Phono stages

There are separate phono stages in all sorts of price ranges. That starts from 50 euro and goes up to very high-end. But there are also turntables with a built-in phono stage, think of a Rega Planar 1 Plus. Then you don't need to add anything separately.

That depends a great deal on the brand. Some brands, such as Rega, attach great importance to the built-in phono stage. Other brands see it more as a gimmick. Listen to the difference at the dealer. You will hear that difference straight away.

Yes, of course you can also connect your turntable to a Sonos or a soundbar. You then choose a turntable with a built-in phono stage, such as a Rega Planar 1 Plus, or you place a small phono stage between the turntable and the active speaker. There are also active speakers with a built-in phono stage, think of the Totem Kin Play. Then you have a party straight away as well.

A phono stage is really a pre-preamplifier. The signal that comes out of a turntable is many times smaller than that of a CD player or streamer.

You connect an external phono stage to the aux/line input of your amplifier, and not to the phono input. That is very important to get right.

No, you absolutely must not.

You can simply try it, that can do no harm. The signal from an MC cartridge is, though, many times weaker than that from an MM cartridge. Although high output MC cartridges do exist as well.

The phono stage is often an underestimated link in the system, so yes, it often is indeed the weak link. I would advise spending at least half of what the cartridge costs. As you move towards the same value as the cartridge, you will certainly get that back in the reproduction.

No, this is not marketing. It is important to find good synergy and balance between the turntable, the cartridge and the phono stage. If there are hifi brands that make all three, such as Rega, then you know straight away that you are in safe hands. At this level it is strongly recommended to request a listening session at an authorised dealer.

Each step brings more calm into the system. Thanks to that calm, the whole musical experience comes into its own even more: think of the placement of the instruments and refined highs and lows. Instruments separate out and you get a thoroughly dynamic and refined musical picture. Detail that had not struck you before comes to the fore. That is where vinyl truly excels: the ease of a sound we experience as natural and realistic.

No, a cheap phono stage will not damage your records, your cartridge or your loudspeakers. The only thing it costs you is sound quality.