Wanting to get a vinyl set up but I know nothing about amps

[Cafraj]

Hi guys,
This is my first post here and am looking for a bit of help buying an amp. I've got a record player already a ProJect Essential Turntable and have pretty much decided on Wharfedale 121 Diamond Speakers but am open to other recommendations. The problem is that I have no clue which amplifier to buy my budget is about $300 AUD I am looking at marantz but there are so many models on the used market and I am very confused. I am also looking at new models but they start at about $600. I'm hesitant to go for a new amp because of the price but also hesitant to buy used because I don't know if the models will be any good. If I was to buy a new model would I be getting better quality? I'm also open to suggestions of other brands with a good phono section. If it helps I will mainly be playing rock music.

 

[JMJVK]

Hi, welcome to Audioholics. The most important thing to know is that whatever receiver you chose must have a phono in. You can't hook a turntable to a typical analog RCA input. The specifications are different. This and your budget will diminish available options. I sugggest you look at Yamaha, Marantz & Harman Kardon receivers. Yamaha has some AV receivers (Home theater) that sport phono inputs. Harman only has them on Stereo receivers HK 3380, HK 3480 and HK3490. Don't know what Marantz offers though...

I'm certain, however, that many more will chime in with some solid advice.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm going to disagree that you need to buy a receiver with a phono input. While the turntable that you bought does need a phono preamp, and JMJVK is absolutely correct that you don't want to connect the turntable to a regular analog input, you can buy phono preamps separately for not much money. The vinyl gurus here can suggest the better ones to get, but a quick search of Amazon.com shows this $20 Behringer PP400 has a lot of positive reviews.

Receivers with phono inputs aren't very common anymore, so I'd suggest not making that a limiting criterion for what you buy. You might be able to save a good chunk of money on a used model (like you said), pick up an external preamp, and overall save money.

 

[connieflyer]

I agree with Adam, I would not discard choice amps just because they did not have a phono input. If you are looking at older equipment, you may find one with a phono input, but the aftermarket is full of add on phono preamps. It can get very expensive, like all of the music equipment, so choose wisely, then upgrade as you can afford it. Accessories for less and Audiogon are some choices for used and remanufactured equipment. I bought a remanufactured Sone Blue Ray player from amazon with all the bells and whistles for $29 dollars last year, did not come with a cable but that was all, internet apps work great, so there are some good buys out there if you take the time to look, Best of luck

 

[JMJVK]

The vinyl gurus here can suggest the better ones to get, but a quick search of Amazon.com shows this $20 Behringer PP400 has a lot of positive reviews.

I'm somewhat dumbfounded. I somehow had it in my mind that a good phono pre-amp was a lot more expensive than this, Like the 150$ Emotiva recently reviewed here. This would have, I believe, taken a serious chunk out of the amplifier/receiver budget.

there are so many models on the used market and I am very confused

If I was so limited, I would probably look for a nice vintage Marantz 2230b, but, perhaps that's just my nostalgic mind playing tricks on me. (I really like it's classic good looks.)

 

[Adam]

I'm somewhat dumbfounded. I somehow had it in my mind that a good phono pre-amp was a lot more expensive than this, Like the 150$ Emotiva recently reviewed here. This would have, I believe, taken a serious chunk out of the amplifier/receiver budget.

I totally agree - $150 makes it much more appealing to get one built-in! But, I've seen TLS Guy recommend one that was $20-$30 (I believe). I don't recall which one that was, but I've suggested that Behringer before. I figure the preamps put into most receivers probably aren't all that expensive, either, so the ~$20 external ones likely aren't too bad.

 

[Swerd]

I totally agree - $150 makes it much more appealing to get one built-in! But, I've seen TLS Guy recommend one that was $20-$30 (I believe). I don't recall which one that was, but I've suggested that Behringer before. I figure the preamps put into most receivers probably aren't all that expensive, either, so the ~$20 external ones likely aren't too bad.

Whenever I see the large number of stand alone phono preamps that are available, and their huge range of prices, Phono Preamps, I have to wonder who really tries even 5% of the available choices?

A phono preamp must do two things. One is to amplify the very weak signal from a phono pickup cartridge up from about 4 or 5 mV (from a moving magnet cartridge) to about 100 mV, and the other is to alter the tonal balance (equalize) of the signal recorded in the LP groves so that it sounds properly balanced (known as RIAA equalization). As far as I know, ALL phono preamps do this. Just how well is a matter of endless debate, but for most, the differences are minor.

My own experience is much more limited. My first stereo receiver, purchased in 1972, came with a phono preamp section built-in. Nearly all audio gear did the same until much later. At that time, I never had even known of stand alone phono preamps. My first AV receiver, bought in 2000, also had a phono preamp in it, although they were becoming less common by that time. In 2009, I switched to a different receiver which lacked a phono preamp. I bought an Audio Technica PEQ3 for about $50 (US). I still use it now.

I see no reason to worry about the possibly minor differences between phono preamps, nor am I willing to spend money on this to find out. (Note to the OP, the phono preamp I have is no longer available in the USA, but apparently is available in Japan. It might be available in Australia.)

 

[TLS Guy]

Whenever I see the large number of stand alone phono preamps that are available, and their huge range of prices, Phono Preamps, I have to wonder who really tries even 5% of the available choices?

A phono preamp must do two things. One is to amplify the very weak signal from a phono pickup cartridge up from about 4 or 5 mV (from a moving magnet cartridge) to about 100 mV, and the other is to alter the tonal balance (equalize) of the signal recorded in the LP groves so that it sounds properly balanced (known as RIAA equalization). As far as I know, ALL phono preamps do this. Just how well is a matter of endless debate, but for most, the differences are minor.

My own experience is much more limited. My first stereo receiver, purchased in 1972, came with a phono preamp section built-in. Nearly all audio gear did the same until much later. At that time, I never had even known of stand alone phono preamps. My first AV receiver, bought in 2000, also had a phono preamp in it, although they were becoming less common by that time. In 2009, I switched to a different receiver which lacked a phono preamp. I bought an Audio Technica PEQ3 for about $50 (US). I still use it now.

I see no reason to worry about the possibly minor differences between phono preamps, nor am I willing to spend money on this to find out. (Note to the OP, the phono preamp I have is no longer available in the USA, but apparently is available in Japan. It might be available in Australia.)

There is one available for a good price on eBay right now.

Basically a phono preamp has to have enough gain, and good signal to noise ratio, and and have a response that is an accurate inverse of the RIAA curve. It is not rocket science and is a simple circuit involving two op amps, or one dual channel op amp. I have no idea if the Behringer is any good or not, but it seems just a little too cheap to have quality components to me. The Audio Technica I can vouch for and has been well received for years, I have no idea why it is not available in the US anymore.

 

[Swerd]

I bought that Audio Technica because you recommended it! Thank you.

 

[Cafraj]

Thanks for all the input guys, I bought a Behringer PP400 simply because it was very cheap, I will upgrade it as I can afford and after I have undertaken more research on this forum. Once again, thanks a lot guys!

 

[Adam]

Congrats on the purchase! You might want to upgrade later, but you also might find that you really like that Behringer. TLS Guy has a pretty impressive system, and he also has pretty demanding tastes for some things. So, his system might be able to let people tell a difference between that Behringer and another preamp (or maybe not), and he might be able to tell a difference that other folks can't.