I see 3 options for you. The first is to use the tape out. You have already tried it and know it works. That would be better than the 2nd option, which is to use the pre outs. If you fool around with the volume controls on both units, you can probably make it listenable; although it should still sound much better going through the tape loop because you are bypassing much of the preamp circuitry of the 725. 3rd, you can just get an entry level phono stage. Even the cheapest one you can find should be the best sounding option.
Connecting Preamp to AVR
I just picked up an old (1982ish) Harman Kardon HK725 Preamp for $60. After some messing around I seem to have gotten it to work.
I connected my Thorens TD145 to the phono input and then the tape output into one of the analog inputs on my HK AVR7550HD. This seems to work fine. However, with this approach none of the functions on the preamp have any effect. The preamp has volume, balance, and a range of filters on volume, tone, etc. There is an "output" connector (RCA) on the back that seems to be a pre-out, but it doesn't sound right when connected to the analog in on my AVR. It is a variable volate connection rather than line out like Tape.
Does anyone have any suggestions for if and how I might use the pre-out from the preamp (and therefore the various controls on the preamp) with my AVR?
Thanks.
I connected my Thorens TD145 to the phono input and then the tape output into one of the analog inputs on my HK AVR7550HD. This seems to work fine. However, with this approach none of the functions on the preamp have any effect. The preamp has volume, balance, and a range of filters on volume, tone, etc. There is an "output" connector (RCA) on the back that seems to be a pre-out, but it doesn't sound right when connected to the analog in on my AVR. It is a variable volate connection rather than line out like Tape.
Does anyone have any suggestions for if and how I might use the pre-out from the preamp (and therefore the various controls on the preamp) with my AVR?
Thanks.
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