2. amps-preamps
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New A/V Receiver - No Dedicated Phono Jack Input

Hi All. I have a series of questions if you'll bear with me, please.

First off, I have very bad hum coming from both of my turntables. They are both 20-25 feet away from my pre-amp and my current receiver so that is understandable. One combo is Signet TK7SU cartridge by Audio Technica on a HK-Rabco Straight Line Tracking Turntable. The other is a TK9E cartridge by Audio Technica on a Signet arm with a Thorens Turntable from the late 70s, early 80s, I believe.

First Questions: I have a vintage Mark Levinson phono preamp the JC-1. I long-ago left batteries in it and, of course, they leaked. I put two new D-Cell in after cleaning and scraping the contacts as best I could. The Test switch doesn't light up but I get a bit of a flicker of light when I switch to "on". Do you suppose that Mark Levinson might be able to get this operational after all this time? Should I spend the money or repairs, if available, or move on?

Second Questions: I have just ordered a new A/V receiver to replace my 10 year old Sony Audio Receiver. I noticed that there is no dedicate Phono Input and that shocked me! Now, if I buy a cartridge pre-amp, to solve my hum problem will that also allow me to use any of the RCA phono inputs on the new A/V receiver for the turntable? Or, do a need some type of dongle on a Left/Right phono input pair that connects to the cartridge pre-amp? I'd like to kill one bird with two stones.

Third Questions: Is there a cartridge pre-amp that can take inputs from two turntables and send one output to my pre-ampflier and the other output to my new A/V receiver? Should I just buy two cartridge pre-amps - one for each cartridge/turntable - and have them be dedicated?

Fourth Questions: I'd like the cost of the cartridge pre-amp to be around $100 per pre-amp and allow for clear, clean, natural sound if that is not impossible at this price range. Are most of these A/C powered? Battery operated (like my JC-1)? I'd prefer the later and being able to leave it "On" all the time but A/C powering is not a problem.

Fifth Questions: Given my challenges - the distance issue and the lack of dedicated phono jack on the new A/V Receiver, what might be some good cartridge pre-amp options and prices that you might suggest. I could, I suppose, pay more than $100 per cartridge pre-amp if I had to.

Thanks so much for any and all input!

Regards,
SNazz123
snazz123

Showing 1 response by kr4

kr4's avatar
kr4
3,651 posts
 
1. Any tech should be able to clean up and replace the battery contacts cheaply if that is the only problem with the JC-1. It is pretty dated, though.
2. Any stereo pair of RCA inputs will take the output of your phono preamp.
3. Why have more than one phono preamp? If you want to connect two TTs at the same time, get a switch or buy a phono preamp with two inputs.
4. I cannot help you with this research.
5. Consider moving the phono preamp to the TTs as its output can support a long cable better than can the direct cartridge output.
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