I'm frustrated trying to hook my Iphone to my home stereo.
My pre-amp uses RCA connectors. Several years ago I bought a cable that has 2 RCA jacks on one end and a Iphone lightning connector on the other. It worked fine.
I have not used it in about a year and tried to connect last week. I have it plugged into one of two Tape inputs on the pre-amp. Nothing. I tried wiggling the lightning connector end and did get sound for a short time. I then received an alert on my Iphone that the connection was not an authorized Apple connection and the sound ended.
I looked for an authorized connection and only found a connection that ended in a single jack, not two RCA terminals.
I wanted to avoid a Bluetooth connection but thought it would be nice to be able to control the songs from my Iphone and not have to get up and change settings at the Pre-amp.
I ordered a BlueTooth devise that has two RCA inputs and installed it.
It works but, I have to turn my Pre-amp up to max to get a decent sound level. 1/2 power is usually enough to drive every one out of the house when listening to any other source.
I have two PHONO inputs on the Pre-amp, I use one for my turntable and leave the other jack empty. The Pre-amp has a built in Pre-Pre- amp for the turn tables cartridge, I thought about trying the Bluetooth adapter plugged into the Phono input but thought I should get some advice before I tried it, I don't know if I could damage the Pre-amp by using the phono inputs PrePre amp jack, My thinking is the Phono input might produce a stronger output than the regular RCA inputs.

I doubt you would damage anything, but it isn’t going to help you.

First, a phono preamp has WAAAAAAY too much gain. A phono preamp usually has about 50dB of
gain which means it will sound about 30 times louder than without the phono preamp (and the noise level will be horrible).

Second, a phono preamp isn’t just a gain stage. The signal that comes off a turntable is WAAAAAAY off a flat equalization profile and the phono preamp corrects the equalization. Which means if you give it a flat equalization signal, it will “correct” the equalization WAAAAAAY off of flat.

There may be a volume control (separate from your phone volume) on the Bluetooth device you are using. You would generally want both phone and Bluetooth device volume turned to 100% and control volume with the receiver to minimize noise.

Also some old school receivers with tape inputs have tape dub switches that should mute one tape input but often only partially mute it.

Also also, your phone will typically use a separate volume level for Bluetooth that may be lower - you might think it’s turned all the way up, then connect, and suddenly be at the lower saved volume.

You could also just buy a lightning -> 3.5mm headphone jack adapter and a 3.5mm stereo plug -> RCA cable to go back to how it was before.

Or a different BT receiver with a headphone jack and use a 3.5mm stereo plug -> RCA cable with it.

I've used these more than a few times.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod..._title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use a Rocketfish, see the link.

It works well and I have it powered by the switched outlet on my NAD C 372 amplifier. The sound quality is very good but limited by the Apple Music app. So it's not Audiophile grade, for that I have a turntable next to the amp.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/r...AvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Just another example of why I decided to boycott Apple products some years ago. What's next, if your bluetooth device i.e. wireless speaker or ear buds are not Apple, we won't play?

A wired connection will typically be better from a hi-fi sense then bluetooth as it is limited in resolution transmision.

Denon Professional makes a good bluetooth adapter DN-200BR

https://www.denonpro.com/index...ducts/view3/dn-200br

I use one to stream between an iPhone 7 and a set of powered monitors in my shop

If you have the lightning to 3.5mm pigtail that came with your phone, you can use this 3.5mm to RCA adapter for $7 from amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonB...dExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

If you don't have the lighning to 3.5mm, you can get one for $8 from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-L...i%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-3



EDIT: Also, try cleaning out your lightning port on your phone. They collect lint and make bad connections. It's easier just to charge your phone than to get audio signal through it. So if the piece you had almost worked, or worked for a minute, try cleaning your phone port.

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:
I've used these more than a few times.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod..._title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

^^^ I have one of these too although I am not deploying it presently - it does a good job and works fine.

As for matching gain, this can vary and something you will need to adjust your volume.
Simply comparing where on other devices you X volume is a meaningless comparison.
The question is the volume adequate?

As far as plugging into a phono pre-amp connection - Don't Do It.
A phono preamp incorporates RIAA equalization to compensate for LP's and would be a very poor choice for your scenario.

Or you could deploy a wired connection as mentioned above.

Good Luck.

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:
I've used these more than a few times.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod..._title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the same unit I purchased.

The pre-amp is old school (late 70's) GAS- Thoebe that feeds a GAS- Son of Ampzila power amp.
The Pre-amp does have 2 controls I have to activate to get sound out of the AUX (TAPE)output, MONITOR and 1-2.

quote:

The pre-amp is old school (late 70's) GAS- Thoebe that feeds a GAS- Son of Ampzila power amp.

^^ I have Son of Ampzilla too (also a full Ampzilla that needs work).
I currently use a Topping D90 DAC with a direct connection to the SOA.
The DAC has multiple sources including UAB and BT and a simple preamp function.
Sounds great.

I previously had my APT Holman connected in between but the Apt needs work too (problem with 40-50 yard old electronics and haven't replaced the bad caps yet.

Also had an early HK Citation AV preamp in line but I am taking it out of service but it worked.

Yes all them had relatively low gain - must be the input sensitivity of the amp.

For me it's all still a work in progress to blend the old school with some new technology, ultimately I will use the Apt Holman and SOA with a vinyl setup.

Its always nice to see other Forum members that have fairly obscure vintage equipment. Another Forum member from Argentina has a very similar version of my ESS Heil speakers and 6GUNS has the same Revox Linear tracking turntable I have.
Small World, or misery loves company.