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What's all this talk about a Phono Preamp?

A phono preamp is one of the most important parts of your system if you wish to listen to vinyl records as, unlike line level audio sources you connect to a stereo (DVD/CD players, tape decks, TV audio, minidisk, etc.), the output from a magnetic cartridge installed in a good quality turntable is MUCH lower, and requires an additional stage of amplification to bring it up to the same volume as the other sources you listen to through your stereo.

This additional amp stage, the phono preamp, is built-in to most older receivers and amps, allowing direct connection of a turntable.

However, newer stereo equipment (including virtually all mini-systems and home theatre units, as well as many stereo receivers and amps), have NO phono input (this because records and turntables are supposedly obsolete in today's world dominated by CDs and DVDs).

In order to utilise the inputs such units DO have (Aux, Tape, Line, Video, CD, etc.) to connect a turntable, you need to first pass the signal through an external phono preamp to bump the level. The same level increase is needed if you're connecting a turntable to a computer sound card's line input so you can make CD-Rs from LPs; again, the external phono preamp provides it.

I am grateful to Phono Preamps for this very informative article.

What is RIAA equalization?

Because of limitations in the LP recording process, an equalization curve must be applied to the music or other sonic content prior to it being cut onto vinyl, so as to reduce background noise and sibilance.

Removing this equalization affect (called the RIAA curve) and restoring the music's original frequency response curve during playback is an important part of the phono preamp's job and differentiates it from other preamps used for microphones and musical instruments, which provide gain but no other modification of the original sound quality.

Proper RIAA re-equalization during playback is a must in faithfully producing the original musical content without coloration or distortion.

Which phono preamp is best for me?

Obviously, the more money you invest, the better the performance and sound quality of the preamp you buy will be. Signal-to-noise ratio is the most important criteria; the higher the number, the lower the background hiss level will be.

This may not be particularly crucial if the overall playback system's quality is low (a cheap minisystem or sound card, for instance; both may generate enough hiss in their own right to obscure any added by the preamp), but matters a great deal when comparing LP fidelity to other sources like CD on a good playback system.

Ability to faithfully correct RIAA equalization is another important sonic quality; higher-priced products do it better. Additional features like mike inputs and a power indicator may be useful to one user but not to the next; buy only what you need.

If you need a Phono Pre-amp then visit our page of recommendations where you will find Phono Pre-amps ranging form £40 to £1,000. All come with What HiFis’ 5 Star rating - naturally!

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