Phono Pre-Amp wattage/Speaker question

[ClayTune]

So I am putting together a new system soon and I have been shopping for vintage receivers for the TT I am getting. But I also had a quick thought about possibly getting a phono pre-amp.

However, what concerns me about the ones I am seeing is they do not seem to have dedicated speaker inputs for those that come with speaker wire.

What is a work around to this (I am somewhat of a Novice with TT set ups, hence the question)?

And furthermore what are the wattage outputs of these Phono Pre-Amps, if it even works that way?

I Mean if I get speakers with a peak wattage of 100 I would probably want to utilize at least half that peak wattage.

Thanks guys.

 

[woodj]

Most generally, pre-amps don't drive speakers.
Amps have speaker outputs, not inputs generally.

 

[savatage1973]

OK--back to the basics. Most (not all) vintage receivers have decent phono stages because when they were built, vinyl was the primary source, so a lot of effort was put into them. If you choose to go with an external phono preamp, that needs to be connected to a tape or AUX input, as the signal output of the phono pre will bring the signal up to line level.

Leave your receiver connected to your speakers as normal for any other sources (tuner, CD, tape, whatever). The phono pre goes in between the TT and any line level input on the receiver, so there will be no speaker wire connections on the phono preamp.

There will be no wattage ratings on the phono preamp, because it is not a power amplifier--output power is whatever the rated power of the receiver is.

 

[ClayTune]

OK--back to the basics. Most (not all) vintage receivers have decent phono stages because when they were built, vinyl was the primary source, so a lot of effort was put into them. If you choose to go with an external phono preamp, that needs to be connected to a tape or AUX input, as the signal output of the phono pre will bring the signal up to line level.

Leave your receiver connected to your speakers as normal for any other sources (tuner, CD, tape, whatever). The phono pre goes in between the TT and any line level input on the receiver, so there will be no speaker wire connections on the phono preamp.

There will be no wattage ratings on the phono preamp, because it is not a power amplifier--output power is whatever the rated power of the receiver is.

Ridiculous question, but, what then is the point of a modern Phono pre-amp?

My apologies for apparently missing something in the translation.

 

[whoaru99]

Just because a phono stage in a vintage receiver is usually decent all in all, doesn't mean there isn't better to be had. As well, there are a lot of people using pre amps without, some even directly to amplifiers, so they use a standalone to provide the function.

 

[tubewade]

Ridiculous question, but, what then is the point of a modern Phono pre-amp?

My apologies for apparently missing something in the translation.

Well, for using a turntable with a modern amplifier there will likely be no Phono pre-amp built into it. In that case you must have an external one. In the case of older amplifiers from the 1970s or 1980s an outboard pre-amp has the potential to offer better quality and sound. A phono pre-amp is an audio component that can be upgraded just like any other component. So the question could be, "How good does it need to be?"

 

[ClayTune]

Well, for using a turntable with a modern amplifier there will likely be no Phono pre-amp built into it. In that case you must have an external one. In the case of older amplifiers from the 1970s or 1980s an outboard pre-amp has the potential to offer better quality and sound. A phono pre-amp is an audio component that can be upgraded just like any other component. So the question could be, "How good does it need to be?"

Forgive me for still not understanding.

My initial understanding is this.

A Modern Turntable requires either a phono pre-amp or a Vintage Receiver not both and one does not necessitate the other.

So, if I purchase a vintage receiver alongside the modern TT I am planning to buy I will not be required to then purchase a modern phono pre-amp?

In this case, why would I want a modern pre-amp additionally to the aforementioned set up?

You said the question is "How good does it need to be".

Can you please explain this as if you're talking to a noob?

Thanks.

 

[tubewade]

Whilst not required, the sound quality of an external phono pre-amp might be better sounding than an inbuilt one on an older "receiver". That's all. It's an opportunity to upgrade sound quality if that is a priority for you. In your present situation I would not be too concerned about that. Just get something that is capable of utilising a turntable and start enjoying it. Down the road you will decide if it worth the extra money to upgrade some components towards better sound.

 

[62caddy]

Forgive me for still not understanding.

My initial understanding is this.

A Modern Turntable requires either a phono pre-amp or a Vintage Receiver not both and one does not necessitate the other.

So, if I purchase a vintage receiver alongside the modern TT I am planning to buy I will not be required to then purchase a modern phono pre-amp?

In this case, why would I want a modern pre-amp additionally to the aforementioned set up?

You said the question is "How good does it need to be".

Can you please explain this as if you're talking to a noob?

Thanks.

A few newer turntables have phono preamplifier electronics built in so as to be able to be used with newer receivers that do not have phono preamp sections.

In short, any receiver with specifically labeled PHONO inputs will already have a phono preamplifier section so you would be able to use it with any turntable.

A PHONO preamplifer is really a "pre preamp"; a "preamplifier" in the more common use of the word refers to the separate of a system that has separate tuner, preamplifier and power amplifier. When all three of these separates are combined on a single chassis, the device is called a "receiver". When a preamplifier and power amplifier is combined on a single chassis (w/o a tuner), it is called an "integrated amplifier" or "control amplifier".

The primary function of the "main" preamplifer is to regulate volume but it also has a bank of inputs and controls for switching among the sources connected to it, Ie: tuner, CD player, turntable, tape player etc in addition to volume, bass, treble and balance controls.

HTH,

 

[sqlsavior]

Good lord, google "RIAA curve" or "phonograph equalization" and do some reading.

"Does my faucet need two refrigerators, or will a bicycle work as well?"

 

[woodj]

Pre amplifiers (which are built into older receivers and integrated amps) do exactly what they say (are named); they amplify a weak signal to be sent to an amp for further amplification.

 

[BrocLuno]

All of this is why I like to call them phono stages. To me, it is a stage in the signal chain that handles the somewhat unusual requirements of the phonograph ... It can be built into a Receiver, an Integrated Amplifier, a Pre-Amp (as described below), or as a stand alone box that prepares the phono signal for other devices ...

In general I use Pre-Amp to mean the control unit that sets volume, tone, and allows switching between functions, before sending the signal to the amplifier to be built up for the speakers.

 

[woodj]

In bygone days preamplifiers were used to pre-amp a variety of signals other than TTs e.g. low output tuners, microphones to mention a few.

 

[ClayTune]

Thank you for the elaborate answers guys. And double thanks to the ones who were polite about it.

So, first I will buy a vintage receiver, then a month or two down the line I might buy a phono pre-amp to augment the sound.

 

[Designdweeb]

You got it!

 

[62caddy]

So, first I will buy a vintage receiver, then a month or two down the line I might buy a phono pre-amp to augment the sound.

A receiver that already has a PHONO stage will NOT need an external phono preamplifier!