Do I want/need a phono preamp?

[apc]

Regarding phono usage on a vintage receiver:

Can my sound be improved by using a phono preamp?

Here's the rear of it, do I have all of the necessary connections?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/dawgfan/2252Brearjacks.jpg

[madmax]

I'd go with her as built.
madmax

[gidrah]

You could but it would cost you. Vintage Marantz are reputed by some to have a very good phono stage.

[danger boy]

you don't need a phono pre amp.. your Marantz receiver has one built in.. acutally two of em. you can run two turntables if you wanted. nice.

[apc]

Exactly what I needed to know. Thank you.

[mhardy6647]

Just to be completely clear: the Marantz is all set up for a moving magnet (MM) or moving iron (MI, as were, and are the Grados) cartridge with "normal" output levels (i.e., in the vicinity of 2 to 10 mV nominal output). It does NOT offer adequate gain for "low output" (normal) moving coil (MC) cartridges, nor, most likely, enough gain for some of the very low output MM cartridges (e.g., some of today's Grados are available with 0.5 mV nominal output level). The latter might be OK, but you might need to turn things up so high that noise/hiss become objectionable, or you might just not be able to get it as loud as you'd prefer.

There are "high-output" MC cartridges... I've only heard one model, and I wasn't too impressed.

Just thought these little tid-bits might be helpful.

[hoosier21]

show off :)

[gidrah]

Hey Mark, Fernando has your shot on me. (wink)

[hearingimpared]

show off :)

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA but he is absolutely correctomundo!!! Just fyi, my preamp has a kickass phono stage with plenty of gain for the ultra low output MM, MI/MC carts, and it hisses at me at around 11:00 on the attenuator dial. However, at this setting my LP playback is LOUD! sometimes depending on the LP too loud. My point is usually when the stylus touches down the hiss is gone. Sometimes it is because of the signal to noise ratio but most of the time with good phono stages, when voltage is applied from the cartridge the hiss becomes the signal.

[RuSsMaN]

The low output shit was too expensive for the 22xx Marantz crowd of the day. At most, you MIGHT need a $20-$30 step up tranny, thats about it.

Wire the f'er up, and start twistin' knobs. You tell us if your too far into the volume pot or not.

Cheers,
Russ

[reeltrouble1]

start twistin' knobs. Russ

Damm, its not even 8:00 in the morning and I am getting wood.

RT1