HC/82 or HC/282/Stageline? For vinyl only.

"limited benefit"- not sure why you have this opinion? While the internal boards are similar to what a Stageline would offer, there are many other external phono pre's that will provide a significant benefit! 

Whether you have a 282 or 82 doesn’t matter in that you can still use an external phono. As Varayat says there are lots to choose from.   But from experience I found the Stageline excellent with my 282. 

Regards,

Lindsay

Sorry, meant to say limited or no benefit. Reasons as follows:

1) Shorter and less complex signal path*

2) Boards are near identical in 82 and Stageline

* may also be achieved by locating the phono stage in the turntable

Maybe - what TT/cartridge?

I think one would need to buy a substantially better phono-stage than the Stageline to markedly improve upon internal 82 boards. It was principally conceived as a high quality phono preamplifier - and remains so when working up to spec. A friend has just had a POTS8 upgrade on his 82 running internal boards (powered by two Hi-Caps) and his LP12/Ekos/Koetsu Red is sounding pretty damn fine.

John.

Thanks. Your reminder that the 82 was principally conceived as a high quality phono preamplifier is timely. Given the 72 was also designed for that exact purpose, minus the added functionality of the 82 in terms of extra inputs and monitoring, would the 72 + internal boards be comparable with the 82 + internal boards for vinyl use only? I think the internal boards for the 72 and 82 are basically the same. The 322 / 323 and 522 / 523 boards respectively.

Another advantage of the 82, 72, 32.5 and 62, is, connect a DR power supply to it and you get DR powered phono stages as well as DR powered gain stages.

A win-win situation.

Using a Prefix with an LP12 should easily outperform a Stageline or phono-boards in 32.5 / 62 / 72 / 82  with ease.

However, like the Stageline, a Prefix requires a power supply; such as hi-cap.

Debs