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Do I need a phono pre-amp?

P

peterfranks

Super Member
I found a Realistic Phono Pre-Amp - Made In Japan Model #42-2101A

It's in good physical condition. Two questions:

- Is this something I can use to enhance my TT - example - put it between my JVC QL-A2 ad my 7070?

- How do I even test it to make sure it works?

No experience with such a device.

thanks!
 
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I had this same Realistic phono preamp. It's just OK, even after I rebuilt it using all high-end caps. You can use it with your Sansui, but I bet it has a better phono preamp than this Realistic, so what's the point? Keep the Realistic, just for testing purposes or as backup. It's not worth much, if you were to sell it.
 
ikorman said:
I had this same Realistic phono preamp. It's just OK, even after I rebuilt it using all high-end caps. You can use it with your Sansui, but I bet it has a better phono preamp than this Realistic, so what's the point? Keep the Realistic, just for testing purposes or as backup. It's not worth much, if you were to sell it.
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This^

But also on the other hand using other stand alone stages & Head Amp can improve your vinyl playback front end SQ.
 
OK cool - thanks. I was perusing old RS catalogs - looks like it probably sold for about $10.

I'll mess around with it some. Never had one before .....
 
If your amp or receiver collection eventually includes something that doesn't have "Phono" inputs, then your phono preamp will come in handy if you want to play a turntable through it. Until then, unless the amp or receiver you are using has a broken or lesser quality phono preamp circuit in it, you won't need the preamp. Of course you could test this by ear: play a record using the amp's phono input, then play the same record going through the preamp with it plugged into your regular amp's Aux or Tape or CD input. Which way sounds better?
 
The by-ear test may be problematic due to level (volume) differences between the built-in pre-amp and the Realistic pre-amp. But if you can adjust for that, then it's a good test.
 
illinoisteve said:
If your amp or receiver collection eventually includes something that doesn't have "Phono" inputs, then your phono preamp will come in handy if you want to play a turntable through it. Until then, unless the amp or receiver you are using has a broken or lesser quality phono preamp circuit in it, you won't need the preamp. Of course you could test this by ear: play a record using the amp's phono input, then play the same record going through the preamp with it plugged into your regular amp's Aux or Tape or CD input. Which way sounds better?
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OK - I will do that - this will be something new to learn on. The 7070 sounds great and I cannot imagine this being better but it might serve a purpose down the road with something else :thmbsp:
 
rothwellaudi said:
I wrote a page on my website explaining what phonostages are, why you might (or might not) need one etc. - all aimed at beginner's or people with no previous experience of turntables or outboard pre-amps. Maybe it would be helpful.

http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/html/beginner_s_guide_to_vinyl_play.html

An outboard phonostage isn't automatically better than one built-in to an amplifier.
Click to expand...

Ah - new reading material - thanks! I'm on the road this week - will bookmark.
:thmbsp:
 
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