■ What is "Phono Equalizer"?
The phoneequalizer is one of the essential features for record playback when explained briefly to people who do not know the word "phoneequalizer."
Without this phoneequalizer, it cannot be played with precise sound when playing records.
Click here for the Phono Equalizer product page
Generally, when you want to play CDs with a player, it is ok to connect the output terminal of the CD player with the input terminal of the amplifier with the cable, but in the case of records, it may not play well.
A common phenomenon is that you can buy a record player and connect it to an amplifier at home, but it doesn't sound, or you can only hear "a little sound like a mosquito flying."
What is this about?
Records are different from CDs, when you want to play a record with a player, if you do not connect to the input terminal called "PHONO IN" on the amplifier side when connecting the record player to the amplifier, you will not hear the sound as described above or only a small sound.
Normally, the Hi-Fi audio amplifier has a phoneequalizer, so you can connect it to the PHONO IN pin on the amplifier side.
On the other hand, there are few phoneequalizers on the small amplifiers and minicompos on the market.
In the first place, however, there is no PHONO IN terminal on small amplifiers that do not have a phono equalizer. In that case,Phoneequalizer (Some people have to be abbreviated "phono-iko" or called "phono-amp" or "phono-preamp").
Now, I found that phoneequalizer is required to play records so far.
But why do we need a phoneequalizer?
■ Two main functions of phoneequalizer
The phono equalizer has two functions.
The first is to increase the output level.
While the output signal from audio equipment such as CD player is about 2V (bolt), the output from record player is 0.1 to 5 mV (millivolt) and very small signal.
This is why the sound is small when listened to with a small amplifier.
Therefore, the signal must be amplified to a sufficient output level.
The second is to restore the recorded sound to the original sound.
When recorded on a record, the bass is small and the treble is recorded greatly.
However, it is different from the original sound, so it must be restored.
The "RIAA curve" is the keyword at that time.
For the reverse hand of the RIAA curve, do the opposite of the way recorded when playing records through the phoneequalizer.
In other words, it restores to the original sound by making the bass louder and the treble smaller.
Once the role of the phoneequalizer is organized again, it amplifies the very small output of the record and restores it to its original sound by correcting the bass and treble.
■ What is the RIAA curve?
First of all, RIAA is the Recording Industry Association of America, which was established in 1952 for the purpose of standardizing analog records, and in 1954 it is the standard of today.
At that time, shortly before we finally moved from mono to stereo, the standard of different curves was subtly disturbed by the record company, and the equalizer curve of the recording and playback were different, and it did not play well.
The RIAA curve was then integrated into one.
Click here for phono amplifiers that can support various equalizer curves
★Bakoon Products EQA-5640mk4 Phono Equalizer Amplifier
★Bakoon Products CAP-1004 Multi-Curve Phono Equalizer
■ Record needle
In general, there are two types of record needles (record cartridges), and depending on the type, how they correspond is important.
I will explain the difference of cartridge lightly at the beginning.
・ "MM (moving magnet) type cartridge"
Most cartridges are MM (moving magnet) type.
With high output power and a record player connected to an amplifier with a PHONO IN pin, you can easily enjoy watching records.
・ "MC (moving coil) type cartridge"
The MC (Moving Coil) type is considered to have a good reaction in high-sound regeneration, and is generally higher than the MM (Moving Magnet) type, but it is considered high performance.
On the other hand, MC type does not increase the number of turns (winding) of the built-in coil, so the output is 1/10 lower than MM type, and the volume is too small even if it is put in the PHONO IN terminal of the amplifier as it is, so use the MC type compatible phonoamp or powerful sound You will have the help of a boost transformer that amplifies you to be able to emit.
Record Cartridge Product Page.
"MC boost transformer"
The MC-type cartridge has a lower voltage than the MM-type cartridge and must increase the voltage.
This device uses a transformer to boost the electrical signal from an MC cartridge.
Because the voltage is raised by using the coil's winding ratio, it becomes a powerful sound quality without power supply.
For confirmation, if the amplifier does not have a PHONO IN pin in MM type cartridge, a phono equalizer is required, and if the amplifier does not have a PHONO IN terminal in MC type cartridge, a boost transformer and a phono equalizer are required.
Product page of boost transformer is here.
