Best AV receivers with Phono input

Vinyl records are back in fashion. But now this is not a commodity of mass demand, but an elite hobby for those who are well versed in the quality of sound. Therefore, today it is customary to use a whole range of equipment for reproducing “vinyl”, the most important element of which is a phono stage or an av receiver with phono input. Without this modest device, which almost does not remind of itself in your system, it will be impossible to sound vinyl.

Now even budget receivers are equipped with a built-in phono stage and the average user has a lot to choose from. This page has a feature for comparing receivers to make it easier for you to choose the best receiver for turntable.

What is Phono input in a receiver?

To play vinyl records, they mainly use turntables, in which the output signal is supplied directly from the pickup head. An amplifier, which may be a receiver with phono input, is a separate unit. But the amplifier is connected to the output of the turntable, as a rule, through a special device called a phono stage.

A phono stage is a sound transformer from vinyl, as on vinyl, the sound is not technically recorded as on a CD or other media. If you connect a turntable without a phono stage directly to an amplifier or a music center, then the sound will be barely audible even at the extreme position of the sound control and almost without bass. Turning on the phono stage or a receiver with phono input for turntable immediately solves this problem.

The widespread belief that the phono stage is a device that brings the signal level to a value suitable for applying to a conventional amplifier is not entirely true. Yes, one of the functions of the phono equalizer is signal amplification. However, in the first place, the phono stage is intended for equalization (correction) of the amplitude-frequency characteristic (AFC), changed when recording the plate.

To suppress low-frequency beats associated with the transmission of vibration from the engine or warping of the plate, a special filter is provided in some phono pre-equalizers.

Since the phono stage works with very weak signals, interference from the network has a significant effect. In high-end phono stages, the power supply is usually external.

Amplifier vs Receiver

Complete with a vinyl player, you can use either an amplifier or a receiver.

The amplifier is an element of the control system designed to increase the power of the input audio signal.

Receiver - this device is a multi-channel amplifier, characterized by the presence of digital stream decoders. The output sound is distributed on 6.7, or 8 channels (for subwoofer and satellites). Some models of such receivers are additionally equipped with tuners used for receiving radio broadcasts. Also, the receivers are equipped with a built-in phono stage, which will greatly simplify the connection of a vinyl player.