Am I right in thinking that...

[admin_exported]

Most integrated or pre-amps sold in the UK have a phono input but not a phone stage fitted. So if you wanted a phone stage to play a TT you would have to pay for it to be fitted as an optional extra or buy an external phono stage? I am having an argument with an American about this and he's so convinced most budget amps come ready to plug a TT in that I've begun to doubt myself.

 

[John Duncan]

I have a handy Buyer's Guide on my desk, and 30 out of 111 integrated or pre-amps have a phono stage.

 

[chebby]

Some do some don't.

Take two of the leading price competitors for instance, NAD C326BEE and Marantz PM6002.

The Marantz has a built in MM phono stage and the NAD does not.

The Rega Brio 3 and Mira 3 have good built in MM phono stages as standard.

Arcam's entry level integrated amp the FMJ A18 has a built in MM phono stage.

Musical Fidelity's new A1 has a decent built in phono stage (and a built-in DAC).

Roksan Kandy K2 has a built in MM phono stage.

I cannot make a complete list of all the amps on sale in the UK that have phono stages built in but there are enough.

Decent seperate phono stages start at around £70 and can all be plugged into a spare - line level - input so it is not a big problem

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for the answers.

 

[The_Lhc]

Catcher:Most integrated or pre-amps sold in the UK have a phono input but not a phone stage fitted.

I presume you mean a "phono stage"? I think I'd be right in saying that if they don't have a phono stage fitted there won't be a phono input.

So if you wanted a phone stage to play a TT you would have to pay for it to be fitted as an optional extra or buy an external phono stage? I am having an argument with an American about this and he's so convinced most budget amps come ready to plug a TT in that I've begun to doubt myself.

I think it depends entirely on the individual amps in question, not to mention what you regard as "budget".

 

[Anonymous]

What I meant was I didn't think most amps/pre amps came with a phono stage. I know most if not all have a phono input. I thought it was only old style recievers that came with a phono stage fitted as standard. But I stand corrected as it seems 30 out of 111 come with a phone stage fitted without having to pay extra (for either an external phone stage or an internal one).