Amplified vs Phono stage question
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Amplified vs Phono stage question
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
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Re: Amplified vs Phono stage question
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.
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Re: Amplified vs Phono stage question
- These users thanked the author Firebug1 for the post (total 3):
- karatestu (Sun Jun 21, 2020 2:47 pm) • Quarknosis (Sun Jun 21, 2020 3:15 pm) • Latteman (Sun Jun 21, 2020 4:43 pm)
Rega by Michael Lim\Teac\ASR\NVA\
SA Mantra30\Audeze LCD-2 closed.
...the Gods you worship are steel, at the altar of rock 'n' roll you kneel...
SA Mantra30\Audeze LCD-2 closed.
...the Gods you worship are steel, at the altar of rock 'n' roll you kneel...
- Quarknosis
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Re: Amplified vs Phono stage question
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.Firebug1 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2020 2:32 pm viewtopic.php?p=208170#p208170
Sell rega and buy A20x and P50sa from link above.
Main System. Amp - Luxman LV-120, CD - Pioneer PDX505 & Hitachi DA 401. Turntable - Trio KD-2055/Denon DL-110 & Ortofon VMS20E. Cassette Deck - JVC KD A55. Speakers - Arcam Alpha connected with NVA LS3.
Headphone System - Little Dot Mkiii headphone amp, various vintage CD players into NVA P50 with Sennheiser HD600 and Beyer DT 880
Headphone System - Little Dot Mkiii headphone amp, various vintage CD players into NVA P50 with Sennheiser HD600 and Beyer DT 880
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Re: Amplified vs Phono stage question
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.
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.
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Re: Amplified vs Phono stage question
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.
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.
Analogue Source -
GL-59 modified.
ARB uni pivot alloy wand-AT-VM95SH- RigB 9
ARB uni pivot wooden wand-AT- Signet.
Quad 34 Pre amp with mm phono stage.
Ifi Zen Phono for mc
Akai 4000DS mk2 R2R
Digital Sources- Argon Pi4 v2; IfI iUSB 3.0, Ifi Neo idsd Dac;
Fibre Ethernet connection.
Tidal / Radio Paradise
Amplification Nva 300va mono blocks
Speakers Lii Audio F-15 with Doc modded 12” in Open Baffle; Ls6
Weiduka AC8.8- for digital sources
Mini BMU for analog sources
GL-59 modified.
ARB uni pivot alloy wand-AT-VM95SH- RigB 9
ARB uni pivot wooden wand-AT- Signet.
Quad 34 Pre amp with mm phono stage.
Ifi Zen Phono for mc
Akai 4000DS mk2 R2R
Digital Sources- Argon Pi4 v2; IfI iUSB 3.0, Ifi Neo idsd Dac;
Fibre Ethernet connection.
Tidal / Radio Paradise
Amplification Nva 300va mono blocks
Speakers Lii Audio F-15 with Doc modded 12” in Open Baffle; Ls6
Weiduka AC8.8- for digital sources
Mini BMU for analog sources
- karatestu
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Re: Amplified vs Phono stage question
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.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Black
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Black
RIP Doc
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Re: Amplified vs Phono stage question
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.