reknirt Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I just purchased a pro-ject debut carbon dc, dali zensor 1 bookshelf speakers, and a vincent pho-8 phono preamp. http://www.amazon.com/Vincent-PHO-8-Phono-Outboard-Supply/dp/B003BFYHDC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457972943&sr=8-1&keywords=vincent+pho-8 http://www.amazon.com/DALI-ZENSOR-Bookshelf-Speaker-White/dp/B0060KNYVQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1457972967&sr=8-3&keywords=dali+zensor+1 Do I need another piece of equipment for volume controls? Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 You need an amplifier first. Then you may or may not need a stereo preamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesi Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I just purchased a pro-ject debut carbon dc, dali zensor 1 bookshelf speakers, and a vincent pho-8 phono preamp. http://www.amazon.com/Vincent-PHO-8-Phono-Outboard-Supply/dp/B003BFYHDC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457972943&sr=8-1&keywords=vincent+pho-8 http://www.amazon.com/DALI-ZENSOR-Bookshelf-Speaker-White/dp/B0060KNYVQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1457972967&sr=8-3&keywords=dali+zensor+1 Do I need another piece of equipment for volume controls? Thanks for your help. You still need an amp. I would skip the PHO-8 for now and get an amp with a built-in phono stage.You can always add an external phono pre later on. reknirt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reknirt Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 You still need an amp. I would skip the PHO-8 for now and get an amp with a built-in phono stage.You can always add an external phono pre later on. Thanks. I appreciate that. Would there be a gain in output quality if i connected a PHO-8 to a Sprout amp? Is that even possible since the Sprout has a phono preamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 You can hook it up without issues, as long as you don't hook it into the phono input. No gain in output, but the stand alone preamp might sound a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 You'll likely get better value spending the $800 on an integrated amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reknirt Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 You'll likely get better value spending the $800 on an integrated amp. Am I reading this wrong, or does a passive preamp, such as the Emotiva control freak, add volume control to a phono preamp? http://www.amazon.com/Emotiva-Audio-CF-Balanced-Control-Freak/dp/B00JRJ1TZ0/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1457976674&sr=1-2&keywords=passive+preamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Am I reading this wrong, or does a passive preamp, such as the Emotiva control freak, add volume control to a phono preamp? http://www.amazon.com/Emotiva-Audio-CF-Balanced-Control-Freak/dp/B00JRJ1TZ0/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1457976674&sr=1-2&keywords=passive+preamp No, it does not. reknirt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 it sounds like you are not understanding some fundamental stuff. I recommend a trip up to the beginner thread stickied at the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 The internet can be both wonderful and terrible all at the same time. It allows you to spend a large pile of money on some wonderful equipment and all at competitive prices whilst having absolutely no clue what you are buying. They told me at school all those years ago computers would make everyone’s life so much easier. They lied. Have a good read of the beginners thread, you have bought some fine kit there and you want to get the best out of it by making sure the next purchase is an informed one. reknirt and thebilljim 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjorn Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 You'll likely get better value spending the $800 on an integrated amp. Agreed. The phono stage in an integrated amp at that price point will probably sound 99% as good as running an external phono preamp into an integrated amp. Differences/improvements in sound quality between phono stages certainly exist, but they are not anywhere as dramatic as they are hyped up to be. That has been my experience anyway. I was running a Cambridge 640p into a Rotel RA1070 because I had a moving coil cart at the time. When I switched back to moving magnet I compared the Cambridge to the Rotel's built-in phono stage and could not tell any difference. reknirt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebilljim Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I'll vouch for the Beginner's thread...it answered something like 99% of the questions I had when I was getting ready to take the plunge and get into the world of actually having quality equipment. reknirt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reknirt Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 The internet can be both wonderful and terrible all at the same time. It allows you to spend a large pile of money on some wonderful equipment and all at competitive prices whilst having absolutely no clue what you are buying. They told me at school all those years ago computers would make everyone’s life so much easier. They lied. Have a good read of the beginners thread, you have bought some fine kit there and you want to get the best out of it by making sure the next purchase is an informed one. Thanks. I appreciate all the help from everyone. I did read the beginner's thread -- a couple times -- however I guess what has confused me are some blogs I've read on beginner systems list the necessary pieces for a new setup and only list turntable/phono preamp/speakers. What I didn't realize was that those speakers were powered. That's the piece of the puzzle that's been throwing me off. Thanks again for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinch Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 You definitely picked up some good pieces to start with, so take your time and research a bit about integrated amps in your budget, then check sites like audiogon or even ebay (if the seller seem to be reputable) to see what those funds can get you on the used market, and work from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Some of those blogs are shocking, might be worth putting a comment on if you can to stop someone else making the same mistake. The good and bad news is that there is quite a choice when it comes to integrated amplifiers so a bit more research I’m afraid but the best research is always done with your ears so find a hifi shop if you can to have a listen to some amps to find out what you really like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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