What Is A Pre Amp??

clarabell1984

I'm looking to buy an ADS Instant Music Vinyl & Cassette Ripper for my dad for Xmas so that he can get all his old records onto his PC.

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/instant-music-vinyl-cassette-ripper/index.html

I am without a doubt hopeless with gadgets and techi things. I do know however that he has a PC and a turntable (as part of his hi fi):rotfl: .

The website states that "Pre-Amp required for Phono Audio or Turntable".

Can anybody fill me in on what this means as I do not want to give him this as a present if he cannot use it.

Many Thanks in Advance

Reggie_Rebel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preamplifier

Try this

clarabell1984

Sorry i should have said, in releation to a hi fi - is this something that is generally built in?

clarabell1984

Reggie_Rebel wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preamplifier

Try this

Thanks for the link but I am still absolutly clueless!:rotfl:

merch

for example

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=VIVA-PA111-PREA

or

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=28732&doy=21m11

or

http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-amplifiers/PP-2-Phono-Preamplifier

350nutter

The output of a record deck is at a much lower level that a CD player or tape deck etc. A pre-amp is needed to boost the output to that of a CD player etc before it feeds into an amplifier. The only exception would be if the amp has a phono input. Or I suppose if the record deck has a built in preamp which some do but most don't. If you connect a record deck to an amp without a preamp you will notice that the sound is very low.

Donnie

It won't be required if he has a 'line out' source on the amplifier. ie. If he has separates there will be an output to a cassette deck that will be usable.
A HiFi system already has a built in Pre Amp.

clarabell1984

Donnie wrote: »

It won't be required if he has a 'line out' source on the amplifier. ie. If he has separates there will be an output to a cassette deck that will be usable.
A HiFi system already has a built in Pre Amp.

Can you expand on what you mean by seperates. he has seperate turntable to tape deck if this is what you mean?

ollyk

Just to clarify the specs suggest a PHONO pre-amp is required. Now record players, as well as producing a low level output also produce a distorted output, i.e. very bass light, thus a phono or RIAA amplifier has a response curve designed to correct this. A Microphone input would probably be sensitive enough but the output would sound very tinny. The best two options have been covered above. The best, Ideally an old 'amplifier' that has a Phono or record player input or the links provided by merch would be far more cost effective if an amplifier is not available! To be really honest, I would dispense with that box altogether and just use the line input of my sound card from an amplifier.

Some older seperates...

Donnie

A simple example here:

Though the output you would be looking for would be marked cassette deck(if there are suitable outputs).

You would have to let us know specific model numbers.

albertross_2

He can do the same thing with a £1 audio lead plugged between his existing amp, and the soundcard line-in, and a copy of audacity which is free.

A pre-amp is only needed if you don't have an existing amp.