Connecting a phonostage to a processor.

Clearly you should do what sounds better to you. Although I would recommend listening to music (not the system) for a couple weeks or so through the bypass, then switch for a couple weeks and go back. This would let your subconscious soak up the different sounds and help you choose. Sometimes it is easy to make a decision based on the treble or some other dynamic and not notice the rhythm and pace is sucked out of the sound. This causes a reduction in how musical it sounds. Longer listening will help you determine which really sounds better.

So, I would make sure you are really comparing the sound fully… then use which ever sounds better.

Dear @bwguy  : " However, I think my turntable actually sounds slightly better not using the bypass option. "

If that is your experience then why ask about why open this thread when you have your self answer. Makes no sense. Yes adumb question to pass the signal to an additional stage.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

Thank you rauliruegas for your insightful and helpful response. I was just curious what other people had found.  You know, you can always choose not to reply to stupid questions.

@bwguy  : Was not you who said your question was a dumb one?. I only post that agree with you. That's it.

R.

@bwguy 

There are some very helpful and knowledgeable individuals on this forum.  (I'm not one of them.)  There is also the occasional poster who feels a need to insult others, for some reason or another.  Generally, I've found that those who feel a need to insult others have a significant insecurity of their own that they should address and work through.  

Your experience trumps what theoretically should happen, although perhaps if the signal sounds better with more processing, then that might mean that there is some weakness in your system, and the extra "distortion" smooths out the irregularities that you hear through the bypass.  Either way, enjoy your music, and I can highly recommend upgrading components when it is feasible.