Phono input or not on Cambridge amp??

[gisgillen]

Can`t figure this one out. I need to know if the Cambridge Audio Azur 840A V2 has a phono input or not. The following rewiew on Amazon says not ( "At this price point, the 840a should include a phono input but doesn`t") but on one image which I`ve copied but don`t know how to show, it definitely says `phono´ on the front display??? It seems there are plenty of inputs, can any be used for phono? I have an old (1976) Transcriptors Hydraulic Reference which I bought new (£123!) and still use, with Ortofon VMS 20E MkII. Many Thanks.

 

[expat_mike]

If you google the amp name, you find a link that enables you to download the user manual.

https://techsupport.cambridgeaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/200572972-Azur-840A-v2-Class-XD-integrated-amplifier

This manual contains an image of the front panel, which contains a socket for 'Phones'.

 

[Gray]

It does not have a phono input.

So you would need to preamplify your turntable's output before connection to one of the Azur's line inputs.

 

[gisgillen]

Thank you Gray, a good direct answer. So I`m buggered then?? Not sure what Tom Sawyer meant ` Any of the phono inputs can be used for a turntable once the signal has gone through an external phone stage´?? And thanks Expat-Mike, I`d already checked the manual and couldn`t gleam any information about a phono input...not headphones!!! Thanks to all of you. How do you preamplify a turntables output??

 

[TomSawyer]

You need another bit of kit (like a Project Phono Box MM) between the turntable and any of the amp inputs.

 

[TomSawyer]

I'm almost certain it doesn't. Any of the inputs can be used for a turntable once the signal has gone through an external phono stage.

 

[Gray]

Tom was talking of the external phono stage, the device you require to pre amplify your signals.

No you're far from buggered gisgillen, there are loads of choices of phono preamps.

I myself have got Cambridge Audio's old 540p model. People pay hundreds, even thousands of quid for them but you don't need to pay that much. Check the reviews.

I've still got an old VMS 20E Mk2. It's good but only needs a reasonably priced (less than £100?) pre-amp. Use the MM (moving magnet) input if you have a choice between 'MM' and 'MC' (moving coil) on the pre-amp.

 

[gisgillen]

Hi all. I`ve just read again in a bit more detail the manual. It says `Input 1 features either unbalanced ( phono/ RCA) or balanced (XLR) connections. Either type may be used but not at the same time.´ Does this mean if I flick the switch at the back of the amp to unbalanced my turntable would work....that would be the simplest for me! Thanks again

 

[keeper of the quays]

Tom was talking of the external phono stage, the device you require to pre amplify your signals.

No you're far from buggered gisgillen, there are loads of choices of phono preamps.

I myself have got Cambridge Audio's old 540p model. People pay hundreds, even thousands of quid for them but you don't need to pay that much. Check the reviews.

I've still got an old VMS 20E Mk2. It's good but only needs a reasonably priced (less than £100?) pre-amp. Use the MM (moving magnet) input if you have a choice between 'MM' and 'MC' (moving coil) on the pre-amp.

+1 for 540p (I have one too.)

 

[Gray]

Tom was talking of the external phono stage, the device you require to pre amplify your signals.

No you're far from buggered gisgillen, there are loads of choices of phono preamps.

I myself have got Cambridge Audio's old 540p model. People pay hundreds, even thousands of quid for them but you don't need to pay that much. Check the reviews.

I've still got an old VMS 20E Mk2. It's good but only needs a reasonably priced (less than £100?) pre-amp. Use the MM (moving magnet) input if you have a choice between 'MM' and 'MC' (moving coil) on the pre-amp.

+1 for 540p (I have one too.)

Funny because I've got a wind-up gramophone too.

My Mum stuck a plaster over the 'speaker' on the end of the tonearm to reduce the horrendous midrange glare (there's no bass or treble)

 

[Gray]

Hi all. I`ve just read again in a bit more detail the manual. It says `Input 1 features either unbalanced ( phono/ RCA) or balanced (XLR) connections. Either type may be used but not at the same time.´ Does this mean if I flick the switch at the back of the amp to unbalanced my turntable would work....that would be the simplest for me! Thanks again

[/quote

Confusingly, 'phono' is just another (actually more popular) name for an RCA socket. So that socket on the Azur that you mention is a 'phono' socket, but it's not being used as a phono input! It is not suitable for the DIRECT connection of your turntable.

Shame, as just flicking the switch would be handy I agree.

When things seem too good to be true, they usually are.

 

[gisgillen]

Thank you all for your comments. I was especially pleased with your help Gray. Fortunatley I haven`t bought anything yet, I will now consider different options, but where there is a phono connection, the Roksan Kandy K2 for example...if one comes up! It seems my speakers (B&W XT4`s) require a lot of power to get the best out of them...although my present 80 watts per channel RMS Denon seems good to me. Have a good summer, wherever you are!

 

[chebby]

...although my present 80 watts per channel RMS Denon seems good to me.

Then - if there are no problems with it - keep the Denon.

 

[BigH]

You can buy a phono stage for about £20 its no big deal. I really would not be buying an amp just because its got a phono stage.