Help! Combatability Issue

[ssarm@mac.com]

I have a pair of atoms I've yet to hook up. I purchased an adcom gfa545 on ebay, it hasn't come yet because of some shipping problem. I am going to buy a turntable, probably a stanton t.50.

I just read that amps need a special phono mode to be able to take turntables.

please tell me the adcom has a phono mode. I couldn't out whether it did or not on the internet.


I plan to hook up the atoms to my computer and to the turntable.

[JohnMichael]

I have a pair of atoms I've yet to hook up. I purchased an adcom gfa545 on ebay, it hasn't come yet because of some shipping problem. I am going to buy a turntable, probably a stanton t.50.

I just read that amps need a special phono mode to be able to take turntables.

please tell me the adcom has a phono mode. I couldn't out whether it did or not on the internet.


I plan to hook up the atoms to my computer and to the turntable.

A power amp will not have a phono amp. That is a function that is handled by an outboard phono preamp or a preamp with the built in phono section. The signal from the ttable has to be raised and equalized to the level of other components such as cd player or tuner. If you are using an outboard phono preamp it will need to be plugged into a preamp so you will have control over volume. The signal from the phono cartridge is eq'd and amplified in the phono stage and that signal is sent to the preamp. With the preamp you are able to select the source you want to listen to, adjust volume, balance and tone if available. The signal from the preamp then goes to the power amp and the power amp drives the speakers. Some cd players with volume controls can be plugged directly into an amp without a preamp but for phono you will need the extra stage.

[ssarm@mac.com]

alright

just to sum that up, if i'm playing only from my computer,

Pc --> Amp --> speakers

is fine, but if i want to have the turntable, I'll have to get

Turntable --> Phono Preamp --> Preamp --> Amp --> Speakers

right?


are there any turntables with a built in preamp that I can get on ebay for cheap?

[Geoffcin]

alright

just to sum that up, if i'm playing only from my computer,

Pc --> Amp --> speakers

is fine, but if i want to have the turntable, I'll have to get

Turntable --> Phono Preamp --> Preamp --> Amp --> Speakers

right?


are there any turntables with a built in preamp that I can get on ebay for cheap?

But I know of absolutely NO TT with a full blown preamp built in. HOWEVER, there's plenty of good preamps with a phono preamp built in.

[JoeE SP9]

An Adcom GFA545 is a power amplifier only. It has no preamp control section. You will need either a preamp/tuner or a straight preamp with a phono (phonograph) preamp built in or a phono preamp . If you have a preamp or a preamp/tuner without a phono preamp you can purchase one. A phono preamp goes between a TT and a preamp. It provides an extra stage of amplification and the special equalization (RIAA) a cartridge needs. There are lots of places where you can get a phono preamp. www.needledoctor.com (http://www.needledoctor.com) has a selection of them. All Adcom gear with a GFA prefix is only a power amplifier. Adcom preamps and tuner/preamps have a prefix of either GFP (preamp) or GTP (tuner/preamp). Some Adcom GFP's and some GTP's have phono preamps others do not. If you are going to connect this gear to your computer I would purchase a preamp or tuner/preamp and use the line out from my computer to one of the inputs on the preamp and if necessary a phono preamp into the preamp. The output from the preamp would go to the GFA545. The GFA545 would drive the speakers. The alternate would be to purchase a phono preamp connect a TT to it and run the output of phono preamp into the line level input on your PC. The line out from your PC would go to the GFA545. The speakers would connect to the GFA545.:cool:

[Geoffcin]

An Adcom GFA545 is a power amplifier only. It has no preamp control section. You will need either a preamp/tuner or a straight preamp with a phono (phonograph) preamp built in or a phono preamp . If you have a preamp or a preamp/tuner without a phono preamp you can purchase one. A phono preamp goes between a TT and a preamp. It provides an extra stage of amplification and the special equalization (RIAA) a cartridge needs. There are lots of places where you can get a phono preamp. www.needledoctor.com (http://www.needledoctor.com) has a selection of them. All Adcom gear with a GFA prefix is only a power amplifier. Adcom preamps and tuner/preamps have a prefix of either GFP (preamp) or GTP (tuner/preamp). Some Adcom GFP's and some GTP's have phono preamps others do not. If you are going to connect this gear to your computer I would purchase a preamp or tuner/preamp and use the line out from my computer to one of the inputs on the preamp and if necessary a phono preamp into the preamp. The output from the preamp would go to the GFA545. The GFA545 would drive the speakers. The alternate would be to purchase a phono preamp connect a TT to it and run the output of phono preamp into the line level input on your PC. The line out from your PC would go to the GFA545. The speakers would connect to the GFA545.:cool:

JoeE knows preamps.

[ssarm@mac.com]

wow, thanks so much for that answer.


I'm looking at the adcom gfp 555 and 565:

any similar models that have built in phono, that i could get for under 200 on ebay, even cheaper if possible?

im lookin for the minimum requirements that wont let me lose quality. College student budget, I've already spent twice as much as i budgeted for this. In the meantime I'm going to be watching the 555.


thanks for all your help guys.

[Geoffcin]

wow, thanks so much for that answer.


I'm looking at the adcom gfp 555 and 565:

any similar models that have built in phono, that i could get for under 200 on ebay, even cheaper if possible?

im lookin for the minimum requirements that wont let me lose quality. College student budget, I've already spent twice as much as i budgeted for this. In the meantime I'm going to be watching the 555.


thanks for all your help guys.

Vintage, but I've never had need to replace it yet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-Audio-IVH-PreAmplifier-Power-Supply-PreAmp-IV-H-4H_W0QQitemZ9740143135QQcategoryZ14974QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I would lowball on the offer, $225 is pretty high, although I've compared my preamp to several higher priced models, and when played in passive mode it beats them all the time.

The phono section is highly rated, although you will have to adjust it with resistors for some cartridges. I would ask if those are included. (they are cheap)

[basite]

or you can plug the turntable in to the pc and play from there.use the line in (make sure it's activated) and just play a record, your pc will detect the signals from the line in (turntable) and play them via the line out (to amp)

[Geoffcin]

or you can plug the turntable in to the pc and play from there.use the line in (make sure it's activated) and just play a record, your pc will detect the signals from the line in (turntable) and play them via the line out (to amp)

Phonographs require a special preamp circuit to amplify & eq the signal before it can be used by an amplifier.