Marantz 5012 - help please

[lovinthehd]

ok thanks for that.... I spoke to the retailer where we originally bought the Marantz from and they said I do need a phono preamp as the Marantz doesn't have a dedicated phono preamp
But because I didn't buy the preamp from them, they suggested I contact the place I bought the preamp from and ask them.... so I'm kind of going round in circles

I might see if I can contact the manufacturer of the record player....

I think he's assuming somewhat on the record player you're using. Just get a real turntable is my suggestion, these cheap versions with ceramic cartridges (likely) are something I gave up some 50 years ago for better gear....

 

[lovinthehd]

ok thanks for that.... I spoke to the retailer where we originally bought the Marantz from and they said I do need a phono preamp as the Marantz doesn't have a dedicated phono preamp
But because I didn't buy the preamp from them, they suggested I contact the place I bought the preamp from and ask them.... so I'm kind of going round in circles

I might see if I can contact the manufacturer of the record player....

That advice is with the specific record player looked up? I doubt it. Calling most of these guys is useless really. While more serious turntable/record players do not have a built-in phono stage, those advising on the use of one or not should be able to tell you if your current record player indeed has one or not despite the record player's literature it's a line out. Most salesman in audio I'd disregard generally for lack of actual knowledge myself.

 

[TLS Guy]

thanks for the reply
Yes - the record player is a 'cheaper' model but as I mentioned in my original post, I plugged it into the RCA line in input on my bass guitar amp and it worked ok - so I know the player is not faulty.

I think I will contact the Audio retailer where I bought the Matantz from and ask their advice - as they stock the Marantz range

Guitar amps normally have an input sensitivity of 5 mv to 20 mv, most around 10 mv. The RCA inputs of a receiver have an input sensitivity of 1.2 volts (1200 mv), which is standard unbalanced line sensitivity. That turntable is not providing a standard unbalanced line output voltage. When you used the phono preamp that boosted the voltage from the turntable, but also applied another RIAA corrections and so ruined the sound. Turntables produce 2.5 to 5 mv output and requires a boost to 1.2 volts and RIAA equalization.

You need a different turntable.