Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Getting back into vinyl, I have a question

So I’m getting back into vinyl. I have

M80’s v2
Denon 6300H
Pro-ject carbon duet
Pro-ject tube box S2

So I wasn’t happy with the sound of my turntable connected to the built in phono amp in the Denon. So I bought a Pro-ject tube box S2 (just ordered some Mullard tubes to replace the stock tubes) and I have it plugged into one of the analog inputs into the Denon.

I guess my question is, am I defeating any purpose by having the turntable plugged into a tube amp and then into the Denon?

Thanks

No. The distortion of your vinyl and the distortion of the tube amp will be amplified nicely by the Denon.

Okay thanks. I was, for some reason, worried that having that tube amplified signal going again through another amp might negate any positives

Lots of people actually very much enjoy such a tube arrangement. Hopefully the tubes add enough for your liking.

The phono input in the Denon is a pre-amp which goes to the main amp.
You just replaced that pre-amp with an external one (I'm sure you know to plug it into a line input not the phono input).

The $100,000 (or maybe just the cost of your phono amp) questions is ... has it solved what you were unhappy with?

Hello Vassillios

Your pro ject is a phono stage. I assume it has load settings so you can tune it for your cartridge. If you have a stylus gauge, you can adjust the tracking force of your table. Proper tracking force and load settings will make a big difference.

What kind of cartridge are you using?

Your system should sound very good. There is a big difference in audio quality between a well recorded record and a poorly recorded record. I don't know your music taste, but one of the best recorded records (in either 33 or 45) is Dream with Dean (Martin). It is wonderful! Another beautifully recorded classic is Getz/Gilberto.

Mullard makes a great 12ax7 ( I assume that's the required tube).

Enjoy the music. Don't let those who know it all rain on your enjoyment of tube/vinyl beautiful music.

2x6, I really enjoy those vinyl selections on Spotify. Every vinyl distortion is digitized perfectly and reproduced wonderfully by my M2s and active LFRs. I'm confessin' that I love you living room and basement systems.

Hi Mary! How is your soundbar working out?

Mojo, Although I'm with you (that vinyl and tubes color the sound), a lot of people like it. I personally think that's because both vinyl and tubes compress the music (in different ways). This hides many limitations in other parts of the system.

There is also something very zen about interacting with your music ... like placing the needle for that one song you want or turning over the record (at least it got your lazy butt out of the seat). And you gotta admit that soft glow of tubes is pretty cool looking ... you can just see it warming up the sound ...

Yup. I like it. I've said it before a few times I like it. I'm quite envious of Philip and his tubes and vinyl. I also listen to iHeart radio vinyl channels on my M2s. There's an otherworldliness to them.