Customer Reviews

Behringer PP400 Ultra-Compact Phono Preamp

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this to replace a similar phono pre-amp, model number SP-2 by an unknown manufacturer (which added a noticeable hum to the signal in spite of all my efforts at grounding and removing ground loop, etc).

The Behringer unit works fine and adds no noise at all as far as I can tell. I use it to play my old magnetic cartridge turntable through the auxiliary input of my new micro-stereo, and the old LP's sound great using that set-up.

It was time to replace my 20 year-old stereo receiver, and I was dismayed at the relatively high price tag of receivers sporting phono inputs. I'm no die-hard audiophile, but I do have a lot of vinyl and needed something that would work with my unamped Thorens turntable. This little gizmo was my dream come true. The external power supply is a far better option than the battery-powered alternatives and the grounding feature works like a dream. So much so, in fact, that the absence of background hum led me to believe I hadn't hooked it up correctly until the needle hit the record. I now have my turntable hooked up to the Video 2 input of my new Onkyo HT-SR600 and couldn't be happier.

I purchased the PP400 preamp for my new receiver which does not have a phono input (preamp), like most others in the same situation. The preamp is very nicely packaged. There is too much HUMMM. My background is electronics so I know what the reason is from the start. I had suspected it to be the case even before I purchased it. I cut the cord between the power supply and the preamp and inserted a filter circuit in between. So much for the warranty! For those who can understand it, the circuit is just a one transistor capacitance multiplier. The ripple (hum) was reduced from 50mv to under 2mv. The solution is not perfect but now I can live with it. I found that experimenting with grounding also help to reduce hum. Try attaching the ground wire to different points on the receiver chassie. Be sure to reduce the volume as you move the grounding around so you will not blow out the speakers or your ear drums.

I am rather surprised, after reading the other reviews that not more hum complains were launchased. With that much hum on the power supply, hum is unavoidable. I am giving a full 5 stars on the preamp itself. The lack of filtering on the power supply dropped the rating to 3 stars overall.

I bought and returned several "budget audiophile" phono stages lately and was very disappointed in most of them. I had to buy this just to see if my suspicions were correct and it would be just as good as some of them. Well, to me it sounds just as good or better than many of them. It is quiet in my system, no hum. It's only faults are maybe a slight lack of muscle in the bass and gain is on the lowish side. Other than that, it sounds very "musical". Things sound basically the way they should sound, just a little "sizzle" on the top end due to the very basic RIAA equalization circuitry in all lower-priced phono stages. But, no nasties ever "take the lead" here and the sound is very enjoyable and non-fatiguing overall. Absolutely incredible for twice the price or more! It seemed to smooth out even further after a few days of break-in. I also tried the $50.00 Audio Technica unit out of curiosity and because I'm a huge fan of many of their cartridges. The Audio Technica sounded slightly more dynamic and extended at the frequency extremes, but just "dry" and not half as "musical" IMO. It had faults and a brightness I found distracting and fatiguing over time. I can't stress enough what a bargain I think this little box is! Match this up with a decent turntable and Audio Technica AT95E cartridge (another HUGE bargain) and you'll have a better than average sounding vinyl rig at an amazing price.

Until the other day, I didn't know that Amazon sold this Behringer PP400 Ultra-Compact Phono Preamp; I bought mine from Parts Express. (But see my Update: October 19, 2009 notice below.) I wished to use it to allow one of my spare turntables to play through my computer speakers.

The turntable I am using is a twenty-five year old Technics Quartz Direct Drive Automatic Turntable System SL-Q200. I bought it (and three more!) at a time when the Japanese Yen was trading at about 250 to the dollar. Thus I paid only sixty-nine dollars apiece for the four turntables. (The cartridge, Shure V15-V P-mounts cost over one hundred dollars each!)

This phono pre-amp works splendidly with that turntable and the two computer speaker systems with which I have used it: an Altec Lansing Expressionist-PLUS FX3021 2.1 Speaker System and a Logitech Speaker System Z320 (Black).

There is NO hum whatsoever - none, zero, nada - and I have put my ear up close to the speakers. One reviewer gives a technical reason why there must be hum (something to do with the power supply) and I cannot doubt his credentials. However, at least in my experience, he is just plain wrong - and so are the few others complaining of hum with this preamp.

My thoughts (and I am certainly no expert) are that a) the people are not connecting their turntables and the grounding wire correctly or b) their home wiring is not properly grounded. (It might be worth a try to reverse the direction of the plug of either the turntable or the preamp to see if this removes any hum. Of course, I can't vouch for that solution as I have no problem with hum!) Of course, some of these people may have gotten a defective unit. If so, they should return theirs for an exchange.

Now I have seen phono pre-amps selling in the 5-figure price range (at least one costs twelve thousand five hundred dollars[!] - I wonder if its sound quality is really 625 times as good as this one!) and I am sure these much more expensive units are quite good. But then so is this little Behringer pre-amp.

It would be interesting to directly compare this one with some others but, unfortunately, I am not in a position to do that as this is the only phono pre-amp I own. (All of my receivers/amplifiers have their own direct phono input so the only components with which I'll use this pre-amp are amplified computer speakers of good quality.)

I will say that the sound produced through this little unit is certainly splendid and, at least with the two (highly recommended by me) computer (amplified) speakers I mention, the sound quality is absolutely first-rate.

I have been playing a number of my LPs through these speakers since yesterday, the Logitechs last night, and the Altec-Lansings today and I have to say that I am amazed and pleased. With the Altec-Lansings, the bass is full and palpable. Obviously the RIAA curve decoded by this pre-amp is spot-on accurate.

If you are planning to play a turntable through computer speakers or a newer receiver/amplifier which has no direct phono input, I strongly suggest that you try this one first. In my not-so-humble opinion there is nothing as good as the sound quality which can be obtained from LP records played through a good sound system (only SACDs come close). And the components I am using (mentioned in this review) definitely qualify.

One small caveat regarding this pre-amp: I must mention that it is strictly for moving-magnet cartridges, NOT moving-coil ones.

It is by far the lowest-priced phono pre-amp that I have found which is made by a major reputable manufacturer and, of course, if you were to buy it from Amazon and it were to prove unsatisfactory, you could always return it.

I certainly wouldn't consider parting with mine and I most definitely recommend it to all who need or want such a device. You won't regret buying this one.

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Update: October 19, 2009

Obviously I know now that Amazon sells this item and I just placed an order here for a second unit. That should tell you how much I like this little phono pre-amp!

This is a very good phono stage for the money. I wasn't expecting much for $25 but it delivers great performance. There is virtually no hum, even at high volumes although I do hear a little hiss when nothing is playing but it is very faint. The only downside of this phono stage is that it doesn't provide as much amplification as I would like. Even with my super efficient Grados hooked up to my tube amp, I have to crank the knob past 12 o'clock for normal listening volume. I only usually crank it to 8 or 9 o'clock. It also DOES NOT take MC cartridges so don't expect to use it if you have a moving coil. I doubt anyone with a MC cartridge would be looking at a $25 phono stage though.

It seems very well built over all and I suspect it should last many years. The wall wart power supply leaves much to be desired but what do you expect for such a low price?

Musically speaking, everything sound good although it isn't the most resolving of phono stages. You won't get the microdynamic details of a higher priced phono amp. But for this price, it really does nothing wrong.

For a while, I used an old receiver that I found in my parents garage to play my vinyls. It had a lot of hum and i couldn't figure out what the problem was. I'm running a vintage Kenwood turntable (bought off craigslist) and was worried that it was my problem. I finally bought this little pre amp just to give it a shot, and it works perfect with no hum at all.

Just as a side note; this pre amp has a place to ground. I found it's best if you actually just ground your turntable to that port and not by running any wires to an outlet or something like that. And your preamp doesn't need to be grounded, just the turntable to the preamp.

As has been stated in other reviews, this is the BEST budget preamp under $30 (even $50). I hooked it up to my old Pioneer direct drive
TT with a Grado black cartridge, and it delivered great sound with no hum. The output level could be a little higher, but
it was enough for my new Pioneer AV receiver. Excellent fidelity!

I have used this product to convert my old vinyl LP's to CD's with my computer and so far it has worked very well. It has been easy to hook up and use, and I have had no background noise. I am satisfied with this product.

I bought a used high quality turntable with some birthday money. however, as an audio novice, I didn't realize it needed a preamp until I plugged it into my speakers and realized it hardly made any noise at all. so i looked online and found this great little piece of equipment. not only is it inexpensive, but it works great and retains excellent sound quality. it's also really easy to use.

recommended for all.