Advice PreAmp <$400

[hyped]

Advice PreAmp &lt;$400

Ok, you're more into audio than it first seemed.
First choose the phono box. Try looking at Stereophile's recommended list. http://www.stereophile.com/category/recommended-components
MM or MC?

Haha well if I can get a good outcome otherwise don't wanna be paying for the shiny box! Been on that merry go round! MC mate. Recently built my speakers and with help of good mate got better outcome than I would have spending twice as much retail



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[rayma]

Haha well if I can get a good outcome otherwise don't wanna be paying for the shiny box!
Been on that merry go round! MC mate.

Ok, the case thickens, is it a low or high output MC?

 

[hyped]

Ok, the case thickens, is it a low or high output MC?

Haha it does I've seen the light[emoji1317]

Low 0.4v


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[rayma]

Haha it does I've seen the light. Low 0.4v.

If that's 0.4mV output, then it's a lowish output type,
so you likely will need at least 40dB or more phono gain,
to be able to use a passive preamp when playing LPs.
This phono may be the only reasonable choice for your budget.
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-75250-pro-ject-phono-box-s.aspx
The higher gain settings on this box will give you plenty of margin.

 

[hyped]

If that's 0.4mV output, then it's a lowish output type,

so you likely will need at least 40dB or more phono gain,

to be able to use a passive preamp when playing LPs.

Yeh well the phono board I was looking to get goes up to 70db, late 50s, early 60s would be good spot I think.

Probably a stupid question but if I squeeze abit more gain out of the board eg configured it 2-3db higher then I would normally set it at with active pre would that help matching with a passive pre more appropriately from gain perspective ?



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[rayma]

if I squeeze abit more gain out of the board eg configured it 2-3db higher then I would normally set it at with active pre would that help matching with a passive pre more appropriately from gain perspective ?.

Yes, in this case the more gain the better, unless the noise becomes too high,
or (unlikely) overload occurs. Do check out the Pro-Ject Phono Box S.

 

[ColinA]

There is a very good reason why most phono stages do not attempt super high gain.
Distortion and noise.
It takes very high quality components and very careful design and build to get it working in a satisfactory way.