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phono preamp to power amp

It is probably a dumb question, but I am ignorant, why should I pretend.  :)

Long story short, I gave away my integrated and bought a power amp. I am planning to buy a second one and use them as monos. For now (and then) can I plug my phono preamp to the power amp? Or I need a preamp? I googled and the answer was mostly "it depends"

grislybutter
o_holter
980 posts
 

An amp with a volume control seems like an integrated amp...it includes a preamp? Anyway, try it.

grislybutter OP
3,627 posts
 

thank you all! The reason I haven't tried it yet was that I gave away my phono preamp too and I didn't know if I could just buy another phono stage or I needed a preamp with a phono input.

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,182 posts
 

Typically the amp volume control is an attenuator not additional gain. You can certainly try the phono directly into the amp - hopefully obviously START w very low volume. Your phono may not have enough to drive a long cable just FYI…

Have fun and enjoy

grislybutter OP
3,627 posts
 

thanks @tomic601 My cables are 3 feet max, hopefully I will hear something :)

ghdprentice
8,084 posts
 

It would be helpful for us to understand more. Preferably the components and venue. 
 

For ease of communication I would use the terms phono stage, and preamp. If a preamp has a phono stage… that is a preamp with a phonostage. In integrated amp is a preamp + amp unless it is additionally designated to also have a phono stage.

While you can probably safely plug a phonostage into an amp… since the output will be low. If you are interested in the quality of sound, then a high quality preamp is probably required. 

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