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Line Stage Preamp Vs. Full Preamp

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Posted on November 1, 2009 at 05:59:58
Astroimage
Audiophile

Posts: 45
Location: Northern Indiana
Joined: October 3, 2009
 Hi Everyone,

The topic has probably been beat to death and I will be searching the archives... I am confused and would like to know what the difference between a line stage and a preamp is. When should I use one over the other?

I need to fix or replace my current integrated so I am looking at separates, a line stage seems to be less expensive than a full preamp. Can someone sum it up in simple terms before I make a big mistake?

Brian
RE: Line Stage Preamp Vs. Full Preamp, posted on November 2, 2009 at 17:42:25
AudioSoul
Audiophile

Posts: 1497
Location: north central AZ
Joined: July 9, 2005
Contributor
  Since: September 24, 2009

I have a line preamp and a phono preamp. I like it this way because I can change one or the other without changing both.......

Back when I started in Hifi in the early 70'si..., posted on November 1, 2009 at 12:17:35
Allen Wright
Manufacturer

Posts: 4737
Location: Schaffhausen
Joined: January 31, 2002
 ...all preamps were "full" preamps - that means they could accept input from phono cartridges, tape decks (sometimes even tape heads), tuners, TVs, in fact anything that output an audio signal that you wanted to listen to.

Then CD player arrived on the scene in the 80's and messed things up - many peole stopped listening to this wide varity of sources and concentrated on CD only. This lead to the emergence of "line stages" which ignored the low level phono signals, and as these things became more and more common, the term "line stage" was dropped for the generalised term "preamp".

But vinyl is picking up again, and those in the know are becoming interested in "full" preamps again - because they can perform as well on CD as any line stage, but potentially better on vinyl than a seperate phono stage and line stage.

This is because they don't need the extra sockets and cables to connect the two, and are less expensive for the same overall sonic quality, simply because at least one less box and power supply is needed, and of course one less interconnect cable.

OK?

Regards, Allen

RE: Back when I started in Hifi in the early 70'si..., posted on November 1, 2009 at 12:44:22
Astroimage
Audiophile

Posts: 45
Location: Northern Indiana
Joined: October 3, 2009
 Hi Allen,

That is pretty much the same explanation that Bigromano has given. I think that I am just confusing me. It is as simple as a full preamp = input switch/volume control/low level (phono/tape) and a linestage is just minus the low level stuff.

I am confusing the issue in my mind by adding in a passive device versus an active one so please forgive me. I am considering replacing my current integrated with either a preamp/amp combo or a higher level integrated with an internal phonostage so that I can use a second turntable and the explanation that both you and Bigromano have given will help me decide the direction to take.

Thank you for your help!

Brian
RE: Line Stage Preamp Vs. Full Preamp, posted on November 1, 2009 at 06:38:46
Bigromano
Audiophile

Posts: 298
Location: Manitoba
Joined: April 6, 2005
 Well I take line stage to mean there is no phono stage, meaning you cannot hook a turntable directly to the preamp. A "full preamp" would include a MM, MC, or MM/MC phonostage. In some cases a phono stage will add a considerable amount to the price of a preamp, so there is not much sense in getting one unless you need one.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

RE: Line Stage Preamp Vs. Full Preamp, posted on November 1, 2009 at 06:59:54
Astroimage
Audiophile

Posts: 45
Location: Northern Indiana
Joined: October 3, 2009
 Hi Bigromano,

If that is the case then I should do just fine with a linestage only, I already have a separate PhonoStage. However, I thought that there was more to it than just the phonostage.

Brian
RE: Line Stage Preamp Vs. Full Preamp, posted on November 1, 2009 at 07:33:53
Bigromano
Audiophile

Posts: 298
Location: Manitoba
Joined: April 6, 2005
 That's the only difference I am aware of between a "preamp" and a "line stage". Of course there is also a "passive preamp" versus an "active preamp". The pasive does not add any gain to the output. I've never owned a passive, and I'm not sure what the advantage would be to owning one. I assume with a passive the signal is more true to the source (what comes out of the cd player is exactly what will come out the other end of the preamp without any changes or coloration). I'm no expert, but this is my understanding of how things are distinguished.

The advantage to only using attenuators, posted on November 1, 2009 at 19:20:11
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 9840
Location: Central boonies
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 (aka passive preamp) is the reduction of inevitable distortion created by any active gain stage. I use such with my CD source since its 4 volt output is more than enough to fully drive my 1.3 volt sensitivity amps. So long as gain and impedance are matched, an active stage can only denigrate the signal.

I agree with your definition of a "full preamp". I maintain one solely for use with vinyl where both the equalized RIAA phono stage and added gain are required.

rw

RE: Line Stage Preamp Vs. Full Preamp, posted on November 1, 2009 at 07:43:08
Astroimage
Audiophile

Posts: 45
Location: Northern Indiana
Joined: October 3, 2009
 Hi Bigromano,

Perhaps I am mixing metaphors and just confusing me :). I really appreciate your explanations and continue to scour the archives seeking wisdom that I lack.

...wish it was simple to get great sound but there is always something to tease the pea that I have between my ears.

Brian

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