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- Preamplifiers (preamps) boost the low-level signal from the turntable so your music plays at a “normal” volume in speakers and headphones.
- Some record players come with a built-in preamp, but it’s not standard. In fact, many turntables require one to play properly.
- Audio experts always recommend using an external preamp. It provides better sound quality, less chance for interference, and greater modularity, so you can upgrade the component to match your other equipment.
The preamplifier, which everybody calls a “preamp,” is a small but essential component in most high-fidelity audio systems, especially ones built around a record player. A fairly technical piece of equipment, the preamp powers up the sound coming out of your record player, so your speakers can play it loud and clear.
It’s absolutely essential to have one, but many record players have them built in, so the question is, “why bother buying one separately?” The short answer is that it just works better, but there’s obviously more to it than that. The preamp is a sort of gateway drug to hi-fi gear: It’s a relatively cheap way to upgrade your vinyl setup, and once you hear the difference, there’s a chance you may start to feel the urge to start expanding your system. Let’s talk about how a preamp works and what it really does.
How Does a Preamp Work?
To play music off a vinyl record, your turntable captures vibrations created the tiny grooves in a record, which pass to your speakers via a phono electrical signal. On its own, that signal is very weak. Your speakers would barely be able to play the music. The preamp boosts the power, or “gain,” of the signal up to a standard “line” level that allows your speakers to operate at full power.
And no, you cannot skip the preamp and just turn up the volume of your speakers. Amping up the gain coming out of your record player isn’t just about volume: It also impacts how your music sounds. With a weak phono signal, you’ll hear a lot of buzzing and humming at normal volume. If you try to turn it up, the distortion will only get worse.
Okay… Do I Really Need One, Though?
Technically, every audio device needs a preamp. But these days, many record players have a preamp and amplifier built in, so you can just connect a turntable to your speakers and you’re ready to go.
While it might seem counterintuitive, you’re actually less and less likely to find a turntable with a built-in preamp as you look at more expensive, audiophile-grade turntables. Why? Hi-fi enthusiasts generally agree that it’s better to use a separate preamp to minimize processing that could distort the sound of your records. The conventional wisdom suggests that combined amplification is a little less delicate when it pumps up the record player’s signal.
And, by that wisdom, hi-fi purists will tell you that you should always use a separate preamp, even if there’s a built-in option on your record player. High-end models don’t have them because the manufacturer assumes that, if you’re spending this much money, you’re planning to insert it into a larger system and don’t need one inside. Think of the built-in preamp in a similar vein to the speakers on your laptop. They play sound, yeah, but they definitely don’t work as well as a good pair of headphones or desktop speakers.
Of course, it needs to be said that the distortions we’re talking about here are fairly subtle. Audiophiles make a hobby out of assembling an audio system that perfectly reproduces music as it was originally recorded. That pursuit can lead people to spend seemingly limitless amounts of money on expensive equipment and furnishing the perfect listening space. Just because you like the sound of vinyl, doesn’t mean you automatically care about audio purity to that degree.
So, to answer the question: If you buy a record player that does not have a built-in preamp, you need to buy one. If you buy a record player that does have a built-in preamp, you technically don’t. However, connecting a preamp to your record player will make your audio system sound better. At the very least, it should sound louder and a little clearer than your record player would on its own.
What You Need to Know Before Buying a Preamp
And, like every type of audio gear, preamps can vary quite a bit in terms of quality, features, and price. Generally speaking, even the most basic, affordable models will get your turntable’s signal up to line level, which is 90 percent of the job.
The more expensive ones will give you more control over your system’s sound, with onboard EQ controls to adjust bass, treble, and volume before it even reaches a set of speakers. They also often give you more inputs and outputs, allowing you to expand your hi-fi system to many audio devices—not just your record player—as well as many speakers.
For first-time buyers or beginners, I’d recommend starting off with an affordable option and working your way up as you improve the rest of your equipment. Many of the upgrades you’ll see from a high-quality preamp are incremental: You won’t hear a night-and-day difference between a $50 preamp and a $5,000 preamp. You’re much better off upgrading other components of your system like your turntable and speakers, which play a great role in determining how your records sound. Once you feel like you’re satisfied with both your turntable and speaker system, then make the investment in a better overall preamp.
