Phono problems

[KEW]

I visited an old friend last weekend and asked about his stereo.
He recently replaced his receiver and is not happy with performance when using turntable.
His gear is as follows:
Receiver Teac AG-790
http://audio.teac.com/product/ag-790/
TT Technics SL-D20 (late 70's)

The problem is sound from the phono is much lower than from the CD player, and even when the volume is increased, it sounds dead/flat. There is no distortion, so none of the electronics are getting saturated.
This happened when he swapped out the receiver.

All connections were done properly.

Does anyone know anything about the quality of the phono section of the TEAC? Could that be the issue?

 

[Seth=L]

I visited an old friend last weekend and asked about his stereo.
He recently replaced his receiver and is not happy with performance when using turntable.
His gear is as follows:
Receiver Teac AG-790
http://audio.teac.com/product/ag-790/
TT Technics SL-D20 (late 70's)

The problem is sound from the phono is much lower than from the CD player, and even when the volume is increased, it sounds dead/flat. There is no distortion, so none of the electronics are getting saturated.
This happened when he swapped out the receiver.

All connections were done properly.

Does anyone know anything about the quality of the phono section of the TEAC? Could that be the issue?

That's not a very good receiver. Basically on par with KLH and early Insignia receivers at Best Buy.

 

[KEW]

It works okay with CD's so unless the phone section is the problem, I don't know what else might be the issue.

 

[TLS Guy]

I visited an old friend last weekend and asked about his stereo.
He recently replaced his receiver and is not happy with performance when using turntable.
His gear is as follows:
Receiver Teac AG-790
http://audio.teac.com/product/ag-790/
TT Technics SL-D20 (late 70's)

The problem is sound from the phono is much lower than from the CD player, and even when the volume is increased, it sounds dead/flat. There is no distortion, so none of the electronics are getting saturated.
This happened when he swapped out the receiver.

All connections were done properly.

Does anyone know anything about the quality of the phono section of the TEAC? Could that be the issue?

Obviously the phono stage has insufficient gain, and it seems likely the RIAA equalization incorrect.

Either ditch this receiver or get a phono preamp and connect it to a line input.

I have to say this is a pretty low class problem, and not encouraging for that receiver. Phono input stages are not rocket science and this was just plain sloppy design.

 

[KEW]

Obviously the phono stage has insufficient gain, and it seems likely the RIAA equalization incorrect.

Either ditch this receiver or get a phono preamp and connect it to a line input.

I have to say this is a pretty low class problem, and not encouraging for that receiver. Phono input stages are not rocket science and this was just plain sloppy design.

Thanks, I was mainly looking for confirmation that this does happen ! Given the maturity of the science , it is pretty difficult to imagine that companies don't get it right . Are there any inexpensive phono preamps that he could use? I know a new receiver is probably the best solution , but I can also appreciate that he has a fair amount of Scots blood in him like me .

 

[macddmac]

Thanks, I was mainly looking for confirmation that this does happen ! Given the maturity of the science , it is pretty difficult to imagine that companies don't get it right . Are there any inexpensive phono preamps that he could use? I know a new receiver is probably the best solution , but I can also appreciate that he has a fair amount of Scots blood in him like me .

Belari / rolls vp-29- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BG2R2/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=55992114563&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12932988269837395749&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_12xk4syvyi_b

Art dj pre-http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/art-djpre-ii-phono-preamp

 

[KEW]

I was also looking at "bottom feeder" receivers with phono capability which are of good enough not to have a "crap for phono" pre-amp.

These are the best two options I saw. Any other suggestions?
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/onktx8020/onkyo-tx-8020-50-watts-2-channel-stereo-receiver/1.html
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrs300bl/yamaha-r-s300-natural-sound-stereo-receiver/1.html

Thinking about it, I believe the separate Phono pre-amp is probably a better option. If and when the TEAC dies, he will have more options if he is not restricted to a receiver with a phono pre-amp. Thoughts?

 

[Seth=L]

Thanks, I was mainly looking for confirmation that this does happen ! Given the maturity of the science , it is pretty difficult to imagine that companies don't get it right . Are there any inexpensive phono preamps that he could use? I know a new receiver is probably the best solution , but I can also appreciate that he has a fair amount of Scots blood in him like me .

I'm pretty sure that Teac receiver is an OEM from some long Chinese name I cannot fathom pronouncing. It looks exactly like the first gen Insignia receiver I bought years ago and it was garbage. Before that they had the same receiver available at Best Buy under the KLH brand name. I never used the phono input, but otherwise I found the quality to be pretty poor.

 

[Seth=L]

I was also looking at "bottom feeder" receivers with phono capability which are of good enough not to have a "crap for phono" pre-amp.

These are the best two options I saw. Any other suggestions?
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/onktx8020/onkyo-tx-8020-50-watts-2-channel-stereo-receiver/1.html
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrs300bl/yamaha-r-s300-natural-sound-stereo-receiver/1.html

Thinking about it, I believe the separate Phono pre-amp is probably a better option. If and when the TEAC dies, he will have more options if he is not restricted to a receiver with a phono pre-amp. Thoughts?

For just a bit more, I'd buy the TX-8050. It has loads more features than the other two.

Just to paraphrase, digital inputs (optical & coaxial), USB port, network capability, preouts, zone 2 preouts, subwoofer preout, and more power than the TX-8020.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/onktx8050/onkyo-tx-8050-80watts-x-2ch-network-stereo-receiver/1.html

Edit: I just noticed the TX-8020 is now out of stock, but they still have the TX-8050, odd.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks, I was mainly looking for confirmation that this does happen ! Given the maturity of the science , it is pretty difficult to imagine that companies don't get it right . Are there any inexpensive phono preamps that he could use? I know a new receiver is probably the best solution , but I can also appreciate that he has a fair amount of Scots blood in him like me .

This should do the trick. It is a reasonable price and from a good stable.

He should keep to the lower end of the market. I would bet that receiver will soon be in the recycling center.

Tell you Scottish friend that buying junk is not thrifty, but spendthrift.

 

[KEW]

I'm pretty sure that Teac receiver is an OEM from some long Chinese name I cannot fathom pronouncing. It looks exactly like the first gen Insignia receiver I bought years ago and it was garbage. Before that they had the same receiver available at Best Buy under the KLH brand name. I never used the phono input, but otherwise I found the quality to be pretty poor.

What type of problems did you have with it? Right now, it is doing the job for him (aside from the Phono). I want to advise him if there are some compelling reasons he should replace the receiver instead of buying a preamp and replacing the receiver later when it dies.

How long ago was that? I know that today you would find a decent used receiver!

 

[KEW]

Tell you Scottish friend that buying junk is not thrifty, but spendthrift.

Just for the record, he is not Scottish (that I know of). I was using the term "Scot's blood" figuratively to mean tight.
Probably not very PC, but Scotsmen seem to be pretty easy going.

 

[macddmac]

 

[Seth=L]

What type of problems did you have with it? Right now, it is doing the job for him (aside from the Phono). I want to advise him if there are some compelling reasons he should replace the receiver instead of buying a preamp and replacing the receiver later when it dies.

How long ago was that? I know that today you would find a decent used receiver!

That's been some time ago. If I recall there was some amount of noise always present coming from the speakers no matter what volume I had it set at. It had the problem new out of the box. It went back within that week.