Pre-amps For Turntables

[Bruce Burgess]

I have a Stanton Turntable, Paridigm Studio 60 Speakers and a Harmon Kardon Digital Receiver without a phono input. I have been using a $40.00 Recoton preamplifier for my turntable. Although I am pleased with the sound of my turntable, I am wondering whether there might be something better I could using than the Recoton Pre-Amplifier.

Any recommendations?

[teaser5]

We need a ballpark area for how much you want to spend
Cheers!
Norm

[-=Rudy=-]

The Audio Advisor has some good preamps and, I think, phono stages as well:

http://www.audioadvisor.com

[JohnnyK]

I use a MUSICAL FIDELITY/X-LPS PHONO PREAMP.

Try MusicDirect; http://www.amusicdirect.com/products/search.asp?cat=130

They have a wide choice of turntable preamps to pick from.

[mcow1]

I use a modified Monolithic PS-1 and couldn't be happier with it. Another good place to look is Audiogon (http://http://www.audiogon.com)

[teaser5]

Music Direct does indeed have a wide selection of phono stages.
I would find someone in your area who sells them and ask to take a floor model home overnight. That's what I did. Just make sure to bypass the phono section of your current amp if there is one.

Cheers!
Norm

[Sckott]

Yeah, phono pre's can range from 9V battery DIY kits that actually sound good, to tube pres that start at $300ish.

I believe Bottlehead has a phono pre kit as well. I haven't heard it though.

[Bruce Burgess]

Originally posted by teaser5
We need a ballpark area for how much you want to spend
Cheers!
Norm

Well, my turntable cost about $400 Canadian (about $280 US). I don't think I want to spend more on the pre-amp than the turntable.

I see a number of different phono pre-amps listed at Music Direct. I wonder if you can get a decent one for between $100 and $150. I bought my current pre-amp for $40, when I had a cheap Technics Turntable and Bose 301 speakers. I think I should have a better one for my current system.

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I didn't realize how many of these things are out there. Now, I just have to figure out which one is the best for me.

[JohnnyK]

Well, I have a Technics turntable that I purchased in the 1970's with a Shure V15 cart. I use the MUSICAL FIDELITY/X-LPS PHONO PREAMP. It costs more than the turntable cost when I purchased it, but I think the the X-LPS pretty well matches, quality wise, the Technics w/ V15.

[Tony Plachy]

Check out the Stereophile 6/2002 page 40. Mikey Fremer reviews a bunch of phono stages starting at $200.00 US.