A turntable preamp, also known as a phono preamp or phono stage, is a device that amplifies the inherently weak electrical signal produced by a turntable’s cartridge to a level that is compatible with a standard audio amplifier or receiver. Turntables produce a very low-level signal, known as a phono signal, which is not strong enough to be directly amplified by most audio amplifiers.
For example, if you plugged a turntable, without a built-in pre-amp, into a receiver’s CD input, it would be too quiet. You could turn the volume way up but it’s still going to be too quiet and you’d lose much of the detail of the signal.
There are several reasons why someone might use a turntable preamp. First and foremost, many newer receivers do not have a built-in phono stage, so a turntable preamp is necessary to amplify the phono signal produced by the turntable. Additionally, the phono stage of a turntable preamp can help to correct for any imbalances in the turntable’s cartridge, resulting in a more balanced and accurate sound.
There are many turntable preamps available on the market at different price points. The main differences are generally related to their build quality, performance, and features.
Entry-level preamps tend to be more basic and won’t offer as much flexibility or sound quality as higher-end models. Mid-range and high-end preamps, on the other hand, tend to offer more features and higher performance, but also obviously come with a higher price tag.
Entry-Level Recommendations
Pro-Ject Phono Box E Phono Preamp: This compact and affordable preamp is a great choice for those on a budget. It offers good performance for the price and is easy to set up and use.
- Amplification and RIAA equalisation for MM cartridges
- SMD circuitry
- Special low noise components
- Internal metal shielding
- Gold plated RCA connection sockets
This budget-friendly preamp offers excellent sound quality and a range of features, including adjustable loading for both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges. It also has a built-in headphone amplifier, making it a great choice for those who like to listen to vinyl through headphones.
- Super low noise and high RIAA accuracy.
- Gain: Choose 35, 45, 50, or 60dB of gain, for virtually any cartridge from Decca to low-output MC and MI models.
- Loading: Choose 47KΩ, 200Ω, 47Ω, or 38Ω, and 47pF, 100pF, 150pF, or 200pF for virtually any MM, MC, or MI cartridge.
- Filter: Choose 6dB/octave or 12dB/octave of purely passive low-frequency filtering (at 15 Hz), to help with warped records or other subsonic problems.
Mid-Range Recommendations
This mid-range preamp offers excellent sound quality and a range of features, including a built-in moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) phono stage.
- The switch mode power supply and surface mount technology delivers short signal paths and a faster response with precision and lower background noise.
- Subsonic filter and balance control
- Headphone jack
Compact and affordable. Offers good performance and a range of features, including adjustable loading for MM and MC cartridges. It also has a built-in headphone amplifier and a variety of connectivity options, including both RCA and XLR outputs.
- Cartridge Load Capacitance – Fine-tune the pre-amp to match the characteristics of your chosen MM or MC cartridge.
- Rumble Filter – Filters out disrupting frequencies that degrade the overall sound quality.
- Trim-Gain Control – Match the output with your stereo system.
This mid-range preamp offers excellent sound quality and a range of features, including a built-in analog-to-digital converter for easy digital recording. It also has a variety of connectivity options, including both RCA and XLR outputs.
- MM Phono Preamp with a USB output, connects directly to your computer
- Converts analog signals to USB
- Convert your records into high-resolution digital audio
- User-friendly front and back panels
- Compact size
High End Recommendations
The new Fono MM phono stage has been designed to be effective, easy to use, and above all, to reproduce music.
- Fully discrete, cascaded, complementary amplifier input stage
- Detailed, spacious performance in a small package
- Fine handling of dynamics and timing
Phono preamplifier for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, with USB output and headphone amp
- compatible with moving magnet and moving coil phono cartridges
- high performance 24-bit/96kHz Wolfson WM 8786 analog-to-digital converter
- quiet, energy-efficient external power supply
There are certainly many options in all price points, and you can spend as much as a car on a preamp, but we feel that these are respected and reputable offerings that are attainable to most people. Because prices are always changing, we’ve left prices off.
In summary, a turntable preamp is a necessary component for anyone looking to play vinyl records through a modern audio system. It amplifies the weak phono signal produced by the turntable’s cartridge to a level that can be directly amplified by an audio amplifier or receiver. There are many options available on the market at different price points, and the best choice will depend on the individual’s budget and audio needs.