phono amp

[flippo]

I need to get a phono amp for my receiver (onkyo tx-sr602) since it does not have one. My turntable is a Thorens TD320. Any suggestions on one and where to find it? Thanks.

 

[Adam]

Hey, flippo.

There are some suggestions listed in the thread here.

Adam

 

[surveyor]

Here's a place to check.
http://www.needledoctor.com/

I need to get a phono amp for my receiver (onkyo tx-sr602) since it does not have one. My turntable is a Thorens TD320. Any suggestions on one and where to find it? Thanks.

 

[flippo]

Sound quality

How is the sound quality on theses cheap phono preamps or does it really matter (I do have a good turntable)?

 

[Adam]

How is the sound quality on theses cheap phono preamps or does it really matter (I do have a good turntable)?

Ahhh, sorry. I don't know. I've never used one.

A nice thing about Radio Shack and Crutchfield is that you can return things. Radio Shack was cheaper (if I remember correctly) and is normally local. You could always check one out and see if you're happy with it, and return it if you're not. Just a suggestion.

 

[OttoMatic]

I picked up an NAD PP2 for about $80 on AudiogoN. Works and sounds well, and they're relatively easy to find. For the price, they're hard to beat. If you don't like it, I'm sure it'd be easy to unload on AudiogoN as well. I'm using a Thorens TD-150 Mk II, FWIW, and I enjoy the result.

 

[fmw]

How is the sound quality on theses cheap phono preamps or does it really matter (I do have a good turntable)?

Check the S/N ratio. It should be better than 60db. If it is then it should be fine. Incidentally, it is not the turntable that matters but the cartridge. Moving coils usually need more amplification than moving magnets.

 

[Ampdog]

As fmw said.

I have little experience of commercial stuff as I design these things. But from circuits I have seen I would not fork out a lot of money for exotic phono stages. Rave claims are given but inside they are not a great improvement audiowise. If you can compare noisewise, little else remains that is of prime importance.

 

[3db]

Not quite fmw

Check the S/N ratio. It should be better than 60db. If it is then it should be fine. Incidentally, it is not the turntable that matters but the cartridge. Moving coils usually need more amplification than moving magnets.

Your right that moving coils require more amplification. Unless I'm wrong and please correct me if i am, a phono amp also applies RIAA (spelling??) correction to the inputs. If it weren't for the phono amp, even a moving magnet would sound crappy if applied to a regualr input like a CD input. It would also sound very weak because it still requires some amplification as well.

 

[3db]

Pro-Ject makes some good sounding phono amps

How is the sound quality on theses cheap phono preamps or does it really matter (I do have a good turntable)?

Here's a webpage of a local Canadian dealer. The prices are in Canadian dollars.

http://www.planetofsoundonline.com/newhifi/project/index.html

I have a phono stage on my Technics receiver so I haven't used the Project phono stage with my Project turntable. I have auditioned them in the store and they are very nice sounding phono amp. If I hadn't had the phono stage on my receiver, I would have picked one of these up.

 

[fmw]

Your right that moving coils require more amplification. Unless I'm wrong and please correct me if i am, a phono amp also applies RIAA (spelling??) correction to the inputs. If it weren't for the phono amp, even a moving magnet would sound crappy if applied to a regualr input like a CD input. It would also sound very weak because it still requires some amplification as well.

I was talking about a S/N ratio, not an amplification factor.

RIAA, when it relates to phono is a standard equalization. In the old days (prior to 1960 or so) each record label had its own equalization and preamps had a selector to choose the appropriate one for the record. Finally, the RIAA got them all together with a standard equalization that has been used ever since. Every phono preamp includes RIAA equalization. If it didn't, it wouldn't be a phono preamp.

Also note that I said most moving coils requre more amplification. There are some high output moving coils that do well with moving magnet preamps.

 

[3db]

phono amps

I was talking about a S/N ratio, not an amplification factor.

RIAA, when it relates to phono is a standard equalization. In the old days (prior to 1960 or so) each record label had its own equalization and preamps had a selector to choose the appropriate one for the record. Finally, the RIAA got them all together with a standard equalization that has been used ever since. Every phono preamp includes RIAA equalization. If it didn't, it wouldn't be a phono preamp.

Also note that I said most moving coils requre more amplification. There are some high output moving coils that do well with moving magnet preamps.

Sorry about misreading your post.

On another note, I'm sure glad I was just a young gaffer in the ealry 60s without having any hi-fi equipment . That would have driven me nuts to match the equalization to a record label.