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Setup question

A brief setup question if someone doesn’t mind helping me out. In my family room, I currently have a 5.1 setup with a HK AV receiver, 2 JBL towers and JBL everything else (which will be upgraded to PSB sooner than later). I wanted to add vinyl to my family room setup but my receiver does not have phono in. I bought a nice Rotel turntable and NAD amp that can be used as a pre, power or integrated amp.

My question is, what is the best utilization of this equipment? Should I go turntable > NAD (pre) >HK? Or should I go turntable>NAD (integrated) >speakers and use the speakers for both setups with a switch?

Thank you in advance for your help.
128x128eli_tackla
bradf's avatar
bradf
324 posts
 
Consider a reasonably good Phono Preamp like the Audio By Van Alstine Vision (Absolute Sound Product of the Year Award) $499.00 or a Black Cube SE (on the used market). Experiment with your existing components and utilize what ever configuration sounds best. I would go two channel for your analogue front end and try to eliminate any type of switch to select speakers. There's all sorts of options; if the NAD has a phonostage (that is suitable for use with your cartridge), you can use that and utilize different pre amp / amp  /integrated configurations with the equipment you have,  until you come up with the best sounding.
Good luck
eli_tackla's avatar
eli_tackla OP
41 posts
 
@bradf ..Thank you for the help..I'll start experimenting :)
mesch
3,466 posts
 
Assuming you are keeping your system 5.1 for audio and video:

You can use the NAD as a phonostage only by connecting it to a line level input on the AVR from the record out connection on the NAD. 

Otherwise I would consider purchasing a budget outboard phonostage. What TT/cartridge do you have?
eli_tackla's avatar
eli_tackla OP
41 posts
 
@mesch It's a Rotel..I fogot the model. The cartridge is an Ortofon Red.
mesch
3,466 posts
 
The Ortofon red has an output of 5.5mV which would work well with the phonostage within the NAD, as well as most of the budget MM phonostages now on the market. 

Please do not take offense, but i believe the use of an AVR as amplification for a vinyl system represents a weak link, primarily due to the preamplifier stage. Therefore, if space is not a constraint I believe you might find using the NAD as a phonostage satisfactory. 
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