Phono pre direct to amp, what am I missing?


I have only one source in my system (turntable) and don't plan on adding any others. I'm thinking of getting rid of my integrated amp and was curious about running my phono pre direct to a standalone amp. I guess my question is, what am I missing by not having another pre-amp in the middle? Is the pre-amp just acting as an expensive volume control knob when using only an external phono pre? if that's the case, I would rather spend more $ on the amp and maybe even upgrade my phono pre to the next level with the money I would have been spending on a pre-amp.
vortrex

Showing 4 responses by vortrex

I already have the phono pre, I just want to know what I am missing by not having a $2000 pre-amp between the phono pre and the amp. it still sounds like it is only coming down to volume control and that the pre-amp actually does nothing to the sound of the phono pre?
it would be a K&K phono stage running into a yet to be determined tube amp, maybe a BAT or ARC.
also, how much total gain is needed to make things sound "right"? I mostly listen to rock based music at moderate levels.
Kevin from K&K did provide me some numbers before to use when looking for an amp if I wanted to go direct. I seem to have lost that email and don't remember what they were. I'll get back in touch with him, but assuming I have all the numbers in sync, I was mostly wondering what would the sound be like with only the phono pre.