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Phono Pre-Amp Questions

Hi all, I've posted a few times recently as I have just returned to the joys of vinyl. I've noticed some talk about phono preamps and am curious and interested.
1. Can they really be that much better than the phono stages of a conventional pre-amp?
2. I'll assume they hook up to your power amp,integrated etc, and of course the TT is hooked up to it. Do they come with RCA and unbalanced inputs? My power amp has both and changing the cables every time I want to listen to the TT sounds like a pain.
3. Which models here on the used market would you guys suggest? I have the Pro-Ject Carbon that goes for 400.00 bucks. I would like to spend up to around 300.00 if one worth having can be had for that.
Assoc equip:
Aragon 8008BB Dual Mono power amp
Muscial Fidelity A3cr dual mono pre
PS-Audio P-300 Power Plant
Wharfdale speakers.
Thanks all and I appreciate the responses.
zar

Showing 2 responses by sarcher30

sarcher30
596 posts
 
Yes. AUX will work fine. Just make sure you don't hook it up to phono.
sarcher30
596 posts
 
Zar, A separate phono stage will need to be hooked up to your preamp like any other source. They usually do not have their own volume control. There are exceptions but none in your price range that I know of.

I used to have a MF-308 integrated and it was not hard to better the built in phono stage. At the time the Gram Slee 2SE was better and about $300.00 but that was a while ago. I did not find the Gram Slee 2SE that good either but it was an improvement. I have no experience with any of the newer phono stages in your price range but the Jolida does look interesting.
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