Technics 1200 turntable, do I need a Phono Pre?

Got my brother's Technics 1200 MK II table and after cleaning up candle wax and what looked like dried up Bourbon from under the platter (hey it is a DJ table) and adjusting the arm height and stylus weight started spinning records.

I have not had this much fun in over 25 years, how I wish I had kept my own records. Just for fun I queued up the Eagles Hotel California on both the table and CD and started switching back and forth for a quick comparison. WOW the sound from the table is more "real" more "dimensional", you can almost smell the music if that makes sense :-), the treble MUCH better than CD (player is a well liked Marantz CD67SE), the sound is just more relaxed. Now I know what is meant by CD haze, just not there with records.

I ordered an Ortofon 2M Blue and can't wait to get it. Guess I'm finally back to vinyl after a long absence, better late then never ;-)

Cheers

Thanks, great suggestions. I ended up ordering the NAD PP2I from AA since I run a NAD 370. I may try others, the 640A perhaps...

Cheers

It's the Cambridge 640A that really kicks butt under $200. I used one for 3 years until I replaced it with a Jolida tube unit at more than double the price. If you don't spring for the 640A, you might as well get the Audio Technica PEQ3.

I have a Rotel that sounds very good for the money. If I was looking right now, I might try the Cambridge Azure for around $99.99. at AA. It has great reviews and I love the Azure 540a v2 integrated amp I picked up used. Cambridge is high value for the buck IMO.

Audio Technica makes an inexpensive phono preamp (Audio Technica PEQ3) on sale for $43 at Needledoctor. Very good value for a bone fide quality phono preamp--entry to mid level. Looks good too.

Yeah, what electronics are you plugging the Technics into? The Technics doesn't have a phono stage but your receiver may.

The Technics does not have a built in phono preamp. I will assume your amp doesn't support a phono input either.

Rich