preamp out instead of MC transformer

It is not even wrong, as Wolfgang Pauli use to say. A preamp output would hideously overload a MM input. I thought I had heard every strange idea in audio; I was mistaken. The good news is that this is a strong " worst idea of the year" candidate. I don't know enough electronics to fully describe why this would not work.

It is likely that Al is correct and the gain would be far too low. In my first response I had assumed that it might be possible; however , even if it were remember that the output of a line stage is measured in volts and the input sensitivity of a phono stage is measured in MVs so there is a probability that you will overload the phono stage. Considering the cost of extra cables and preamps a step up would be much cheaper and far easier to work with. Bob's Devices is a very good one at a moderate cost.