Aside from the gain difference, a phono amp will have RIAA equalization, which a pre-amp will not.
Bellari VP129 as a CD-Player Preamp?
This question may seem trivial to some, but I'm curious as to whether or not it's possible to use the Bellari VP129 Phono Preamp as a CD Player preamp. I'm very happy with the sound in my analog front-end, but my digital front end produces a lot of glare and harshness, and is almost unlistenable. I'd like to tone it down or eventually upgrade, but I just don't have the cash right now. Is it possible to run the CD Player into the Bellari and then out to my amps, or will this burn them up?