Understand the basics

Posted by M3 lover (A) on May 5, 2024 at 06:48:53

In Reply to: pre amp posted by mklarson on April 30, 2024 at 20:06:38:

mklarson, before thinking about a specific product you need to understand some basics.

The cartridge is a device to electronically "read" the grove in a record. It consists of a body or housing, internal wiring and magnets, a stylus (needle) to trace the groove, and a cantilever (thin shaft) to connect the stylus to the wiring and magnets inside the cartridge body.

There are many different designs for cartridges, two of the most common are moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC). The electrical signal generated by the cartridge is greater in nearly all MM types. But even that is much less than the signal from a CD player, FM tuner, DVD player, or tape deck. So the phono signal needs to be boosted. It seems this is where your confusion comes in.

Before the rise in popularity of the CD almost every preamp or receiver had a special section built in (pre-preamp) to boost the gain from the cartridge and equalize the response (a separate consideration). But since so many people gave up turntables and records many manufacturers stopped including a phono section in their preamps and receivers. This trend continued with the popularity of home theaters and audio-video receivers. This is why some replies ask you to look for a phono input on your Pioneer AV receiver. If there is not a pair of inputs (L&R) labeled Phono then you will need an external device (pre-preamp) for that function. Some have been recommended by others here.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - pre amp - mklarson 20:06:38 04/30/24 (28)

Since the Pioneer receiver has no phono input, you need what is called - alaskahiatt 17:44:53 05/05/24 (0)

Understand the basics - M3 lover 06:48:53 05/05/24 (0)

RE: pre amp - mklarson 15:08:33 05/04/24 (2)

"finding out that this is way too complicated than it used to be" - 1973shovel 09:21:26 05/05/24 (0)

Compllications - tlea 19:23:36 05/04/24 (0)

Here's The Answer You Need, From A Fellow VA Brother - afro18 10:44:08 05/04/24 (0)

RE: pre amp - Triode_Kingdom 09:01:07 05/03/24 (0)

Important Question - afro18 20:54:11 05/02/24 (4)

RE: Important Question - mklarson 03:23:15 05/03/24 (3)

You might want to reread his question (nt) - 1973shovel 04:35:38 05/03/24 (2)

RE: You might want to reread his question (nt) - mklarson 17:00:43 05/03/24 (1)

I should have read further down the post - 1973shovel 05:53:46 05/04/24 (0)

Before you do anything else, check the Pioneer's rear panel and see if it has a "PHOHO" input and ... - J. S. Bach 12:34:08 05/02/24 (0)

RE: pre amp - niws 20:58:35 05/01/24 (0)

Previous response - tlea 05:12:46 05/01/24 (0)

Depends on your budget. - ghost of olddude55 03:00:35 05/01/24 (12)

RE: Depends on your budget. - mklarson 07:23:10 05/01/24 (11)

Instead of doing that... - ghost of olddude55 07:41:53 05/01/24 (10)

RE: Instead of doing that... - mklarson 08:45:03 05/01/24 (9)

RE: Instead of doing that... - mklarson 08:47:22 05/01/24 (8)

Here you go. - ghost of olddude55 09:28:16 05/01/24 (7)

RE: Here you go. - billo 05:45:18 05/02/24 (6)

His registration says he's in the USA. nt - Sondek 06:42:53 05/02/24 (0)

Didn't see anything about it in the OP. - ghost of olddude55 05:58:50 05/02/24 (4)

RE: Didn't see anything about it in the OP. - billo 08:25:10 05/02/24 (3)

RE: Didn't see anything about it in the OP. - Story 08:51:45 05/02/24 (2)

RE: Didn't see anything about it in the OP. - billo 09:06:33 05/02/24 (1)

I might have accidentally linked to a unit for sale outside the US. - ghost of olddude55 15:21:07 05/02/24 (0)

Follow Ups

Understand the basics - M3 lover 06:48:53 05/05/24 (0)

Understand the basics

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