Unique George Wright phono stage question......

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I was a George Wright fan from the Listener magazine days; I used to have the WPP200C, but stupidly fried it with wrong tube a decade ago. So I jumped when I saw a prototype Wright phono stage offered for sale from the collection of the former audio reviewer / collector. Most importantly it was not expensive so taking a chance was easy. It is MM only, which is fine; I don't imagine that I'll be experimenting with MCs for a while. It's a unique piece and I'd love to know more about it, are there other Wright phono stage one-offs?

It has a screened faceplate, "Wright Phono Amplifier PH-1". It also has the real sign of early 2000s attempts at domesticating DIY culture - curved stained wood sides on an off the shelf looking black box. The most curious thing to me is the choice of tubes. After larger, varied, arrays he went the more conventional three 12ax7s, with a 6ca4 rectifier. I wonder why he stuck with 12ax7s in a phono stage he knew might be reviewed even as just a prototype? Maybe it was to a price point lower than the WPP 100 or 200C? The unit came with JJ 12ax7s and an EH 6ca4. Unfortunately I have been on the 12au7 side of the tiny tube world, ever since sold my Bogans and Fishers, so I only had a few 12ax7 pulls. Bogan and Fisher branded Mullards and some Sylvanias.

My question is does the third 12ax7, the buffer, have to be matched with the first two tubes L/R tubes, or is consistency the best thing? 12ax7s have become very expensive.

Even with a bit of rolling it's clear that the 6ca4 is the sonically the determining tube. Both the Mullards and Sylvanias 12ax7 sound good, but the biggest change was replacing the 6ca4, first with an RFT tube then a 60's Mullard. As you'd expect it gripped the sound and allowed the phono stage to bring out rhythms and relationships that were impressive. Yet, at the same time, it's a little dark and closed on top, and that is frustrating. It's held back. It's definitely rectifier, when I put the EH back the system it opens up - but the sound is bright and loses intensity.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Gregg

I bought it at Holt Hill audio, if you are in the Boston area it is definitely work checking out. Great guys.

Holt Hill Audio (Open in New Window)

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Topic - Unique George Wright phono stage question...... - gd 08:50:13 11/29/23 (10)

RE: Unique George Wright phono stage question...... - Grinnell 07:17:12 11/30/23 (7)

Yep, two Wrights, Alan and George (n/t) - gd 07:24:35 11/30/23 (6)

Maybe the Wrong Wright? - Ivan303 13:11:41 11/30/23 (2)

RE: Maybe the Wrong Wright? - gd 14:14:57 11/30/23 (1)

RE: Maybe the Wrong Wright? - Jack G 12:30:14 12/02/23 (0)

What about Orville and Wilbur? *nt* - Byrd69 11:59:27 11/30/23 (2)

That'll never fly *nt* - 1973shovel 13:12:55 11/30/23 (0)

I was trying to work that in, because I like popcorn. n/t - gd 13:03:06 11/30/23 (0)

RE: Unique George Wright phono stage question...... - Triode_Kingdom 15:53:16 11/29/23 (1)

RE: Unique George Wright phono stage question...... - gd 09:18:37 11/30/23 (0)

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