is supposed to do. That is, boost the very low signal level from a moving magnet phono cartridge to the level required for standard stereo inputs. It has a gain adjustment but in my case it works best turned to the maximum. I have it connected to the tape input of a newer Onkyo stereo. This unit also has a few "extra" features including a pushbutton for low cut filter and another for adjustment for the input impedance. I didn't notice much if any difference when switching either of these off or on but they are there if you need them. The unit is well made and feels very solid. I bought this to replace a Behringer preamp that didn't work for me. The Behringer had two problems. The first was that there wasn't enough gain. That could have more to do with my Onkyo but this unit is much better in that regard. It would be nice to have even more gain yet but this one will work fine. The bigger problem was what it was doing to my Onkyo M5030 amp. I use the M5030 to power speakers throughout the house. The Onkyo receiver has a second zone low level output that the M5030 is connected to. When playing the turntable through the second zone the M5030 would peak the level meters and the lamps would dim. When I lifted the needle from the record the meters and lights acted the same. It only stopped when I unplugged the preamp from the receiver or switched the input away from the tape input (that I am using for the turntable). The unit doesn't do this at all. With the unit on, the table turning, and the needle off the record everything is very quiet, just as it should be. If you have a newer receiver that doesn't have a phono input, would like to use a turntable, and do not want to spend hundreds of dollars, yet still want a preamp that works, this is just what you need. As I said, I cannot speak to the sonic abilities of this unit or its design. I believe many people "hear" nuances in more esoteric audio equipment to a large degree because they want to. I likely would not know the difference between this one and one that cost $500 so only you can be the judge. I will say that this unit doesn't seem to do anything offensive and my new LPs sound very nice. At least to me. :) HTH

I only trust my vinyl collection to a vintage turntable (in my case a very nice 70's era AR-XA with a Pickering cartridge). As others have noted, such turntables produce an output that needs to be passed through a separate pre-amp. Receivers in the past had a pre-amp incorporated via a designated phono input. My old receiver bit the dust, so I procured a nice Yamaha only to find on arrival it did not have a phono input, and hence no pre-amp (and that apparently is now the case for most if not all manufacturers). I chose this pre-amp based on its favorable reviews, its small size, and its modest price point. From my perspective it has more than proven to be an excellent solution for my particular turntable. Setup was trivial - you just plug your phono into it and run a patch cord to an available audio input on the receiver. There is a ground input on the pre-amp if your turntable requires one (the AR does not). I have absolutely no complaint about quality of output, although I hasten to add I am by no means an audiophile. I can't speak to the advantages of the rumble filter or the 100pF/200pF capacitance adjustments since the Pickering cartridge works great regardless of setting and my AR turntable doesn't have rumble issues. The major downside of the product is its lack of off/on switch, not a good thing given the very bright blue LED that is on whenever it is powered (and which is why I decided to rate it 4 stars instead of 5). The product packaging provides little if any information beyond what is provided on the Amazon site, but that is perhaps a reflection of just how simple it is to set up.

No complaints sonically or functionally, but I'm not a DJ in a nightclub - I'm tempted to disassemble it and spray it to make it look a little more... high-end. But I'll probably just hide it away. ART!! You should ship this in plain black or silver and add $25 to the price :-)

About a year ago, I got a great deal on a 7 speaker surround sound system that was a vast improvement over my old (as in 20 years old) two-speaker stereo. The only catch was that the system did not come with a phono input and I still have over 100 LPs from the days of my youth. This fall, I decided it was time to start listening to records again, so I started shopping around on-line. I stumbled upon the ART DJ Pre II Phono Preamp and its more sophisticated sibling, the ART V2 USB Phono Plus DJ Preamp. I opted for the lower tech version (without USB, optical, and other output options) because my computer's sound card has RCA inputs and because I primarily just want to listen, not convert my old LPs and because I liked the $44. price tag on the Pre II. It took less than 10 minutes to have it on-line and playing an old favorite. It has a simple interface of an output knob, two in-out buttons for the input limiter and the low-end cut (to reduce rumble) and a VERY bright blue power light. I chose an 1960s release of Debussy favorites that had seen a LOT of play in my childhood on less than audiophile quality turntables. I was impressed at how little noise came through the system and was very pleased with the over-all results. Although I am a musician and love music of all kinds, I need to tell you that my ears often are unoffended by little things that my more discerning friends find fault with. I want to hear the music with as little background noise (hiss, pop, or rumble) as possible and the ART DJ Pre II does that for me. I did not need to the input cap or low cut filters that toggle on an off on the front of the unit, it just sounds great on my system. There are just two things I would like to change about it. I am a very power-conscious person and there is no on/off switch on the unit. Furthermore, it is a DC powered unit with an inverter brick that also stays warm whether the unit is in use or not. Eventually, I will rearrange my power strip for my entire system so that I can kill the power when I am not using it, but it annoys me that the unit can't be a little "greener". and speaking of colors, the ultra-blue LED power light actually hurts my eyes to look at it. I will probably solve this problem with a piece of electrical tape. A quarter the brightness would give me the information that I need: that is whether or mot the unit has power. Still, I am pleased with the unit and give it a qualified thumbs-up.

I bought one of these for my office system. I have a dead channel on my Nikko preamp and buying one of these was a lot simpler and cheaper than repairing it. It sounds very good right out of the box with the included walwart. Clean sound with good tonal balance, good dynamics, good sound stage, stable imaging, good transient response, no audible noise. I using it with a Grace F9E and listening on a pair of LS-5As. I have plenty of gain with it set to 0db. I enjoyed listening to my records which is all I could ask from a $50 product. I didn't have any problem with the lack of an on/off switch - I just plugged the walwart into a switched outlet on the preamp - it is small enough to fit. I also tried it with a Denon 103C. Needed to turn the gain all the way up, but it was adequate and the sound quality was still very good. However it was clear that it would not have enough gain for a really low output MC. Just for fun I tried a 12 V battery pack - 8 lithium AA's in a cheap case with a switch and a connect. It made an obvious improvement in the sound: a bigger soundstage, better dynamics, and a lightening fast transient response - as good or better than any of my vintage transistor preamps. I have no idea about construction quality or reliability - it is a mass market Chinese product after all and I don't expect too much at this price point - but it sounds very good indeed. After using it a year, still sounds great. No problems. Only issue is rubber feet stick to whatever surface you put it on. Put something under it, or it will glue itself to the underlying surface

I've been using the ART DJPRE II for about four months. Now that I have everything configured, the sound is breathtaking. It rivals other phono preamps costing thousands of dollars. NOTE: Be sure to connect the DJPRE GROUND terminal to your phonograph GROUND terminal via a separate grounding wire (spade lug terminals recommended). Also, be certain your phono is connected to a good earth GROUND. It DOES matter! The real trick to get exceptional sound out of this little gem is to feed it what it likes best... that is a diet of PURE 12 volt DC. For a cost of about $30 you can build your own 12 volt PURE DC power supply. I've posted a picture that shows the details about how to do this. This little simple DIY project also gives you the ability to conveniently turn the unit on/off from the front. This is a feature other reviewers have noticed the DJPRE II is missing and would sure be nice to have. UPDATE Nov 2, 2013: Amazon moved the picture(s) I posted. To see picture(s) click on hyperlink of my reviewer name, then select the tab for "Images," and on that page scroll down and select hyperlink for "Image Gallery." You will find picture(s) and DIY instructions there. Initially, I'll admit I was a little disappointed. While the sound was very good, there was a subtle but yet unmistakable 60 Hz hum that I just couldn't get rid of. All the grounding tricks in the world, and believe me, as a retired military electronics engineer, I know MANY grounding and RF/EMI shielding techniques, I could not eliminate the hum. I just couldn't live with the unwanted noise. The unit's only drawback turns out to be its own supplied power adapter/converter. The unit's operating voltage is spec'd at 9 to 12 volts (AC or DC). The DJPRE II that I received from Amazon was supplied with a 120V AC to 9V AC adapter. NOTE: As of the writing of this review Amazon Product Features says "12V DC (Adapter included)" - a little discrepancy, but no big deal. I tried using other power adapters (I have many). I tried 12V DC, 9V AC (supplied with unit), and just to see how rugged this little dude is, I even tried a 15V DC adapter. The DJPRE II performed about the same, regardless of the power adapter used. That low level but annoying 60Hz hum was there in every instance. I began researching the high end audiophile grade phono preamps costing between $2000 to $7000. Being a technical engineer, I check out the spec's very diligently. I noticed that some of the high-end preamps, although connected to a regular 120V AC wall outlet, actually use an internal relay switch that switches to internal "battery power when operating" and then when not in use, the internal battery is charged by the standard line voltage (converted and rectified to DC of course). After a trip to my local electronics retailer, about $30 in miscellaneous parts, and a little creative ingenuity along with a can of spray paint and my prototype build time, I was ready to try out my theory. I plugged my custom built PURE 12V DC power supply into the DJPRE II and I was instantly transported to musical nirvana (and NO 60 Hz hum)! FURTHER INSIGHT: If you check out the photos I posted, you will see that my system uses a non-resonant Sumiko HS12 headshell mounted with a Lyra Delos MC (moving coil) cartridge, that is fed to an Ortofon Verto step-up transformer where it is converted to the MM (moving magnet) output level required as input for the ART DJPRE II. The ART DJPRE II is NOT able to use a high-end, low voltage (typically .5 mV or less) MC cartridge output directly. The ART DJPRE II is designed for use with MM cartridges, output loading: 47 kOhm / 100 to 200 pF. The output range for MM cartridges is usually somewhere between 4 to 9 mV. I highly recommend this product if you are willing to build a very simple 12V DC power supply. I guarantee you will be amazed at the sound quality that fully complies with RIAA standards. Happy listening to all.

I use/recommend these for any vintage turntables that come through my shop. A preamp is required when connecting up to a more modern receiver without the magnetic "phono" port, and this one works great. Very good audio reproduction without coloring tone