[Darrin R]

Hello all!

This Christmas I inherited my first turntable, a Technics SL-1600 and I'm excited to get it up and running. I'd like to use it for listening at home, not for DJ'ing or scratching. Not the right TT for that.

I need to have it serviced here in Los Angeles in order to restore the auto start function since I seem to be having a common problem where the tonearm goes to the middle of the record, and doesn't seem to work right, but that's another story.

Otherwise, the TT seems to work just fine otherwise.

I'd like to hook it up to the home theater system I have - a Harmon Kardon AVR 154 (with H/K speakers and subwoofer). Can you recommend a reasonably priced phono preamp for a beginner?

So far I'm considering the TCC TC-750LC Professional Moving Magnet Preamp ($50) and the ART DJ Pre II Phono Preamp ($50)

Any advice for a newb? This seems to be the right place.

Thanks for reading!

Darrin

 

[AJSgolf33]

Congrats on your first turntable! I'm actually in the same position as you as I received my first deck for Christmas as well. After doing some research, I went for the TC-750 and have been very pleased with it for the for the price. Although I don't have anything else to compare it to, I have no complaints about the performance or sound I get from my vintage Kenwood player and 750 preamp.

Good luck! I hope you enjoy vinyl as much as I do.

Edit: Welcome to Head-Fi! Sorry about your wallet. (I've never been able to say that before

)

 

[Darrin R]

Ahahahahahahahah - I'm trying to keep a tight leash on the wallet. It's like on that show "The Wonder Years" when the kid's Dad would open his wallet, it made low creaking sounds.

Thanks for the reply, I think I'm headed to purchasing the TC-750. I like that it has output level control.

I always enjoy vinyl, but now I'm looking forward to really LISTENING to it.

Cheers.

Darrin

 

[KurtW]

I don't have any experience with the phono preamps that you mentioned, nor with the the ones I'm about to mention, but I can tell you that the phono preamp makes a big difference:

Stereophile liked the Audio-Technica AT-PEQ3 for around $70, and as a step up from that, the Musical Fidelity MC-V-LPS which is for sale now at $150.

I've used the Rega preamps as well as the PS Audio and can recommend these, but these are much more expensive than the ones I suggested above which would make a good starter system.

 

[Darrin R]

Thanks, Kurt - I saw the AT-PEQ3 on Turntablelab.com. All the preamps you mentioned seemed to be great too.

I went with the TC-750 for now since it seems like a quality piece for not a ton of cash. I'm still a newbie -- as I learn more from the experts I'll likely upgrade when my wallet isn't so empty.

I appreciate the replies!

 

[Skylab]

The TC-750 is a great sounding phono preamp for the money. I have the 760 (which has a setting for low-output moving coils) as my "back-up/emergency" phono preamp, and it is almost impossibly good sounding for the money. I highly recommend it.