A newbie with (probably) a dumb question!

[Archie01]

I've just bought a second-hand Arcam Alpha 9 amp to replace my old Alpha 5 and, unfortunately, I didn't realise that the Alpha 9 doesn't have the phono stage until too late. While it's not crucial, I'd quite like to plug my turntable in, but how can I? What will happen if, after attaching the earth of course, I plug the turntable into one of the other input ports? Will it work or will the lot go up in smoke?

 

[jmjones]

Hi Archie,

It won't work mate. The turntable won't put out enough juice to be heard. You need a stand alone phono stage.

Like this:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntable-accessories/project/phono-box-mm/proj-phono-box-mm

 

[jamesrfisher]

Hi and welcome. There is never a dumb question but plenty of dumb answers

you won't blow your amp by hooking the TT to it. What you need to do will depend on what TT and what cartridge you have. I am guessing if you used it plugged into your old amp's phono input it does not have a phono amp built in and you are using a moving magnet cartridge.

if this is the case you will need a phono amp to sit between the TT and your amp. These increase the output from the TT to the level of normal inputs. You could put it into any of the inputs but most people use 'aux' so it doesn't get confusing.

i am guessing you are on a budget so should look at something like the Rega Phono Mini which is approx £89 or the project phono box £75 or look for one on eBay.

finally, depending on your resources sell your new amp and look for one that has a phono stage built in (I am assuming you bought it 2nd hand)

 

[lindsayt]

I've just bought a second-hand Arcam Alpha 9 amp to replace my old Alpha 5 and, unfortunately, I didn't realise that the Alpha 9 doesn't have the phono stage until too late. While it's not crucial, I'd quite like to plug my turntable in, but how can I? What will happen if, after attaching the earth of course, I plug the turntable into one of the other input ports? Will it work or will the lot go up in smoke?

It will sound really quiet to really really really quiet - depending on your cartridge and the tonal balance will have far too much treble and very little bass.

That's because of

1 the very low to extremely low output of your cartridge compared to your CD player or tuner or tape machine.

2 the lack of RIAA equalisation required in all phono stages to get a neutral tonal balance from vinyl.

An adequate phono stage, or a pre amp or integrated amp with a phono section can be bought very cheaply, 2nd hand.

 

[Archie01]

Thanks for your responses everybody. I've just bought one of these cheap and cheerful things - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-PP400-Microphono-Compact-assorted/dp/B000H2BC4E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1454866223&sr=8-4&keywords=phono+stage - which appears to do the job perfectly!

 

[Gaz37]

Thanks for your responses everybody. I've just bought one of these cheap and cheerful things - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-PP400-Microphono-Compact-assorted/dp/B000H2BC4E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1454866223&sr=8-4&keywords=phono+stage - which appears to do the job perfectly!

You've just used the words "cheap" and "do the job perfectly" in the same sentence, you clearly don't understand HiFi etiquette.

Unless it costs lots of money it cannot possibly be any good 🙂

Buying budget kit will result in not only you being totally unable to hear the music properly (apparently "properly" means inexplicable things like spatiality, synergy, airiness, etc) but your partner will leave you, you will lose your job, your family will sold to human trafficers, none of your friends will speak to you and you will die sad and alone of some horribly painful and previously unknown disease.

You have been warned

 

[Archie01]

Hi Gaz37,

Thanks for the warning, much of which sounds a perfectly acceptable price to pay

! Putting a lump of vinyl on my old Pioneer turntable (PL-760) sounds just fine to me going through this 'cheap and cheerful' thingummy and I'm happy with the rest of my stuff. Awaiting your approval, I have an Arcam Alpha 9 amp, a NAD T550 CD/DVD, B&W DM602's (bi-wired, of course), all with decent interconnects.

 

[steve_1979]

Thanks for your responses everybody. I've just bought one of these cheap and cheerful things - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-PP400-Microphono-Compact-assorted/dp/B000H2BC4E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1454866223&sr=8-4&keywords=phono+stage - which appears to do the job perfectly!

I'm using one of those with my Technics 1200. It does indeed appear to do the job perfectly. I'm really happy with it.

 

[steve_1979]

Can anyone find this song on Spotify? Clicky

I heard it on an advert and liked it but was unable to find it on Spotify. 🙁

 

[keeper of the quays]

Can anyone find this song on Spotify? Clicky

I heard it on an advert and liked it but was unable to find it on Spotify. 🙁

its title is 'largo al factotum'

 

[steve_1979]

Can anyone find this song on Spotify? Clicky

I heard it on an advert and liked it but was unable to find it on Spotify. 🙁

its title is 'largo al factotum'

Thanks.

Although I posted the question in the wrong thread by mistake so apologies to the OP. 🙂

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Buying budget kit will result in not only you being totally unable to hear the music properly (apparently "properly" means inexplicable things like spatiality, synergy, airiness, etc) but your partner will leave you, you will lose your job, your family will sold to human trafficers, none of your friends will speak to you and you will die sad and alone of some horribly painful and previously unknown disease.

You have been warned

*biggrin*