Yes

The Pre-amp gets the output from the turntable to line level. Without it you will have to crank the volume up full and even then probably only hear a whisper. A pre-amp can cost from £30 to £500. 

Usually pre-amps have two phone sockets input and two output. You will need to get a phono to 5 pin din plug to go into the aux socket on your BeoSound 9000.

Opman

Not only is it a very low level output, the turntable, but it needs significant equalization, RIAA eq, to sound right. In order to even get playable music on an LP a pretty serious equalization is required, without the inverse applied the sound will be no bass and shrieking treble, because the LP medium itself can't handle large amounts of bass recorded on the LP without the stylus skipping out of the grooves, but reproduces high freq pretty well.

But there are many, many phono preamps out there by a large variety of makers. I like the ones from phonopreamps.com, mainly because they make a model, which I have, ideal for use with B&O tables. But their stuff is inexpensive and sounds good.

Jeff wrote:

But there are many, many phono preamps out there by a large variety of makers. I like the ones from phonopreamps.com, mainly because they make a model, which I have, ideal for use with B&O tables. But their stuff is inexpensive and sounds good.

Jeff, is link the one you have? And what are your thoughts on , an entry level turntable from Pro-Ject with an inbuilt RIAA.

Hi Sal,

That is not what I have, it's only a line level volume controller, which would be perfect if you use a turntable with a built in preamp to adjust the level to where it matches other sources. Most phono preamps have lower output than say a CD player. Especially true for the B&O MMC cartridges, so I use

Thanks for your thoughts, Jeff.

I currently have a Beogram 6500 Turntable, which, with an adapter from Sounds heavenly, incidentally, is plugged in to the RCA inputs of the Beosound Essence. I really do like it, I've been it's second owner for a while now. It has recently been serviced because the tonearm kept falling off the edge of the LPs when starting to play. It also likely needs a new cartridge, which I've been procrastinating on purchasing. I should just bite the bullet and order one from The SoundSmith.

Because of its age, and the need for the service recently, I've been mulling over the idea of perhaps finding it another home, and getting myself a more modern (current) turntable. How anachronistic! If I do go that route, a Pro-Ject is likely on top of my list. After your reassuring opinions on that company, I looked a bit deeper and they have a line called "Essential" one of which has an inbuilt RIAA as well as toslink out!

Pro-Ject has been around for a while, they are well regarded by most audio mags and such. Really though, making a manual turntable should be doable for a company, it's not as if it's complex like a Beogram or such. Decent, low mass arm, decent arm and table bearings, etc. are not rocket science.

I have the same issue with my Beogram 3000 that I need to address, either myself or take it and the broken one I have to a nearby repair place and have both serviced. I dread when my MMC2 dies which it eventually will. Then I'll be forced to decide, new table, or fix the cartridge. I like having a turntable but don't listen to vinyl much at all, couple of LPs a year or so. That is one beautiful table you found though.

Sal wrote:

Thanks for your thoughts, Jeff.

I currently have a Beogram 6500 Turntable, which, with an adapter from Sounds heavenly, incidentally, is plugged in to the RCA inputs of the Beosound Essence. I really do like it, I've been it's second owner for a while now. It has recently been serviced because the tonearm kept falling off the edge of the LPs when starting to play. It also likely needs a new cartridge, which I've been procrastinating on purchasing. I should just bite the bullet and order one from The SoundSmith.

Because of its age, and the need for the service recently, I've been mulling over the idea of perhaps finding it another home, and getting myself a more modern (current) turntable. How anachronistic! If I do go that route, a Pro-Ject is likely on top of my list. After your reassuring opinions on that company, I looked a bit deeper and they have a line called "Essential" one of which has an inbuilt RIAA as well as toslink out!

 

 

Hi Sal,

I went through the same dilemma a while ago, after the MMC4 cartridge failed on my Beogram 3500, the various used ones I bought on ebay just didn't measure up, with a dull and lifeless tone.  I finally paid out for a brand new Sound Smith SMMC4 and I was very very impressed, the whole system sounds much better now, with clear treble and a nice tight bass.

I can (and do!) recommend Sound Smith highly for their cartridges - not cheap, but worth every penny!

Kind regards, Steve.