Phono Inputs Vary, Equalization is also needed
A little history to help you figure it out now and in the future. Equipment manufacturers handle it differently, so no easy answer exsits. Preamps, equalization stage, amps, can all be separate, or, integrated, but they are all needed in the phono chain for things to be correct.
'Line' Level Input signals were/are about 1 volt in the old days (50s)
Original Devices, way back when, all put about 1 volt into amps
Amps then juiced it up for speakers. Originally, before stereo, you had a mono phono to a phono equalization stage to a mono amp to a single speaker. Then, after stereo, you needed another amp and speaker.
CD players output about 1 volt maximum signal.
Original Phono Cartridges also put out about 1 volt. Then, finer results were achieved, but, at lower output. So, a preamp was needed between the low voltage output of modern cartridges to juice it up to about 1 volt for the amp.
Equalization is also needed somewhere along the line for phono cartridge outputs. Due to limitations during cutting of records, reducing the wavelengths to reduce the width of grooves on the record, etc., the original signal was/is modified at both the high and low frequencies. Any phono cartridge picks up the modified signal from the record. A phono preamp usually includes a phono equalization stage, needed to restore the proper balance of the highs and lows and boost up to 1 volt.
So, there are 2 different kinds of phono inputs. Low Level Inputs which go to a preamp, and high, or line level inputs which to to the amp. Existance and location of the equalization stage needs to be clarified also.
Modern receivers started skipping inputs for TTs, to save money, and then some TT manufacturers started making TTs with preamps built in. Some, like mine, has a switchable built in preamp, so you can use it and go to a line level input, or, not use it, and go into a low phono input which itself goes to a preamp stage and equalization stage, then to the amp.
When TT started making a comeback, modern receivers next started lableing inputs Phono, but, they could be low level with equalazation, or they may be just the same as an AUX input, which takes any auxillary 1 volt line level input, without equalization, to the amp.
So, does your TT have a built in preamp? Does your Receiver have both low and high phono inputs? Where is the Phono Equalization stage?
Oh, yeah, an inexpensive phono preamp can give excellent results, it is not rocket science.
Good luck with this, Elliott
