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Separate Stereo Phono Preamps – Opinions

Raphaz

Raphaz

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Just found an old phono preamp, which I temporarily used with a Thorens TD 115 (into a Revox a78 and a pair of mighty Elacs) years ago (unfortunately I had to give it all away when I moved).

It's a simple, small, old Hama PA-005.

I don't really need a preamp right now (and I doubt that it would be an improvement with my current components) but I wonder if it's worth keeping. I know there's better phono preamps out there (with rather hefty price tags of course). It depends what you hook it up with, I know, but I'd like to learn a bit more about these in general and need to decide if I should get rid of it or keep it as a backup for possible future tables without preamps built in.

Also, can a good preamp improve the sound in addition to an existing preamp (most TTs come with it) and receiver/amp with decent phono stage?

Thanks!
 
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Raphaz: Typically you wouldn't get much for a used PA-005 (like maybe 20 Euro at best...), and having a small, battery-powered phono stage at hand never harms, even if you'd only need it for diagnostic purposes one day. So I'd suggest to keep it.

And yes, of course a better phono stage can improve things, be it by being better on the whole or by merely offering more suitable load parameters.

Which integrated or receiver model(s) would we be talking about in your case?

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
Raphaz, you must be new to turntables as you stated "most TTs come with it" with the "it" referring to a phono preamp. This is not so and only newer entry tts may come with a built in phono preamp. If your turntable does not have a built in phono preamp, you need to ensure your receiver/preamp/integrated amp has a built in phono preamp or you will need an external phono preamp.

Also, external phono preamps are not used "in addition to an existing preamp". You use the external phono preamp as a substitute for an existing phono preamp. An external phono preamp is not used in addition to an existing preamp. Such as, when you were using your thorens tt with your Revox a78, I believe your a78 has a built in phono preamp so you could have plugged your thorens directly into the phono inputs of the a78 and not use your PA-005.

I have no opinion/experience on your PA-005 but wanted to clarify general usage of an external phono preamp..
 
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