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  3. 155288-445

Where to Connect a Phono Preamplifier into a Line Stage

Quick question
When connecting a phono preamplifier into a regular linestage do you go directly to an input like "CD" AUX 1, AUX2, etc.

Thanks
thankful
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Having looked at the OP's system, from what I can see on the manufacturer's (Odyssey) website there does not appear to be any distinction made among the analog inputs, so, unless the owner's manual has any suggestions, I'd think in this case that the OP can use any of the inputs.
 
Lol! What is that you're using there, Chief? Belt sander? Or random orbital?


thecarpathian
4,181 posts
 
So, when you posted your first response, you looked on thankful's system page, saw he had an Odyssey Audio Candela preamp, had intimate knowledge of the Odyssey Audio Candela preamp and knew for a fact that it did not have a 'direct input' RCA input? And possessing that knowledge infers that you knew some preamps came with that feature, the Candela not being one of them. I'm thinking you did not. I think the first you heard of it was when bdp24 mentioned it. And you gave your abrasive answer not having a clue of these facts. So you were right for the wrong reason.
But, take your tiny victories anywhere you can.
They're so few and far between.
thankful OP
222 posts
 
Thanks all for your feedback and discussion. It is greatly appreciated.  
lewm
12,526 posts
 
Ok. I can’t resist entering this discussion for no good reason: many linestages have an OUTPUT (not an input) usually labeled “Tape Out” which completely bypasses the volume control and any gain stage that follows it. So you can directly monitor the chosen input source and adjust your tape recorder or other device you may want to feed accordingly, while still driving your amp/speakers from the signal source via the line stage. I think that might be a source of confusion in the current brouhaha. “Tape out” has been with us forever.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,471 posts
 

In the 60's/early-70's, the hardest core audiophiles did as Lew just said: take the signal coming out of the tape monitor jacks and use that to feed their power amp, thereby bypassing the line stage. That worked only if the gain provided by a line stage was not necessary in their system.

But what of adjusting volume? Back then, many of those same hardcore audiophiles knew their way around a soldering iron, and would make themselves a little volume pot box to put between the tape out jacks and the power amp inputs. Roger Modjeski made them, listing them on his Music Reference website for cheap.

That left only the matter of the output impedance of the tape monitor outputs, which is sometimes higher than the main outputs.

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