Reddit mentions of Cambridge Audio - Azur 551P - MM Phono Preamplifier - Black

Those speakers look tight! I would go with the Pro-Ject turntable and purchase a sub later. You can also check out the Essential line if you don't want to pay $400 for a TT. That would give your pre amp budget a little more weight. Maybe something like this.

Okay. The mixer ...I'm thinking maybe your mixer is a bit "vintage"on this? Look to see if it has a switch that will accommodate ceramic or magnetic phono cartridges. Way back in the dark ages of early HiFi most record players had ceramic cartirdges ....these things put out a much higher signal than a magnetic cartridge ....and as such didn't need as much pre-amplification. I have an old Radio Shack small mixer that I think has a "Cer/Mag" switch on it. Make sure the switch is in the "MAG" position.

If there isn't a switch then the mixer preamp is probably okay with a magnetic cartridge. What kind of cartridge do you have on your TT? There are two kinds of magnetic cartridges: moving magnet and moving coil. Moving coil cartridges put out a much lower signal than a moving magnet and typically require a specific preamp able to handle them. Then again ...on your mixer ...is there a switch labelled "MM/MC"? If it's in the "MC" position flip it to the "MM" position.

Make sure the channel you have the TT assigned to is set for phono ...some mixers have a "Line/Phono" selector.

And then in the end, the preamp in the mixer might just be toast.

As for a preamp? I would recommend getting one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-Phono-Preamplifier-Black/dp/B007A0CYCK

Or it's predecessor, which I have:

http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-540P-Preamplifier-Silver/dp/B001052KDE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Hope this helps ....

> Question 1) The AT LP 120 comes with a pre-amp built in. Do most people just use that one or is it worth the money to buy an external pre-amp? I was looking into this one if I end up needing one: http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-Phono-Preamplifier-Black/dp/B007A0CYCK

Most people I've heard of use the one built in. It's not particularly impressive, but the only way to completely override the built-in preamp is to manually remove it from within the turntable. This sounds harder than it is, though, and there's several detailed guides online on how to do this.

> Question 3) What else am I going to need? Turntable, possibly external pre-amp, receiver, and speakers. Any other wires or other things I don't know about and should try to get as well?

Sounds like you're good to go once you get a set of speakers :)

Solid choice, the other one to consider at a little over your budget is this Azur 551P:

http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-Phono-Preamplifier-Black/dp/B007A0CYCK/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1412302720&sr=8-13&keywords=phono+preamp

I am running my turntable into a Schiit Valhalla 2 and it works great. Schiit is also releasing a phono pre-amp next month called the Mani which I plan on replacing my internal pre-amp with. /u/mattrva has suggested the Azur 551p Phono Preamp to me as an alternative.

I would suggest a Cambridge Azur 551p Pre Amp.

/r/vinyl but be a better place try for information. I'm not sure I've seen a lot of vinyl users here.

But the Cambridge Audio Azur 551P and [Azur 651P] (http://www.amazon.com/CAMBRIDGE-AZUR-651P-PREAMP-BLACK/dp/B0079OA0UU) both seems to be a solid choice and well under your budget.

I plan on getting the following with the money i get from selling my Alienware:
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-LR-Designed-standing-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4
http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-880-Pro-Headphones-250/dp/B001B1QENY (the on sale $180 version)
http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-Phono-Preamplifier-Black/dp/B007A0CYCK

these are the ones that come up with good reviews in the $100 range
http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-Phono-Preamplifier-Black/dp/B007A0CYCK/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1416973509&sr=1-18&keywords=cambridge+audio