For listeners who are planning to enter the world of vinyl records, the Audio Technica LP60 will be an exemplary entry-level turntable to go for. It has an affordable price tag and even has a built-in preamplifier to make it more worthwhile to invest in an LP60 turntable. The sound quality of this budget turntable is good as well and is considered one of the finest turntables in this price range. Even so, after all these years, the built-in preamp of the Audio Technica LP60 may not be up to par.
It is after all a budget turntable and when compared to a dedicated phono preamp, the Audio Technica LP60 is likely unable to compete in terms of phono stage quality. If you are currently using the LP60 built-in phono preamplifier and planning to improve the overall sound quality of your HiFi audio system, you probably might want to go for a dedicated phono stage. This will be a good upgrade path especially for listeners who are really into vinyl records.
There are plenty of potential preamps to choose from and in order for us to get the right one for the job, we will need to learn more about the sound characteristics of the Audio Technica LP60 turntable. By finding out how the Audio Technica entry-level LP60 turntable sounds and perform, it will make it easier for us to get the right matching phono stage/preamp. With a matching phono stage, it can help to bring out the best in Audio Technica LP60 and providing you with a more enjoyable music listening experience.
Your preamp main requirements will determine what type of preamps to go for as well and we should have a run-through on it. Once we have enough data about the Audio Technica LP60 and have confirmed most of your main requirements, we will then share with you a list of the best preamps that you can go for and pair with your turntable.
Table of Contents
Sound Characteristics of Audio Technica LP60 and Preamp Main Requirements
The Audio Technica LP60 is surprisingly accurate for an entry-level turntable at this price point. Its clean music delivery has a high level of clarity as well and subtle nuances can be clearly heard. The more we listen to the LP60 the more we are impressed by the neutrality. Still, there is a lack of weight in the overall sound reproduction, and does sound a bit too lean at times. For listeners who want a full-bodied music presentation of their favorite vinyl records, the Audio Technica LP60 may not be the one for you. If you prefer neutral and a well-balanced sound system, this budget turntable will be an excellent choice. The stereo imaging and separation are better than expected, able to define each musician precisely on a decent size soundstage. Bass performance is tight and agile, it never once becomes overbearing. Another good thing about the Audio Technica LP60 turntable is that it doesn’t sound overly harsh when pushed.
More Details at Amazon – Audio-Technica AT-LP60
As mentioned, the type of preamps you should go for will also be influenced by your requirements. You might want to work on your budget first and see how much you are able to invest comfortably in a new preamp. The higher the budget, the more preamplifier choices you can go for. The speakers which you will be using, are they active or passive? If the speakers are passive then you will need an integrated amplifier with a built-in phono stage or get an additional power amplifier. For active speakers, you can simply get a stereo preamp with a phono stage or a dedicated phono preamp. You might also need a preamp with a subwoofer output especially for listeners who listen to bass-heavy music and uses compact size speakers.
If you are also planning to integrate your sound system into your PC/laptop/Mac, you might want to get a preamp with a built-in DAC too. You will need to allocate space for the preamp and if you are facing space constraints, it is advisable to go for preamps with smaller footprints. For listeners who want a warmer-sounding audio system, aiming for tube preamps will be a terrific idea. If your loved ones are also using the LP60 turntable, you might want to ask them for their opinions. These are some of the usual requirements that you should look through and while you are at it, you might want to add in a few more of your own. The more thorough the requirements checklist is, the better. We will be sharing with you now a list of the best preamps which will match well with the Audio Technica LP60 turntable.
Best Preamps to match with Audio Technica LP60
The Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 is one of the best preamps to match with the Audio Technica LP60 turntable. It is a phono preamp with tube output, adding warmth and smoothness to the overall sound reproduction. The smooth music delivery also comes with a punchier performance, giving you a more solid sound quality. There are also plenty of music details to boot, the Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 is capable of providing its users with a rich music presentation with pleasing sound quality. It also has quite an engaging performance for a warm-sounding tube preamp and will work well with your Audio Technica LP60 turntable.
More Details at Amazon – Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 – Black
The Schiit Audio Mani is one of the best preamps to pair with your Audio Technica LP60 especially if you have a tight budget. It is an affordably priced solid-state phono preamp that supports both MM and MC cartridges. The Mani phono preamp will be an ideal choice for any entry-level turntable sound system as it has a lively treble that will provide an entertaining music listening experience and does not sound harsh as well. It is compact in size which is great for listeners who have limited space or are setting up a desktop sound system. The Schiit Audio Mani sonic characteristics make it easy to listen to.
More Information at Amazon – Schiit Mani Phono Preamp (Silver)
The Rega Fono Mini A2D is another fantastic solid-state phono preamp to partner with the Audio Technica LP60. It is an award-winning phono stage with a modest price tag, not to mention, highly rated by its satisfied owners too. The musicality of the Fono Mini A2D is amazing and probably one of the very best in this price range. It can confidently deliver the music with agility and alacrity, providing us with an engaging performance. The music presentation is rich with details and a satisfying punch in its delivery, the overall sound reproduction has a hint of warmth as well. Most certainly worth your time to check them out.
More Information at Amazon – Rega Fono Mini A2D
If you are looking for a stereo preamp that has a phono stage (supports both MM and MC cartridges) and a subwoofer output then the Parasound NewClassic 200 Pre is a fantastic choice to go for. It has an 80Hz low pass subwoofer output and will be great for listeners who want to integrate an active subwoofer to further enhance the overall bass performance. There are other amazing features such as built-in Burr-Brown DAC (24-bit/192kHz resolution), analog bass management, and more. The neutral sonic characteristic of the NewClassic 200 Pre will match well with the Audio Technica LP60 turntable.
More Information at Amazon – Parasound NewClassic 200 Pre
For integrated amplifiers with a high-quality phono stage at a modest price, the Marantz PM6007 will be a fine choice to go with. This integrated amp has 45 / 65 Watts power output per channel into 8 / 4 Ohms which is enough to drive most passive bookshelf speakers. The sound characteristics of the PM6007 are warm and smooth, providing a full-bodied music presentation that is exceptional for vinyl playbacks. This amp will be a suitable match with your Audio Technica LP60 turntable and can provide a more laid-back music presentation. The overall sound quality is easy on the ears too.
More Information at Amazon – Marantz PM6007
The Cambridge Audio Alva Duo is an excellent phono preamp to partner with your Audio Technica LP60 especially if you prefer a more engaging music presentation of your favorite tunes. The sonic performance of this exciting phono stage has impeccable timing which will hook you right into the music. It is detailed and well-organized, delivering a full-bodied music presentation without sounding overly bright or harsh. The soundstage is pretty wide and spacious, allowing us to be immersed and have an enjoyable music listening experience. Cambridge Audio Alva Duo will be a terrific step-up and you should definitely take a look.
More Information at Amazon – Cambridge Audio Alva Duo Phono Preamp
To Sum It Up
The preamps mentioned here are worth your time and effort to hear them out. You should go through the list, see which preamp best suits your requirements, and shortlist them. Afterwhich, you might want to arrange an audition with these shortlisted preamps. It is recommended to have these preamp auditions in your own listening room as it would provide a better and more accurate result. You might want to use your favorite song or music during the auditioning as it will be easier to tell the difference in the sound quality of each preamp.
