Phone preamp question

yogiboy

4,713 posts

10-16-2022 at 01:57pm 

A phono preamp and a passive preamp does not have enough voltage to use with an amp directly. You need an active preamp!

 

 

Bzzzzzt…..wrong. But thanks for playing.

I have been using phono stages with passive preamps for years. It’s more about how passive friendly your system is. As I type this I am listening to an SPL Phonos into a Hattor Audio passive preamp. No problem with driving the amp to full power.

A phono preamp and a passive preamp does not have enough voltage to use with an amp directly. You need an active preamp!

^No!^

The phono amp usually needs 10-40 dB of attenuation.

Guys, can I take a phono preamp (Bellari vp130 mk2) which has a gain control and plug it directly into an amp (Odyssey Audio Stratos) using the gain control as a volume control…

@thecarpathian it should get way too loud, but it is easy enough to try it. It should work.

Just got it all set up, and with the gain setting not a quarter of the way on the Bellari, it's already loud enough and sounding pretty darn good. Too late to crank it, but I'm pleasantly surprised by the volume level. Forgot to mention, the Bellari came with a custom and extremely robust separate power supply to use in place of the original, anemic wall wart. (Included)

I wonder if this has something to do with its performance?

Anyway, thank you all again for your input.

Glad it's worked for you. 

Just got it all set up, and with the gain setting not a quarter of the way on the Bellari, it's already loud enough and sounding pretty darn good. Too late to crank it, but I'm pleasantly surprised by the volume level. Forgot to mention, the Bellari came with a custom and extremely robust separate power supply to use in place of the original, anemic wall wart. (Included)

I wonder if this has something to do with its performance?

No - almost certainly the wall wart itself would be fine. 

Didn't think a non powered passive would do anything.

I have never seen a powered passive.(??)

Most sources output 1V, and most preamp and passives need that cut that back 10-40dB depending on time of day, dirty looks, mood, etc.