Ask an Audio geek

[Kosh]

Without a phono preamp, the frequency response curve coming out of the speakers is going to be all wrong. Are you talking about a preamp in addition to a phono input on a receiver (which includes RIAA equalization)?

Of course you need one out of principle. He's probably talking about the various phono preamps with high four figure price tags.

Correct.  Obviously every turntable needs a phono specific preamp to deal with the RIAA equalization.  Anyone who has plugged a turntable into a regular AUX connector knows how terribly wrong it sounds    

I need to clarify the statement a bit.  All phono preamps are not created equally.  If your running a basic MM (moving magnet) catridge, you don't need to spend more than a a few hundred dollars to cap out what a phono preamp is supposed to do.  Even then your probably paying for build quality and aesthetics over any real sound quality improvement.  If your running an MC (moving coil) cartridge you might need to spend a bit more.  Moving coil cartridges have a lower output, and their tonal quality can be changed from capacitance and resistance loading.   Having a phono preamp that can modify capacitance and resistance can be helpful in some situations.   
 
The low end offerings ($75 - $160) from Rega, Pro-Ject, Music hall, or Cambridge Audio will do great for people with MM carts.   A preamp that can handle an MC cart starts at about $260.  Some preamps in the $400 range also have tubes, but this is more marketing than anything.  They use solid state components to do the amplification and RIAA equalization, and then stick the tubes in the output circuit as a gimmick.    

The most expensive phono preamp I would consider is the Jolida JD9 MKII at $700.  My current cartridge worth $250 so I stick with my Pro-Ject Phono Box SE.

---

Here is a picture of my turntable.  This is a Clearaudio concept that is made in Germany that usually sells for about $1600 with their standard MM cartridge.  I paid $1100 for mine.  It was B-Stock direct from the factory.  It supposedly had some visible blemish, but I could never find it.  To my eyes it was perfect.  The tonearm is amazing.  It's magnetically suspended vs pivot bearings.

---