People who want things hassle-free, like me, are seekers of speakers that have built-in phono preamps. Built-in phono preamp means that the device to which you will connect your audio device has a built-in amplifier installed, which means that you will plug and play from your speakers to turntables or other devices. If your speakers or turntable doesn’t have a built-in phono preamp, then you will need an amplifier or receiver to amplify/convert the audio signals.
Since your turntable doesn’t have a phono preamp installed, then getting the Kanto YU6 might be a wise choice, as that powered speaker ticks most o the boxes and has a built-in phono preamp.
Important: Things to know before getting powered speakers with built-in phono preamp?
Speakers with built-in phono preamps will make your life easier because it is simply plug-and-play. Still, for a truly immersive experience, you may require to get everything components based on the environment and your requirements. But now, brands are stepping up in the making of formidable built-in phono preamp speakers.
- Brands indeed play a role when getting all-in-one speakers like the one you are looking for. Don’t just go for a brand that says it built phono preamp and is priced cheap; the brand should take part. Otherwise, you’ll have a horrible musical experience.
- It is safer to get a speaker with the option of both in-line and phono input because you never know; your phono preamp sound may not be what you have desired. I’ll be talking about a speaker that has both features.
- The room also plays into the part as the sound may not fit based on the speakers. Like, for your small-average sized rooms, it is safer to get speakers that have around 50 watts per channel and about 90 decibels signal-to-noise ratio. The features of your speakers must be based on your room.
Aside from these reasons, the other reasons are just the same as getting any other powered speakers as the buying guide for getting them.
Review: Best-Powered Speakers with Built-in Phono Preamp
KANTO YU4 (Best Compact)
It is very rare to find powered speakers that have Bluetooth connectivity along with a built-in phono preamp. That, too, while having a compact structure. Its leak design with different color variants, the colors are so versatile that there’s something for everyone, along with its price, makes the YU4 a brilliant deal for minimalists and starters. After listening from the YU4, it’ll feel like that size never really mattered for speakers.
Features:
- The YU4 has a power output of 70 Watts RMS.
- It has a frequency response of 60hz to 20khz.
- It has a phono preamp or line switch, BlueTooth, RCA Cable, and Optical Toslink connectivity.
- It has an impedance of 4 ohms.
- It has 1-inch silk dome tweeters and 4-inch kevlar drivers.
Drawbacks:
- For audiophiles, the sound may seem subpar.
If you are looking for a Bluetooth speaker that has a built-in phono preamp, then Klipsch Heritage Wireless The One II will be a great choice. I, personally, am a big fan of its design.
Klipsch R-15PM (Best Overall)
This is for the ones who are looking for a jack of all trades in speakers; yes, the Klipsch R-15 PM ticks all the boxes, including the most important of them all, the budget. Also, anyone who likes products of their origin country will Klipsch as it is USA based. Being 8.2 x 7 x 12.5 inches, it has a compact size that is rich in sound and also quite durable for rough use. It is pretty tough to find such a deal, which is Hi-fi speakers under 300 dollars.
Features:
- The R-15 PM has a frequency response of 62Hz – 24kHz
- It has a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms
- It has a power output of 80 watts.
- It has a sensitivity of 94 decibels.
- It has Bluetooth and phono-preamp input connectivity
- It has 90×90 Tractrix® Horn technology and 1-inch aluminum tweeters with Dual 5.25 inches of copper-spun high-output IMG woofers.
Drawbacks:
- The lack of aesthetics won’t please people who prefer designs in their setups.
- These speakers sometimes may feel that they are too bass-heavy if you listen to soft content more.
Klipsch The Fives (For the Premium users)
This is for the audiophiles, the music connoisseurs. The Klipsch, The Fives, is the perfect choice as it is engineered in such a way it is made for you to have the most incredible sound experience possible. The bass that the Fives will produce is almost shocking because it is hard to get such a level of bass from mere bookshelf speakers.
Other than all other features and various input connectivity options, the built-in phono preamp feels like the icing on the cake for The Fives.
Features:
- It has a power output of 160 watts RMS.
- It has a frequency response of 50 Hz to 25 kHz
- It has input connections of RCA, Bluetooth, USB Type-B, HDMI (ARC), and USB Type-A.
- It has 4.5-inch Cone Woofers and a 0.98-inch Titanium Dome Tweeter
- It has a sensitivity level of 90 decibels, at least.
Drawbacks:
- Not enough room to adjust the bass.
- Bass is only appropriate for large rooms.
Understand the Comparison Between these Speakers
| Brand Names: | Frequency Response | Power Output | Sensitivity Level | Input Connectivity, | Tweeter, and Woofers |
| Klipsch R-15 PM | 62Hz to 24kHz | 80 watts RMS | 86 decibels | Bluetooth and phono-preamp input connectivity | 1-inch aluminum tweeters with Dual 5.25 inches of copper-spun high-output IMG woofers. |
| KANTO YU4 | 60hz to 20khz | 70 Watts RMS | 94 decibels. | Phono preamp or line switch, BlueTooth, RCA Cable, and Optical Toslink connectivity. | 1-inch silk dome tweeters, and 4-inch kevlar drivers. |
| Klipsch The Fives | 50 Hz to 25 kHz | 160 watts RMS | 90 decibels | RCA, Bluetooth, USB Type-B, HDMI (ARC), and USB Type-A. | 4.5-inch Cone Woofers and 0.98-inch Titanium Dome Tweeter |
Are these speakers primarily supposed to be for my turntable?
Well, this is a very generic question, well, I believe that these speakers, since they have a phono built in they, may specialize for usage with a turntable, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be used in other devices as well. Like the R-15 PM works well on everything and covers all the things necessary for its price.
So, if you want to use your speakers on other devices for gaming or movies aside from the turntable, then you can indeed. However, I am not too sure if you should be using those speakers for home theater purposes.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do all active speakers have built-in phono preamps?
Nope, most speakers do not have phono preamps built, let alone active speakers, Speakers that usually have built-in phono preamps are powered speakers, and not all of them come with built-in phono preamps. The generic way is to have preamps, receivers, and amplifiers separate from the speakers and other devices.
Will it be enough if my turntable has a built-in phono preamp?
Ans: For other devices as well, like, let’s say, if your receiver has a phono preamp installed, then it will not need a separate preamp at all, and the same goes for turntables as well, many record players have built phono preamps to make your life easy.
But the sound experience is quite mediocre because it is always a safe bet to one separate. And, while most turntables don’t come with one but there are some turntables with built-in phonos, and they are actually pretty good.
Wrap Up!
Thus, this ends with me telling you the best possible powered speakers with built-in phono preamps based on your needs. As technology is evolving and people are becoming lazy, I personally think that innovations will come to the point that speakers and other sound devices with built-in phone preamps will be good on their own so much along with various customization options that you will not need to buy every other part separately to get that desired sound.
I hope I have covered whatever you needed, and it genuinely does help you in buying the right powered speakers as I tried to make sure to keep something for everyone.
