Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems AC200 - phono stage needed for vinyl?

Hi,

If I want to play vinyl (I have a mothballed Rega P2/RB 250) to a set of DSP3200's via an AC200 will I need a separate phono amp?

The handbook for the AC200 is a bit vague but I get the feeling that the AC200 expecting a line level input?

If needed suggestions for a budget amp would be welcomed.

Thanks,
Ali

Yes you will need a phono preamp.

Hello,

Meridian pretty much ignores Turntable inputs, especially on the older gear. When they say "Phono Inputs", I think that is Brit-speak (or old time HiFi) for RCA Line Level inputs.

I would almost guarantee you need a phono pre-amp. I'm sorry I don have any recommendations - what is your price range? Also, you might check eBay for used ones. A quick search for "phono preamp" just returned 1215 results.

Dan

Hi,

A phono turntable input has pretty well always been a bit of an ‘add on* on Meridian kit, so you’ll need to add an external phono preamp. Rega do the Fono mini which (also) has an analogue to digital (USB) output for about £100. Have a look at some reviews on the What HiFi website as well. Just remember you’ll need a preamp that’s appropriate for the type of cartridge you have - moving magnet or moving coil.

Dan, I think historically we’d automatically distinguish between the phono inputs (turntable) and the phono connectors for the other inputs.

Brian

Hi Brian :),
I know that, but the original poster said that the manual was "vague", so I looked it up. The users manual for the AC200 says:

And the picture of the rear jacks has a line going to both analog inputs that says "Analog Phono Inputs"
See Page 3
So I can see where his confusion may be coming from.

Dan

As an aside to AliD (the original poster): I am using a Meridian 561 and a Technics SL-5 Turntable. For my phono preamp I am using an old Kenwood KC-105 Preamp that has a phono stage built in. It seems to work just fine, as I have the main outputs of this preamp going into an analog input on my 561. I have a volume control and an equalizer on this preamp if I need to adjust the turntable sound at all (so far I haven't).

The point of this being, if you have an old preamp or stereo receiver with phono inputs and main pre-outputs (or even tape outputs), you can use that for your turntable preamp. At least until you can research a dedicated phono preamp.

Hope this helps!

Dan

I don’t spin vinyl, as I only have a static display with Technics SL1200.
A fellow HH was highly impressed with the Puffin Phono Stage. As an added bonus it can be outfitted with a digital output.

Hi Dan,

Meridian manuals are 'vague' anyway _ you'll know that from your own recent experiences.

I guess the term should refer to "RCA phono" leads or inputs, but over the years the "RCA" has been dropped from use, as has the "Phono" (phonograph) input, so not surprising it's a bit confusing.

There was a bit of a discussion regarding phono preamps in an earlier thread which mentioned some reviews from the (UK) "What HiFi" website, hence my suggestion of the Rega Fono mini*. Since the OP is in the UK and sounds as if he knows what's going on, I'd also suggest that Richer Sounds have the Pro-Ject PhonoBox MM at £70 or the MM/MC at £100 with examples from Cambridge Audio and Ifi going up in price from there depending on how much he want's to spend.

* While I have plenty other amps around with 'phono' inputs, I do have a Rega Fono mini for connecting to my Meridian kit. I've been using it recently to 'rip' some old SQ 'quadraphonic' vinyl onto my iMac (Technics SL-7/Ortofon MM/Rega Fono mini/).

Brian

Yeah, you need one. I have used a dedicated phono preamp with my AC200 and it works great.

Two recommendations for low cost / high quality phono stages that will complement your AC200. The iFi iPhono3 is great sounding and a bargain. On this side of the pond, the Schiit Mani is also a good buy. The knee in the cost-benefit curve is pretty low on phono stages these days. These mini phono preamps will put a lot of the older "golden age" preamps to shame and are dead quiet.

Rega Fono's are nice - so is the iFi iPhono - but a couple of more expensive options are the Parks Audio Puffin (it can be ordered with a digi output) - and for about twice that -I've been puttin a lot of hours on a ELAC PPA-2 (run that into a Mytek ADC stereo 96) -there are a wealth of very good outboard phono pre-amps at this time. One aspect of sending the analog signal into a digital device is that you REALLY don't want to overload a digital input -this will often sound a lot like mistracking of very loud passages on your records and you can chase your tail trying to fix a problem that isn't there -but it's nasty. It's one of the reasons I use the Mytek ADC's -every once in awhile the level indicator lights surprise me and instantly explain what I'm hearing.