Amplified vs Phono stage question

[Berty bass]

A thought has recently occurred. My main source is vinyl (presently a Rega Planar 6, though recent comments have got me pondering that one...) which goes through a Phono 2 and Rega Elicit-R integrated. The Rega was something of a luxury purchase after an aunt died and left me a small amount of money. I find myself wondering though whether the excellence of the Phono 2 makes such a high end integrated redundant. I'm assuming the Phono 2 is doing all the work with regard to the quality of presentation and the amp is just making it louder. I was considering whether there might be some cash to be generated that could be reinvested elsewhere therefore by selling the Elicit and 'downgrading' to one of the lower Rega integrateds (if I were to stick with them, that is). Is this just the crazy talk of a complete ignoramus though? Comments / education welcome.

[karatestu]

The phono2 is probably high enough in gain that you don't actually need an amplifying preamplifier. All you need is a passive pre (volume and input switching) between your source (s) and power amp. If you only use one source then you don't even need a source selector.

[Daniel Quinn]

The amp will be influencing the sound. Hear different amps.

[Firebug1]

viewtopic.php?p=208170#p208170

Sell rega and buy A20x and P50sa from link above.

[Quarknosis]

viewtopic.php?p=208170#p208170

Sell rega and buy A20x and P50sa from link above.

I'm not sure about selling them now. I was hoping to use my AP70sa while having a reorganise but it is too deep to fit in the space available so I've had to put the pre and power in there instead. That might mean the integrated is available. I need to have a think about it.

[Geoff.R.G]

It rather depends on whether you use all the input options of the Rega amplifier. If you do it may well be worth keeping it.

Contrary to what some others may think, there is no standard output voltage for Hi-Fi source components so some, particularly older, source components may need more gain than can be achieved by a power amp alone. As an example, my Leak Trough Line wouldn't have enough output to drive a power amp, it needs the gain stage of the matching Leak Stereo 30 to be loud enough. On the other hand, if you only use high output source components, CD player and Turntable only you may find that a phono stage and a passive pre-amp feeding a power amp is sufficient.

[Latteman]

Phono 1 to P20 & A20 here- i would recommend nva amplification-
Even phono 1 into denon pre to A20 as a test so I could have a remote volume control was dull- always something comes along on eBay if budget is tight- mainly older stuff- but it’s where it all started.

[karatestu]

NVA is the way to go. You know you want to.

[CN211276]

NVA is the way to go. You know you want to.

I very much concur. I was not fully aware of how good the A20 is until I substituted it into the main system when the A80s were being upgraded. It is faithful to the source. With the A20 in the main system the sound was in a totally different league to what I heard at a dealers where the Rega Elexerr-R was used to demonstrate the Mscaler. Although most of this was probably due to the Spender floor standers, I believe the amplification played some part.

[Berty bass]

Thanks for the replies so far, all. If any of the NVA options had a remote facility I'd have probably changed already, to be honest. The TV goes through the amp also, so a remote is really handy as we're perpetually turning it up and down to compensate for deafening sound effects or inaudible dialogue etc.