Do I need a pre-amp?


Major noob here. Researching my first turntable purchase. One potential problem is my existing receiver, Marantz SR4001. Not sure if this home-theater receiver is immediately compatible or whether I will need an additional phono pre-amp? Here is spec book: http://newmedia.engl.iastate.edu/tutorials/DFU_SR4001_SR5001_Final_eng.pdf

Looks like there is a pre-amp OUT but I don't see any phono IN. Maybe that doesn't matter, but I'm not sure bc I don't know very much about this stuff. If I need a pre-amp, how much should I expect to spend to be on par w my entry-level B&W floor-standing speakers? I also have a B&W sub that I would like to keep thumping and will changing my setup require altering that config?

Also, this is the turntable I'm considering: https://app.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-conrad-johnson-sonographe-sg-3-with-alphason-opal-sumiko-andante-turntable-tonear-2015-10-12-analog-02461-newton-highlands-ma Is this a good starter table and on par w my setup?

Thanks in advance for helping me learn and sorry for the scattered questions. I've heard great things about this forum.
lionsdwarf

Showing 1 response by dhl93449

Lion

Not mentioned is you need a preamp for a moving magnet cartridge, not moving coil (you will run into both when looking for phono preamps). If you buy the setup in your link.

Moving magnet cartridges (the device that plays the record, mounted in the end of the tonearm) generally put out higher voltages (nominally 3-5 milli-volts or .003-.005 volts at 1 KHz) and are therefore able to use phono preamps that are a bit cheaper.

Moving coil cartridges generally put out a lot lower voltage (a factor of 0.1 or 10% of the MM) and therefore need a much lower noise (ergo more expensive) phono preamp.

Some phono preamps can handle both MM and MC cartridges.

Moving magnet cartridges are sensitive to cable capacitance so you should be aware of this when you buy a phono preamp, as its input capacitance adds to the cable capacitance (of the cables from the cartridge through the tonearm to the phono preamp) to "load" the cartridge. The cartridge manufacturer will specify the recommended load capacitance. If you are too far from recommended ranges, the sound may be affected.

Now, aren't you glad you are getting into vinyl?