Why You Need An External Phono Preamp For Your Record Player

By Stephen M

Music soothes the soul and playing the right music at the right time is a great stress reliever. How soothing can your favorites jams be if the player has poor sound? If you suffer from this with your beloved record player, it means you need an external phono preamp for your record player. What then is an external phono preamp is, and why do you need one?

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What does a phono preamp do?

A phono preamp amplifier when connected to your record player amplifies the sound/signal to an appreciable level that enables you to connect your other sound system. It corrects all imbalances at the manufacturing level by providing standard equalization. It is a necessity because the signal produced from a turntable is weak and mostly incompatible with a standard amplifier.

Is phono preamp a necessity to play vinyl?

The answer is a resounding yes. Luckily, some record players have an in-built phono preamp, but it is not common, especially with high-standard players. The good news is that it is possible to get a standard amplifier that has an in-built phono preamp. This makes it pretty easier and prevents having to spend on both gadgets.

What is an external phono preamp?

As stated already, you can get an amplifier or turntable with a phono preamp built-in. However, you can get a separate one for your system. Setup is also pretty easy. All you need is to connect it to the audio input of your speaker or amplifier.

Difference between standalone and inbuilt phono preamp

A multipurpose amplifier with an in-built phono amp can work well but the quality of sound wouldn’t be great as expected. That gadget is single-handedly delivering different purposes; hence, performance its performance can be affected. However, the external phono amp is just made for that purpose. That is you get exactly what you spent on.

What to look for when buying an external phono preamp

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The best way of getting a fit-for-purpose phono stage is to try it out. There are different brands on the market with amazing sound output. You can checkout out brands like iFi, NAD PP2, Rega, or the Pro-ject. Depending on your preference, budget, and taste of sound, you can get something that works for you.