Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Phono Preamp

I recently got all nostalgic for my old LPs. So I pulled out my trusty old turntable, replaced the cartridge and then remembered that neither my two year old HK or three year old Yamaha receivers have a built-in phono preamp. My old Onkyo does, but I don't have room nor do I want to put two receivers on the rack. So I went out and spent a wopping $25.00 (or something like that) on a phono preamp - guaranteed to bring to life your old LPs. Well that was a load of BS. I had to turn the HK's volume all the way up to get mediocre sound from the turntable. I swapped in the Onkyo just to make sure I wasn't crazy, and sure enough there was the sound I craved. So what preamp should I buy and what should it cost to get good quality sound from my LPs/turnatable through the HK535 receiver. Thanks.

Hello Phil

You may want to look for a used Musical Fidelity XLP phono preamp. They're cheap and terrific.

exactly what you are talking about was a factor in helping me to decide which receiver to get. i got the onkyo 701 because it had the phono hook-ups. everyone told me that you could just get a preamp for the receivers that dont, but thats just more money, and as you have found out, more anguish.

good luck in solving your problem.

bigjohn

Hi Phil,

There are a few options to explore. It depends on how far you want to go with vinyl. I rarely play CD's anymore is the vinyl sounds so superior. I eventually went with a tubed phono preamp kit. It made a substantial difference from the phono stages I had in my preamps and receivers.

More info is here:

I might also suggest stopping by www.audiokarma.org and posting a question in the turntables and tape forum. There are alot of folk who know vinyl very well.

Good Luck.

Hi Phil,

There are a few options to explore. It depends on how far you want to go with vinyl. I rarely play CD's anymore is the vinyl sounds so superior. I eventually went with a tubed phono preamp kit. It made a substantial difference from the phono stages I had in my preamps and receivers.

More info is here: http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/Seduction/seduction.htm

I might also suggest stopping by www.audiokarma.org and posting a question in the turntables and tape forum. There are alot of folk who know vinyl very well.

Good Luck.

One thought did you match the preamp to the cartridge?

What model of turntable, cart and phono "device" do you have?

My turntable is nothing special; an old Technics (straight tracking) with I believe a $50 Stanton cartridge. While I'm having fun listening to my old records, I'm not so into it that I would spend many hundreds of dollars. A couple of hundred give or take is my ceiling. So, I'll check into the Musical Fidelity phono preamp. I guess if I can't accomplish what I want within my price guidelines, then I'll just use my old Onkyo receiver exclusively for the turntable. I'll also check the audiokarma web site. Thanks.

If you aren't looking to spend a whole lot, just get a decent phono preamp - this one is about the cheapest quality preamp I know of. Unless you go DIY, that is. It even does both MM and MC carts.

http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/c.ACCT106601/sc.2/category.401/it.A/id.928/.f

Okay, this looks like a winner. I'll do a bit more research and take it from there. Thanks much.