How to connect Genelec 8010a to Rega Planar 2 | make it make sense

[defsky]

Hello experts, please help!

Got plenty of tunes and enthusiasm but a beyond modest setup of a Rega Planar 2 | Onkyo A-9030 | B&W (something or other) which are now for the bin.

Instead of buying new speakers I have a pair of Genelec 8010a monitors in the cupboard. Can I use these as speakers by simply adding a preamp to this setup? Which I also have but without a volume control.

Can the Rega Planar | Genelecs and Preamp be used with the Onkyo (to use as basically just a volume controller)?

 

[nads]

The Onkyo can not be used with the active speakers in any way as it has no pre out.

whats up with the B&W speakers?

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hello experts, please help!

Got plenty of tunes and enthusiasm but a beyond modest setup of a Rega Planar 2 | Onkyo A-9030 | B&W (something or other) which are now for the bin.

Instead of buying new speakers I have a pair of Genelec 8010a monitors in the cupboard. Can I use these as speakers by simply adding a preamp to this setup? Which I also have but without a volume control.

Can the Rega Planar | Genelecs and Preamp be used with the Onkyo (to use as basically just a volume controller)?

Some integrated amps have a pre out so can be used as a preamp, I don't know if yours has that capability.

There are lots of affordable preamps available. Alternatively you could look at some new speakers. There are always decent affordable secondhand speakers on ebay if you are patient.

What's the problem with the B&Ws?

 

[defsky]

The Onkyo can not be used with the active speakers in any way as it has no pre out.

whats up with the B&W speakers?

Thanks for the reply! In my ignorance I thought acquiring some cables I dont have could mean I could get the pre-amp | turntable | genetics to work with the Onkyo so that I can control the audio?
Would I need to just scrap the Onkyo? And if so, what would solve the issue of a volume control?

 

[defsky]

Some integrated amps have a pre out so can be used as a preamp, I don't know if yours has that capability.

There are lots of affordable preamps available. Alternatively you could look at some new speakers. There are always decent affordable secondhand speakers on ebay if you are patient.

What's the problem with the B&Ws?

Thanks for the reply! In my ignorance I thought acquiring some cables I dont have could mean I could get the pre-amp | turntable | genetics to work with the Onkyo so that I can control the audio?
Would I need to just scrap the Onkyo? And if so, what would solve the issue of a volume control?

 

[nads]

The easiest and cheapest option is to replace the speakers with new.

a phono amp with volume control will be more than a set of speakers as they tend to be rare and therefor high end.

 

[defsky]

Hi Nads, getting higher end Genelecs from a friend next year, so wanted to make the setup work without passive speakers, with the 8010a's as a stop gap.
Basically, if I want my turntable through GENELECS I need a phono pre amp with a a volume control?

 

[Al ears]

Hi Nads, getting higher end Genelecs from a friend next year, so wanted to make the setup work without passive speakers, with the 8010a's as a stop gap.
Basically, if I want my turntable through GENELECS I need a phono pre amp with a a volume control?

Yes.
As far as I can see those speakers don't have a volume control of their own so you will need one somewhere in the system.
As previously stated a new pair of passive speakers might be the cheapest route

 

[Vincent Kars]

simply adding a preamp to this setup? Which I also have but without a volume control.

If you have the pre-amp but no volume control (weird as this is what most pre-amps do), a simple monitor controller like Mackie Big Knob passive might do.

 

[Al ears]

If you have the pre-amp but no volume control (weird as this is what most pre-amps do), a simple monitor controller like Mackie Big Knob passive might do.

I missed this bit, however it doesn't make much sense does it? Preamps without a volume control?
He's not talking about a phono preamp is he?

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hi Nads, getting higher end Genelecs from a friend next year, so wanted to make the setup work without passive speakers, with the 8010a's as a stop gap.
Basically, if I want my turntable through GENELECS I need a phono pre amp with a a volume control?

If that's the case just buy a phono preamp with a volume control, there are plenty out there.

How come you are so wedded to the idea of using the Genelecs? A new set of speakers or repairing the B&Ws will probably be easier, cheaper and sound better.

Studio monitors have their place but if you want to listen to music a HiFi is still the best option. To use a probably not very good analogy, it's a bit like being given a racing car and converting it to use on the road. It would be cheaper and easier to buy a road car and the road car would be more suited to the job than the race car. And you would still have the race car to use as intended, or to sell towards the cost of the road car.

 

[Al ears]

If that's the case just buy a phono preamp with a volume control, there are plenty out there.

How come you are so wedded to the idea of using the Genelecs? A new set of speakers or repairing the B&Ws will probably be easier, cheaper and sound better.

Studio monitors have their place but if you want to listen to music a HiFi is still the best option. To use a probably not very good analogy, it's a bit like being given a racing car and converting it to use on the road. It would be cheaper and easier to buy a road car and the road car would be more suited to the job than the race car. And you would still have the race car to use as intended, or to sell towards the cost of the road car.

Can you post a link to a phono preamp with volume control, tah!
I know some rare ones have a built-in headphone amplifier.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Can you post a link to a phono preamp with volume control, tah!
I know some rare ones have a built-in headphone amplifier.

Now you mention it, I have never come across anyone trying to do what you wish to. There are lots of phono preamps with volume control such as the one below, but I'm not sure if that's just for the headphones.

Cambridge Audio ALVA Duo Moving Coil & Moving Magnet Phono Preamp

Squeeze every inch of detail from your record collection with our highest quality moving magnet and moving coil phono stage, with integrated headphone amp; the Duo Phono Preamplifier.

www.cambridgeaudio.com

So that takes you back to a phono amp, and a separate volume control like this one:

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Designed and Built in Texas and California

www.schiit.com

 

[daytona600]

Tangent PreAmp II
Pre amp / phono stage / Dac / headphones has XLR balanced outputs to connect to the Genelecs

Tangent PreAmp II and PowerAmpster II

Good audio is expensive! Not every time, as Alan Sircom discovered with the latest small and affordable PreAmp II and PowerAmpster II pre/power combination from Danish high-value brand, Tangent Audio.

hifiplus.com

 

[Al ears]

Now you mention it, I have never come across anyone trying to do what you wish to. There are lots of phono preamps with volume control such as the one below, but I'm not sure if that's just for the headphones.

Cambridge Audio ALVA Duo Moving Coil & Moving Magnet Phono Preamp

Squeeze every inch of detail from your record collection with our highest quality moving magnet and moving coil phono stage, with integrated headphone amp; the Duo Phono Preamplifier.

www.cambridgeaudio.com

So that takes you back to a phono amp, and a separate volume control like this one:

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Designed and Built in Texas and California

www.schiit.com

That's what I thought. The only phono preamp I know of which have a volume control are those that control volume to the headphones section that is built in.
I think when the OP says preamp he means phono preamp as I don't recall any stereo preamplifiers without a volume control.

 

[Gray]

Instead of buying new speakers I have a pair of Genelec 8010a monitors in the cupboard. Can I use these as speakers by simply adding a preamp to this setup?

You don't need to add a phono preamp as you've already got one in the Onkyo.

You just need a passive volume control - like the Schiit SYS mentioned by Andy above.

It would need to be connected between the (fixed level) line output of the Onkyo and the input of the Genelecs.

As it's only temporary, maybe get someone to wire up a cheap passive volume control for you, like this one:

Once you use those Genelecs, you might not want any new speakers.

EDIT: You've mentioned a preamp - presumably separate to your Onkyo.
What preamp have you got? - as that may be your volume control. Maybe you don't need to buy anything??

 

[Vincent Kars]

You just need a passive volume control

Wonder if this is true.
Had a quick glance at the manual https://www.gebruikershandleiding.com/Onkyo-A-9030/preview-handleiding-443691.html
It is a integrated amp with phono input and pre-out.
Connect the turntable to the phono input and the Genelec to the pre-out to get volume control

 

[Gray]

Wonder if this is true.
Had a quick glance at the manual https://www.gebruikershandleiding.com/Onkyo-A-9030/preview-handleiding-443691.html
It is a integrated amp with phono input and pre-out.
Connect the turntable to the phono input and the Genelec to the pre-out to get volume control

I saw only line out, no pre out on the pictures I saw of the 9030.

Didn't check that link as it was foreign and I couldn't understand the privacy options.
(I never look at websites that don't allow me to opt out of the majority of their tracking / cookies).

It's possible that in some countries the model had pre outs??

 

[Vincent Kars]

It's possible that in some countries the model had pre outs

The OP will tell us....

 

[twinkletoes]

ive likely miss understand, but wouldn’t a traditional pre with an integrated phono stage do the job.

Something like a rotel rc-03 pre amp would work no?

One on the big E for a120 quid

 

[record_spot]

Hello experts, please help!

Got plenty of tunes and enthusiasm but a beyond modest setup of a Rega Planar 2 | Onkyo A-9030 | B&W (something or other) which are now for the bin.

Instead of buying new speakers I have a pair of Genelec 8010a monitors in the cupboard. Can I use these as speakers by simply adding a preamp to this setup? Which I also have but without a volume control.

Can the Rega Planar | Genelecs and Preamp be used with the Onkyo (to use as basically just a volume controller)?

You can add a phono pre (or preamp with a phono stage), XLR cables and a simple volume control. An adapter too to take RCA to XLR if your choice of preamp doesn't have XLR connections, and you're in business. The 8010a is a great little speaker.