Do I have to use a Phono Pre-Amp ?

[jonrichards21]

Hi I have been donated / given a ONKYO A-7090 Servo operation stereo Amp.

Do I have to use a phono pre-amp for my Pro-Ject Essential turn table for this setup ?

 

[Gray]

No, you don't have to.
From the photo I saw it looks like you've got 3 phono inputs with one being for MC (moving coil type) cartridges.

Don't use the MC one for your turntable, assuming you're sticking with the supplied cartridge.

 

[Integralista]

Hi, you were donated a nice piece of serious HiFi Amp!. It has power to spare, is built from hi quality components. I agree with Gray above, in case of this amp and connection of Project Essential turntable, you can rely on phono preamp inside this Onkyo amp. I recommend to try some good MM cartridge like Ortofon, Audio Technika or similar. You have base for a good sounding system. BR.

 

[jonrichards21]

No, you don't have to.
From the photo I saw it looks like you've got 3 phono inputs with one being for MC (moving coil type) cartridges.

Don't use the MC one for your turntable, assuming you're sticking with the supplied cartridge.

Nice one Gray, needed to know really becuase my knowledge is not that great at the moment, and the gear looks so good. Thanks

 

[jonrichards21]

Hi, you were donated a nice piece of serious HiFi Amp!. It has power to spare, is built from hi quality components. I agree with Gray above, in case of this amp and connection of Project Essential turntable, you can rely on phono preamp inside this Onkyo amp. I recommend to try some good MM cartridge like Ortofon, Audio Technika or similar. You have base for a good sounding system. BR.

Yeah, it does look good. I did have it powered up and I didn't get a good sound, there were some dodgy connections I think and crackles whilst turning the volume dial. I have had it all cleaned out internally and the contacts cleaned so I am hoping that will solve the issue. If not, then I may have to have it stripped and serviced. Cheers

 

[Al ears]

Hi I have been donated / given a ONKYO A-7090 Servo operation stereo Amp.

Do I have to use a phono pre-amp for my Pro-Ject Essential turn table for this setup ?

Which version of the Essential do you have. Some came with a built in phono preamp I believe.

 

[Gray]

I have had it all cleaned out internally and the contacts cleaned so I am hoping that will solve the issue. If not, then I may have to have it stripped and serviced.

Contact cleaning on switches and rotaries is the biggest part of a 'service' Jon (and something you can quite easily do for yourself in future).
Your volume control crackles should have been cured - with no need for any strip down.

 

[jonrichards21]

Which version of the Essential do you have. Some came with a built in phono preamp I believe.

Hi, it the Essential lll.

 

[jonrichards21]

Contact cleaning on switches and rotaries is the biggest part of a 'service' Jon (and something you can quite easily do for yourself in future).
Your volume control crackles should have been cured - with no need for any strip down.

Gray, thank you for your advice, much appreciated 👍

 

[RoA]

Hi I have been donated / given a ONKYO A-7090 Servo operation stereo Amp.

Very nice for a donation ...

 

[Al ears]

Hi, it the Essential lll.

Great. That one does not have an inbuilt phono preamp to complicate matters.

 

[jonrichards21]

Great. That one does not have an inbuilt phono preamp to complicate matters.

Al ,Can you explain why it would complicates things please, so that I have a better understanding. Thanks

 

[Al ears]

Al ,Can you explain why it would complicates things please, so that I have a better understanding. Thanks

An extra phono preamp can cause some issues when people try to connect them to an amplifier that has an inbuilt phono stage if they have the switch on the turntable preamp in the wrong position.

 

[RJW232]

An extra phono preamp can cause some issues when people try to connect them to an amplifier that has an inbuilt phono stage if they have the switch on the turntable preamp in the wrong position.

Do you mean if people use an external preamp and connect that one to the phono input of the built-in preamp? in that case, it will be a disaster. But if you just connect the phono preamp to a line input it's not more complex than connecting a cd player or streamer.

 

[RJW232]

With this turntable, the built-in phono preamp will be perfectly fine. If you upgrade to a much better turntable (and pickup element) a dedicated phono preamp may, and really just MAY, be worth trying. Built-in preamps aren't as bad as some people say.

 

[Al ears]

Do you mean if people use an external preamp and connect that one to the phono input of the built-in preamp? in that case, it will be a disaster. But if you just connect the phono preamp to a line input it's not more complex than connecting a cd player or streamer.

True but you'd be surprised with the number of times it comes up on this forum because people don't seem to read the manual..... 🙂

 

[Al ears]

With this turntable, the built-in phono preamp will be perfectly fine. If you upgrade to a much better turntable (and pickup element) a dedicated phono preamp may, and really just MAY, be worth trying. Built-in preamps aren't as bad as some people say.

His turntable does not have an inbuilt phono preamp as far as I am aware so he has to use the one in the amplifier.
Or is that the one you meant?