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Phono Pre-amp with XLR

I am looking at hooking up a Turntable with pre-amp to my anthem D2 pre-pro. I would like to use the XLR connections on the D2 for this.

I am currently looking at a VPI scoutmaster table and I know you can get an XLR junction box for the table. I am wondering what kind of phono stage to get with this setup. I would prefer tube and have seen them with XLR in/outs as well as with RCA in and XLR out. I don't know if i would be loosing or gaining anything by going RCA from the table to the phono stage then XLR to the Pre-pro (saving the 350$ for the junction box of course) or going XLR all the way.

Thoughts? Also looking for suggestions for the phono stage - around 1K new or used

Thanx Much
prochk3
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tdaudio
201 posts
 
Atmasphere, nice explanation of the cable and connector issues.

And I agree that using RCA connectors with a balanced input is to be avoided.

Lets assume a phono pre has RCAs with the inverting lead grounded and only the noninverting signal feeding the balanced diff amp. What does that mean to the bal diff amp vs having both the noninverting and the inverting signals in a proper xlr configuration.

Going beyond CMR and such, it seems like there might be some difference in feeding half of the diff amp vs feeding both inputs. But maybe not. Still the same gain?

Thanks again, TD
lewm
13,204 posts
 
Tdaudio, If you read Ralph's (Atma-sphere) post and then read mine from yesterday, you will find a remarkable confluence. I have been using an MP1 for about 14 years now. I think some balanced phono stages offer RCA phono inputs because, as Ralph indicated, the world has not beaten a path to his door. Some other manufacturers fear that offering XLR inputs will frighten off persons who have typical RCA-terminated phono cables. I like that Ralph is a man of principle and won't compromise his design by offering an inferior connection to a balanced circuit.
wolf_garcia
6,722 posts
 
I'm wearing an XLR costume for halloween just to frighten people. Male.
lewm
13,204 posts
 
What would be more frightening is if you encounter another male dressed as a female XLR. That would be decidedly unbalanced.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,874 posts
 
Tdaudio, if the preamp is differential, but you only drive one input, perhaps the non-inverting input (with the other input being tied to ground, where the minus output of the cartridge is also tied), the gain will be exactly the same as if you were driving both inputs, assuming the source to be the same cartridge in both cases. What you loose is the cable immunity (tonal neutrality) and rejection of noise in the cable.
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