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photoworks
Posts: 19
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 Posted - Thu May 17, 2001 5:51 am
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Hello folks,
I have placed my order for hardware for LP to CD transfer. My original order has a seperate amp and pre-amp, my thinking being this would give me better control of the signal.
The saleman has come back and has asked why I don't just get a receiver. Does it matter whether these components are seperate or not. Is my thinking incorrect?
Thanx in advance,
David
Edited by - photoworks on 05/17/2001 06:05:17 AM
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urumuqi74
Posts: 1038
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Posted - Thu May 17, 2001 6:12 am
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Hello folks,
I have placed my order for hardware for LP to CD transfer. My original order has a seperate amp and pre-amp, my thinking being this would give me better control of the signal.
The saleman has come back and has asked why I don't just get a receiver. I think he is looking at it as a great stereo system. Does it matter whether these components are seperate or not. Is my thinking incorrect?
Thanx in advance,
David |
Hi David,
A receiver will include a tuner, right? Well, that's another option if you plan to do some radio listening. You won't have to buy a separate tuner later on.
Having a separate pre-amp/amp combination WON'T give you more control over the signal. If one day, you decide to change either the pre-amp or the amp, it will give you more flexibility.
Seperate not seperate, the thread can be very long. there's very good products in all of the configurations. Due to cost,market and box limitation, it seems that budget hi-fi and SOME mid-fi products are offering the integrated solution. This doesn't mean that it is lower quality. If you stay in the brandnames suggested by the contributors of the thread, you will be in the good ball park. I read Rotel somewhere, that's an excellent starting point. You can then compare it to something else.
There's a lot of postings regarding suggestions for your hi-fi system purchase. Did anyone mentioned to make sure that a PHONO INPUT is present on the unit you want to buy?
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The truth is out there! |
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RobertM
Posts: 299
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Posted - Thu May 17, 2001 8:47 am
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Photoworks,
I honestly believe that an integrated amp would be the right solution for your application. For the same sound quality, separate components will just cost more and they will take up more space. This may be a moot point, because you've already placed the order...
As far as "control of the signal" goes, note that the signal which gets into your PC comes from the pre-amp, not from the power amp, even if you are using an integrated amp. The power amp circuitry in an integrated amp is downstream from the line-out (or aux-out, tape-out, ...) jacks on the back panel. Your PC won't even know that the power amp it there. The power amp ONLY runs the speakers. That's all.
Many companies offer pre-amp, power-amp, and integrated amp equipment at the very same level of quality, such that there is virtually no difference between the integrated and separate components. With some, you could almost take a sawzall and cut the integrated amp in half, and end up with units which are basically the same as what the company offers as separate components (I haven't tried this yet, and it's probably not a recommended modification!) I will admit, however, that separate components do offer individual power supplies, and better physical isolation between components, so there can be an improvement in specifications. This difference is very subtle, however, and it will probably not be noticeable unless the listener is very, very discerning.
Sometimes people buy separates because they think that they will need to upgrade the power amp section later, like if they are planning to buy some exotic speakers in the future (planar magnetic, 2 ohm loads, LOW efficiency, etc.), or if they want to use an external speaker crossovers and bi-amping,... there are many possible reasons. I don't think that you, or most people for that matter, will ever actually have such a reason. And if you do (and, lucky you in that case), then your amp will likely not be your only component which needs to be addressed. I think upgrading at that time would be the right move.
Also, as if I haven't gone on long enough, a receiver is just an integrated amp with a tuner built in. If you want to 'receive' AM/FM broadcasts with this equipment then, by all means, get the receiver. Same argument; cost, space, quality.
All the above advice is given on the presumption that this equipement will be used in largely for your recording studio. If you are setting up a dedicated listening room, to enjoy your cherished collection of rare vinyl over long, satisfying evenings, then my above advice might not be quite right.
Re: Uru's comments: Nice equipment list! I listened to the Classe amps in Kingston, Ontario some years ago and they sounded as good as they looked. And that's pretty darn good!
A stereo pre-amp with no phono inputs? What's the world coming to? I hadn't even considered the possibility, but, then again, I haven't had to purchase a new amp in 16 years (bought good quality, only turned if off a few times, it'll probably last forever!)
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urumuqi74
Posts: 1038
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Posted - Thu May 17, 2001 10:57 am
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Re: Uru's comments: Nice equipment list! I listened to the Classe amps in Kingston, Ontario some years ago and they sounded as good as they looked. And that's pretty darn good!
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As we say around my block, cry only once. Usually when you receive yor bill. I must admit that the Classe solved two of my major problems : Wish to have better definition and stop to send my Mission Cyrus at the repair shop.
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| A stereo pre-amp with no phono inputs? What's the world coming to? I hadn't even considered the possibility, but, then again, I haven't had to purchase a new amp in 16 years (bought good quality, only turned if off a few times, it'll probably last forever!) |
It has become as an option these days!!!
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bigphilb6000
Posts: 2
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Posted - Thu May 17, 2001 7:10 pm
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I'll assume for now that the seperate Pre-amp is a Phono Stage.
The reason not to get a reciever is because of the aweful Phono stages included. Many do not even have one any more. Best bet for a decent Phono stage is the 'Pro-Ject Phono Box" for £40. of you want better, buy a Sedley for loads of money.
Phil.B.
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urumuqi74
Posts: 1038
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Posted - Fri May 18, 2001 5:44 am
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I'll assume for now that the seperate Pre-amp is a Phono Stage.
[\quote]
In the context of this thread, the pre-amp will also include the other inputs such as tape,tuner, CD, etc... It seems that is what Photowork is looking for .
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The reason not to get a reciever is because of the aweful Phono stages included. Many do not even have one any more.
[\quote]
True and dependding on the level of quality you are looking for. However, there's a lot of exceptions. There's many good affordable "box" out there with phono stage!
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Best bet for a decent Phono stage is the 'Pro-Ject Phono Box" for £40. of you want better, buy a Sedley for loads of money.
Phil.B. |
This is a specific "phono" pre-amp "box I presume. It will bring the very low level of the cartridge signal output to what is call a line level. You still need a real pre-amp stage if you plan to have more than one equipemnt connected to your system.
This is a very interesting suggestion for someone who wants to interface a turntable directly to a soundcard.
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The truth is out there! |
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lpdeluxe
Posts: 59
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Posted - Wed May 23, 2001 3:14 pm
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David, if you have a line-level-input soundcard, all you need is a turntable and a pre-preamp (AKA phono preamp), which is what I use to record into Cool Edit Pro. There is another issue, however, that has not been addressed, and that is gain from the phono preamps' outputs. If you use a typical receiver, it will have tape outputs that you will use to connect to your soundcard. These tape "outs" are not affected by the volume control and in fact on my Core 2 soundcard do not give enough gain (signal level) to record properly. You may need an intervening "mixer" to route the tape outs through in order to have sufficient level at the soundcard. (I use an Alesis Studio 12R for the purpose since it is very low noise and offers plenty of gain.)
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Seperate Amp, pre-amp vs Receiver