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Phono Preamp vs Preamp for a Turntable

Hello Forum Members,

Long time lurcher first time poster, maybe you can help!

I received an older mid '70's turntable for my birthday, a Pioneer PL-15 II. It's beautiful and I can't wait to play some rich LP's out of it. As a first time turntable owner, I figured I could just hook it up to my newer (are the 90's newer? Or just less old?) Marantz SR-7000 receiver which doesn't have a phono jack.

A quick test and five seconds of google has alerted me to my next component hunt, a Phono Preamp, or a receiver with a phono jack. In a perfect world, I'll eventually step up to a vintage receiver, but I don't have the room for one at this time. So, I have been looking at phono preamps, but also stumbled across some Adcom pre-amps (like the GTP 400 and 500), both of which have a phono input. My question is, will these multi-purpose preamps do the trick and be of similar quality to a single purpose Phono Preamp?

Thanks very much for any insight.

KB
karlrborne
apbiii
39 posts
 
Just remember that the phono stage is the most important part of the amplification process as it provides the most gain. This is especially true if you use a low output moving coil cartridge.

My advise would be to buy the best used stand alone phono preamp you can afford and run that into your current preamp aux input. If you feel the need later you can upgrade that part without changing the whole preamp.
lewm
13,030 posts
 
Seems to me that the most cost-effective approach is to stick with the Marantz receiver and purchase a stand-alone phono stage to go with it. There are many excellent choices at prices well below $500, probably as low as $200 or less, if you admit the possibility of a used component. To the OP: your receiver many not have an input labeled "phono", but it probably does have inputs labeled "AUX". These are so-called high level inputs which can accept the output of an inexpensive phono stage. You do not need to buy a full-function preamp or a new receiver in order to enjoy vinyl.
karlrborne OP
8 posts
 
Thanks again to all. I went with a Parasound on the Audiogon classified sections (so far so good, I think he'll ship it this week), and dropped the player off at a Audio Lab in Cambridge for a once over.

My brother, the reason I got into music in the first place bought me a 180 gram Coltrane LP as a test, can't wait. Your advice is a truly appreciated, I'm sure I'll be back for more at some point.

KB
lewm
13,030 posts
 
Are you really going to plug the Parasound into the AUX input of your Marantz receiver? That's a bit like using a thoroughbred racehorse to give rides at a children's birthday party. If you have near-future intentions to upgrade everything else, it's fine to do that for the time being.
karlrborne OP
8 posts
 
Lewm,

You got it! Just out of curiosity, should I decide to replace the children's birthday party, and look for something closer to a high school graduation party, or if I can afford it, college graduation, what do you suggest? Just a few makes and models that I can peruse the classifieds for would be great.

Also, so I can sleep at night, I actually have a Marantz SR-8000, not a 7000 like I originally posted. I know, I know, it's still tiddly winks, but at least I got it off my chest.

Happy New Year's everyone.

KB
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