Phone preamp question

A phono preamp and a passive preamp does not have enough voltage to use with an amp directly. You need an active preamp!

^No!^

The phono amp usually needs 10-40 dB of attenuation.

Guys, can I take a phono preamp (Bellari vp130 mk2) which has a gain control and plug it directly into an amp (Odyssey Audio Stratos) using the gain control as a volume control…

@thecarpathian it should get way too loud, but it is easy enough to try it. It should work.

Most definitely. High quality audio is always directly associated with high quality power supplies.

Although I really doubt ^that^ is a truism, @thecarpathian could certainly try it and report back, which could give us some insight worth respect to the Bellari, but doesn’t say much about other gear.

Just got it all set up, and with the gain setting not a quarter of the way on the Bellari, it's already loud enough and sounding pretty darn good. Too late to crank it, but I'm pleasantly surprised by the volume level. Forgot to mention, the Bellari came with a custom and extremely robust separate power supply to use in place of the original, anemic wall wart. (Included)

I wonder if this has something to do with its performance?

No - almost certainly the wall wart itself would be fine. 

Didn't think a non powered passive would do anything.

I have never seen a powered passive.(??)

Most sources output 1V, and most preamp and passives need that cut that back 10-40dB depending on time of day, dirty looks, mood, etc.

😀 yeah…

But it is pretty cool that it worked out for you.

Many phono stages only have enough adjustment to load a cartridge, so it worked out well for you, and I suspect that it sounds just dandy.

Well done sir!

Additionally - it could potentially not sound not as good with a passive shoved in the middle, depending on how it is trying to drive the amp(s). The Bellari would have a better (lower) output impedance than a passive, so if it is working a champ, then maybe do not start second guessing it?

Just score it as a win.

You might disagree but you are still wrong. How can call something a preamplifier when does not amplify the signal?

It sits where a preamp sits, and switches inputs like a preamp.

Also most preamps attenuate, so the amplifier part is not amplifying, and not really doing impedance matching like a power amp does.

Passive Preamplifier In essence is merely a volume control designed to attenuate the signal going from the source (usually a CD player) to the amplifier. Since it is passive, it has no inherent gain because it has no active components (tubes or transistors) in the signal path

^That^ is all true, but an active preamp is almost always an attenuation device too.
The active does have a lower output impedance.

By using neither one, the OP saved needing another cable.