eBay FAQ
Welcome
to
PHONOPREAMPS.COM
To visit our eBay store, click
on the eBay Stores logo above.
Clicking
on any product image will
take you to the detail page
for that item and the BUY IT NOW
eBay
listing link.
We prefer Paypal, but
you
can also pay for purchases using our
credit card FAX form,
or by
money
order/cashier's check.
Warranty
and Return Info About
Us
Is
it in stock??? When
will I have it???
If we're
advertising
it, we've got it in stock... The only exceptions are certain low demand
replacement styli, which we stock in small quantities and
reorder
as needed. If this happens, we'll email you with an ETA.
Buyers
will receive shipping confirmation from Paypal.
We ship virtually every
business day, and use Priority Mail almost exclusively; most items
arrive at their destinations in less than a week. Use the email link
near the bottom of this page if you need to contact us about your
order. (top)
Can
I track my
package enroute?
No.
Despite wording indicating otherwise, the "tracking" numbers Paypal
sends in shipping confirmation emails to our customers provide delivery
confirmation only; they do NOT allow enroute tracking. Per
the
USPS website:
Note: This service does not provide tracking
information, it will not provide updated scan information as the item
is enroute. It will only provide the delivery or attempted
delivery
information. If there is no scan event information
available
for your mailing, you will receive a message similar to one of the
following:
- "No information is available for this item. Please contact
the
sender."
- "There is no record of that item. If it was mailed
recently,
information may not yet be available. Please try again later."
This does not mean that the item has not been mailed. It just
means
that it has not been scanned in as having been delivered.
USPS
does not offer enroute
tracking for mail classes other than Express Mail. To read
the full
USPS FAQ on tracking and delivery confirmation, GO
HERE.
(top)
What
does a phono preamp do, and why do I need one?
Unlike line
level
audio sources you connect to a stereo (DVD/CD players, tape decks, TV
audio, minidisc, etc.), the output from a magnetic cartridge installed
in a good quality turntable is MUCH lower, and requires an additional
stage of amplification to bring it up to the same volume as the other
sources you listen to thru your stereo. This additional amp stage, the
phono preamp, is built-in to most older receivers and amps, allowing
direct connection of a turntable. However, newer stereo equipment
(including virtually all mini-systems and home theatre units, as well
as many stereo receivers and amps), have NO phono input (this because
records and turntables are supposedly obsolete in today's world
dominated by CDs and DVDs). In order to utilise the inputs such units
DO have (Aux, Tape, Line, Video, CD, etc.) to connect a
turntable, you need to first pass the signal thru an external phono
preamp to bump the level. The same level increase is needed if you're
connecting a turntable to a computer sound card's line input so you can
make CD-Rs from LPs; again, the external phono preamp provides
it. (top)
What
is
RIAA
equalization?
Because
of
limitations in the LP recording process, an equalization curve must be
applied to the music or other sonic content prior to it being cut onto
vinyl, so as to reduce backround noise and sibilance. Removing this
equalization affect (called the RIAA curve) and restoring the
music's original frequency response curve during playback is an
important part of the phono preamp's job and differentiates it from
other preamps used for microphones and musical instruments, which
provide gain but no other modification of the original sound quality.
Proper RIAA re-equalization during playback is a must in faithfully
producing the original musical content without coloration or
distortion. (top)
Which
phono preamp
is best for
me?
Obviously,
the more money you invest, the better the performance and sound quality
of the preamp you buy will be. Signal-to-noise ratio is the most
important criteria; the higher the number, the lower the backround hiss
level will be. This may not be particularly crucial if the overall
playback system's quality is low (a cheap minisystem or sound card, for
instance; both may generate enough hiss in their own right to obscure
any added by the preamp), but matters a great deal when comparing LP
fidelity to other sources like CD on a good playback system. Ability to
faithfully correct RIAA equalization is another important sonic
quality; higher-priced products do it better. Additional features like
mike inputs and a power indicator may be useful to one user but not to
the next; buy only what you need. (top)
Why
is there no
power switch on
most phono preamps? Why are there no AC cords on the ones Phonopreamps.com
sells?
Phono
preamps as a class draw almost no electricity, whether in use or idle,
so providing a means of depowering them isn't an issue. Most of ours
have a power indicator so you can tell they're plugged in, but again
this is more of a convenience than a needed feature. Many stereo
receivers and amps have a switched AC outlet on their rear which you
can plug the preamp into if you want it depowered when not in use....
Eliminating the AC cord and moving the power supply out of the preamp
itself by utilising an AC adaptor (commonly called a "wall wart" in the
electronics business) has three major advantages;
A)Separating
the
power supply physically from the preamp circuitry reduces circuit and
AC noise, and improves S/N ratio.
B)The
power supply can be
replaced in the event of lightning or surge damage without having to
replace the entire preamp.
C)The
preamp can be powered
by any clean source capable of generating the proper DC voltage,
including batteries or the power supply in an existing piece of
equipment, such as a mixer or console used by studios or DJs. Also, the
preamp can be used anywhere in the world by simply obtaining a
replacement AC adaptor made for the local mains voltage (100VAC,
220VAC, 240VAC,etc) at Radio Shack or its local equivalent.
(top)
What
do I do with
the ground wire on my turntable?
Most
(but far from all) turntables have a ground wire connected
internally to the chassis or frame and the tonearm tube (assuming the
tube is metal) to provide shielding and hum reduction. Failure to
connect the ground wire to an appropriate ground on your stereo or
computer will result in 60 cycle hum (often sufficient in level to
obscure the music). On some turntables (particularly Technics) this
wire may be removeable via a screw-type terminal or plug-in connector;
be sure to examine the rear of your table before assuming it does not
require a ground wire. There ARE some turntables which utilise the RCA
cable's shield to provide the chassis ground connection, so if no
ground wire is present, none may in fact be needed; but always look to
make sure no one's amputated it!. On older amps and receivers having a
built-in preamp, the ground point to which the turntable ground wire
attaches is provided and marked as such (usually right near the phono
jacks). Minisystems and home theatre units often have an antenna
terminal assembly including an AM ground screw or terminal; this can
sometimes be used for the turntable ground wire. All of our preamps
have a ground wire terminal; this
is by far
the best
place to connect the ground wire, especially if using with a computer
sound card (the metal rear panel of the computer being the
alternative). (top)
What's
the
difference between moving magnet and moving coil cartridges
(and
which do I
have?) What's a ceramic cartridge?
Moving
magnet (MM) cartridges are the common variety, characterized by high
output impedence (typically 47k ohms) and a removeable, replaceable
stylus (what most people call a needle); these are the cartridges phono
preamps work with. Moving coil (MC) cartridges on the other hand, are
low impedence devices (anywhere from 10 to 1000 ohms) which require a
step-up transformer or "pre-preamp" to connect. Our TC-760 and TC-760LC
models work with both MC and MM cartridges. MC cartridges rarely
have replaceable styli, and can cost more than than many of us spend
for our entire stereo systems. If you have a moving coil cartridge,
chances are you know it.... Ceramic cartridges are the cheap, primitive
type found on kiddy and fold-up record players, as well as the console
stereos which were common before component stereo. Usually they have a
"flip-over" needle (LP on one side, 78 on the other) and horrendous
fidelity. One play with a ceramic cartridge will ruin a record for
good, so never lend your LPs out! (top)
How
do I play or
record from 78rpm records?
Several
companies make outrageously expensive 78
turntables for audiophiles; these are beyond consideration for someone
with a casual interest in archiving 78s to CD-R or MP3. As a
practical
matter, most will choose one of the two
reasonably
inexpensive routes that follow (both kinds of record changer mentioned
below are easily found at tag sales and flea markets);
A)
Locate a ceramic
cartridge record changer that has 78 on the speed selector (generally
the cartridge will have a flip-over needle, with LP on one side and 78
on the other); hook it
to a line level input on your stereo or sound card (no preamp
required), and have at it... fidelity isn't an issue here, but remember
most 78s have no lead-in groove, so you'll have to cue up the record by
hand; and keep a quarter handy, you'll probably need it to weigh the
arm enough so it won't skip. Expect the results to resemble what you
hear listening thru a telephone.
B) Locate a magnetic
cartridge record changer that has 78 on the
speed
selector. Look for
the
following makes; Dual, Elac, Miracord, BSR, Collaro, Garrard, PE (these
were also sold under the Impro label). Many other brand names appeared
on tables made by these companies (Realistic, KLH and Fisher are good
examples), so keep an open mind. A few really old (50-60s) single-play
belt drive turntable models (notibly Thorens) may have 78 as well.
You'll
then need to obtain a cartridge for which
a 78 stylus is still available; we sell Audio
Technica cartridges with 78 styli to fit them (CLICK
HERE
for
a
look at these). NEVER try
to play a
78 with an LP
stylus; you'll ruin both the record and the stylus. Tracking
force
(normally somewhere in the 1-4 gram range
when playing LPs) will need to beset for 5-7 grams for reliable
tracking of
78s. This
option WILL
require the use of a phono preamp unless your stereo has one built in.
Fidelity will be only as good as a 78 is capable of providing (but far
superior to the ceramic option). Remember that your typical phono
preamp is
mindlessly applying RIAA re-equalization in error
to what you'll be hearing, since 78s had no or only rudimentary
equalization applied during production. Our TC-778
preamp
provides
switchable RIAA/78 equalization to deal with this issue. The more
sophisticated CD burning software packages include filters and
enhancements to "fix" 78 sound quality; our advice is don't expect
much. (top)
How
do I copy
records onto CD-Rs?
Mechanically,
no problem. Connect your turntable to the input on any of
our preamps, and the preamp's output to the line input on your computer
sound card or laptop (all of our preamps come with the required
connectors). Your CD burner software does the rest. There are tons of
resources on LP to CD-R recording on the web; for one such page, GO HERE.
A Google
search using the keywords "CD-R" and "LP" will yield plenty more like
it.
(top)
How
do I use the NAB hub adaptors you sell on my
reel-to-reel?
Our
NAB
adaptors will work with both plastic and metal reels, and fit any 10.5"
machine which has reel retainers built into the reel table spindles.
Most machines made after 1970 have these; the two common varieties are
spring-loaded (Sony, Pioneer and others) and screw-twist (Teac, Akai
and others). You're likely already familiar with these if you use the
machine in the vertical position with 7" reels; if not, your machine's
owner's manual explains how they work. Hub adaptors do NOT allow the
use of 10.5" reels on machines which are designed only to utilise 7"
reels. Metal NAB reels are quite a bit thinner than plastic
ones,
and sometimes require spacers placed between the reel table and reel to
prevent the tape from rubbing against the edge of the reel.
We do
not supply
spacers; they can
easily be created from sheet rubber or the plastic lids found on
margarine and cream cheese tubs, and should be the same diameter as the
reel tables on your machine. (top)
Warranty
Info and Returns
We accept
only
unopened, unused product back for refund;
there is a 20% restocking fee in such cases, and such items must be
returned within thirty days of purchase. Most
of the products we sell carry a sixty day defective exchange warranty
from us;
this warranty applies to
all items purchased at auction, regardless of model.
TC-400G/L, TC-750
and TC-750LC models purchased carry a
limited lifetime defective exchange warranty to the original purchaser.
All AC adaptors (including
the ones supplied with the TC-400/750/750LC models) are
warranteed
against failure or defects for sixty days. We stock replacements for
all AC adaptors supplied with the products we sell; most adaptor
failures result from power surge or lightning exposure, not from age or
product defect. Batteries
(when
included) are provided by the manufacturer as a courtesy and carry no
warranty.
Our
product
warranty covers defects in manufacture and product failure; it does not
cover physical breakage or other abuse (stylus and cartridge buyers
take note; we hand inspect every item before shipment). Many apparent
product defects or failures are often actually hookup or inappropriate
usage issues
which can be resolved simply by emailing
us...
The
address for
warranty returns (preferably with original
packaging and all supplied accessories included) is;
Phonopreamps.com
P.O.
Box 1356
Westfield,
Ma.
01086-1356
About
Us (and
Overseas Orders)
Phonopreamps.com
and
its subsidiary companies have been in the retail audio/video sales and
service business for over twenty five years. We
ship virtually every
business day, and use Priority Mail almost exclusively for domestic
orders; most items
arrive at their destinations in less than a week.
Overseas
buyers will find shipping methods and costs shown under Shipping and
Handling
at the
bottom of each eBay listing; simply select the destination
using
the Country
box,
then
press Update.
We supply
230VAC adaptors (these work fine with 220-240VAC) with items sold to
addresses outside the US,
Mexico, Japan
and Canada unless advised to do otherwise. Orders
from
outside the USA are of course subject to import duties and any other
taxes the destination country sees fit to charge upon delivery; these
are not included in what we charge for the product or shipping. Small
items such as cartridges, styli and hubs typically fall below the
minimum amount eligible for such tariffs. The AC adaptors supplied by
us come with the plug styles shown below; the buyer may need to obtain
a simple plug adaptor locally to match their local mains outlet style.
For more on
plug styles and mains voltages used in various countries, go HERE.
100/110/120VAC
 |
220/230/240VAC
|
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