Can I use a preamp while connected to a phono input?
You cannot connect a preamp to the phono connection on an amplifier. If your turntable has a built-in preamp, it must be set to phono or off when connected to a phono input.
When an amplifier or receiver has a phono output, that connection is equipped with a built-in preamp. If you were to connect an external preamp or use the built-in preamp of your turntable while connected to a phono input, you will experience a great deal of distortion. This is because it's now being over-amplified.
To prevent this distortion, you will either need to remove the external preamp from the setup, bypass the turntable preamp by setting the preamp switch to phono or off, or connect the preamp/turntable to a different input on the amplifier such as CD.
In these cases, using an external preamp is preferred, most external preamps will provide a cleaner, less distorted signal than that of a built-in preamp due to superior components and design.
When an amplifier or receiver has a phono output, that connection is equipped with a built-in preamp. If you were to connect an external preamp or use the built-in preamp of your turntable while connected to a phono input, you will experience a great deal of distortion. This is because it's now being over-amplified.
To prevent this distortion, you will either need to remove the external preamp from the setup, bypass the turntable preamp by setting the preamp switch to phono or off, or connect the preamp/turntable to a different input on the amplifier such as CD.
In these cases, using an external preamp is preferred, most external preamps will provide a cleaner, less distorted signal than that of a built-in preamp due to superior components and design.