AV Receiver vs Integrated Amp for vinyl

[vedabhyas]

I’m hearing from friends that the difference between running a turntable with a built in pre-amp through an AV receiver or a dedicated 2 channel integrated amp is minimal. I'm a noob with very little understanding of what I would or wouldn't gain by springing for a decent integrated amp. Is this true?

 

[Mikado463]

Generally speaking I would agree. IMO the choice comes down to the specs between the two (power, etc) and that correlates to your speaker / room needs.

 

[lovinthehd]

Depends on the circuit in the particular unit, both are likely fine, but if worried about the circuit get an external phono pre-amp.

 

[Mikado463]

Depends on the circuit in the particular unit, both are likely fine, but if worried about the circuit get an external phono pre-amp.

if I read the Op correctly he is speaking of a TT with a built in phono-pre so neither an AVR or integrated 2 channel amp would require such.

 

[lovinthehd]

if I read the Op correctly he is speaking of a TT with a built in phono-pre so neither an AVR or integrated 2 channel amp would require such.

True, I glazed over that a bit but still, if worried about how the tt sounds, maybe trying an external phono stage, or one buiit into the avr/integrated amp, would show whether there's a significant difference with whichever kind of unit used. As to the avr vs integrated amp, hard to just generalize just with a type of gear. Then again if you need typical avr functionality (multich, dac, bass management), most 2ch integrated amps don't provide such a feature set.

 

[Swerd]

I’m hearing from friends that the difference between running a turntable with a built in pre-amp through an AV receiver or a dedicated 2 channel integrated amp is minimal. I'm a noob with very little understanding of what I would or wouldn't gain by springing for a decent integrated amp. Is this true?

Is that "built in pre-amp" in your AV receiver, integrated stereo amp, or your turntable? Your original post has us confused.

• If your turntable has a built-in pre-amp, it is probably can be switched On or Off.
• If you do use the turntable's pre-amp, send the signal to your AVR by another input other than the one labeled Phono on the AVR. Use one pre-amp or the other, but not both.
• If your AV receiver has a built-in phono pre-amp, you may use it, but also switch the turntable's pre-amp Off.
• Don't spring for an integrated stereo amp because it might have a better built-in pre-amp. It is highly unlikely to be any different sounding. The same goes for an external phono pre-amp.

After reading your original post again, I realize you might be asking something different. In general, there is little if any difference in overall sound quality between an AVR or a stereo integrated amp. The only way a difference might be heard is if your speakers are unusually power hungry, the AVR is low powered, and the stereo integrated is high powered.

Please clarify your original question.

 

[Bucknekked]

I’m hearing from friends that the difference between running a turntable with a built in pre-amp through an AV receiver or a dedicated 2 channel integrated amp is minimal. I'm a noob with very little understanding of what I would or wouldn't gain by springing for a decent integrated amp. Is this true?

I did it both ways, mostly because I was too stubborn to actually go and look at my old AVR.
I bought a new TT and knew ahead of time it required a phono stage/pre-amp to function.
I ASSUMED my existing AVR had what it took. I was wrong and I was very wrong because folks on the AH
told me to go look to be sure. I didn't.

I then bought an external phono stage/pre-amp from the TT manufacturer and it worked great.
Not too long after that I replaced the AVR with a new one that had the phono stage/pre-amp built in.

I can tell you from using both, there was negligible difference between the two devices.
I still have the external phono stage sitting on a shelf somewhere.
I am still stupid for not checking my old AVR in the first place.

 

[Alex2507]

I did it both ways, mostly because I was too stubborn to actually go and look

I heard that about you.

 

[Holmz]

…
I'm a noob with very little understanding of what I would or wouldn't gain by springing for a decent integrated amp. Is this true?

If one was running a high end cartridge, they would be better if with a separate phonostage running to the AVR for the same number of coins as an integrated.

For a modest TT, I would suggest just saving the coins as noting too major should change, unless the built in phono stage is poor and the partridge is stellar. Which I doubt is the case.

 

[3db]

I have a fairly high end TT equipped with the equivalent in tonearm and cartridge connected directly to my AVR. It sounds very good and I am extremely happy with it.

 

[vedabhyas]

I’m hearing from friends that the difference between running a turntable with a built in pre-amp through an AV receiver or a dedicated 2 channel integrated https://vlc.onl amp is minimal. I'm a noob with very little understanding of what I would or wouldn't gain by springing for a decent integrated amp. Is this true?

I got this,...

 

[Mikado463]

I got this,...

great, so which direction are you headed ?