[G Georgopoulos]

I tried to listen to vinyl with my headphones amplifier, and it became apparent the s/n ratio of vinyl(compared to cd I mean) I had a thought that this wouldnt work as cd and I was right,then i put a speaker amplifier and tried to listen again the s/n ratio of vinyl didnt make a big deal and was aright,I couldnt hear any noise...

what do you think? do you listen to vinyl with headphones?

cheers 

[*Scotty*]

George, what make of headphones are you using? Also what speakers are in your system?
Scotty

[G Georgopoulos]

The source of the noise comes from the turntable,I didnt use my own phono preamp,I suspect this to be abit of both hum and surface noise of the turntable,I used lots of headphones and speakers the outcome was the same

[*Scotty*]

A lot depends on the the inherent surface noise of the record itself. Just tracing the groove itself generates a certain amount of low level noise, how much depends to a degree on the stylus shape and vinyl formulation. Pure virgin vinyl with no recycled content will have the lowest surface noise. Ticks and pops are always prevalent in vinyl playback and can be introduced at multiple points into the record manufacturing process, they are almost impossible to eliminate.
 In as much as there always some background noise present in our environment which provides a degree of masking when we listen to a stereo system via loudspeakers, it is not too surprising that you heard more noise from vinyl when listening with headphones.
The last time I listened to vinyl via headphones it was many years ago with a pair of Audio Technica ATH-7 back-electret headphones, I don't recall being overly bothered by noise. Rumble was not present, I was using a Denon direct drive TT at the time with a Denon 103S MC cartridge.
Scotty

[Elizabeth]

I have pretty good phones and headamp.
Sennheiser HD800 with aftermarket cord, from a Rudistor RPX33mk2
I take the signal from the tape out of my Bryston BP-26 preamp.
I have no problem with the minor hiss etc of LPs vs the CD when phone listening.It is a part of the experience... (I grew up with LP, so for folks who did not, maybe it is hard to accept).
Actually I had a hard time figuring out what the op is actually asking..

It seems he is writing he does not like listening to LP via headphones due to surface noise inherent in the LP. Where no problem with headphones and CD.
But with regular speakers none of it is a problem. (paraphrased)

Well yeah headphones give a more detailed sound. At least until you are spending really big bucks.. As for listenability, no problem in my book.

[richidoo]

G, I noticed that you mentioned that you didn't use your own phono preamp. Maybe you didn't use the phono preamp because your headphone amp has enough gain without the phono preamp? And then you put the phono preamp back in when you listened to the speakers? I'm just guessing, because that would explain why you hear more noise in headphones...

It is absolutely necessary to use a phono preamp when listening to vinyl whether on headphones or speakers, because in addition to providing voltage gain, all phono preamps also apply RIAA equalization to achieve flat frequency response. All vinyl is mastered with RIAA curve, which de-emphasizes the bass and emphasizes the treble in an effort to reduce noise when played back through a phono preamp filter which restores the flat freq response during playback. This is the same principle used by Dolby to reduce tape hiss. The amplitude of the vinyl equalization is enormous, a 40dB difference from 20Hz to 20kHz. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

Listening to vinyl without the RIAA correction filter of a phono pre would leave the highs way too hot, and that's where most of the surface noise lives. Just a wild guess.... 

[G Georgopoulos]

G, I noticed that you mentioned that you didn't use your own phono preamp. Maybe you didn't use the phono preamp because your headphone amp has enough gain without the phono preamp? And then you put the phono preamp back in when you listened to the speakers? I'm just guessing, because that would explain why you hear more noise in headphones...

It is absolutely necessary to use a phono preamp when listening to vinyl whether on headphones or speakers, because in addition to providing voltage gain, all phono preamps also apply RIAA equalization to achieve flat frequency response. All vinyl is mastered with RIAA curve, which de-emphasizes the bass and emphasizes the treble in an effort to reduce noise when played back through a phono preamp filter which restores the flat freq response during playback. This is the same principle used by Dolby to reduce tape hiss. The amplitude of the vinyl equalization is enormous, a 40dB difference from 20Hz to 20kHz. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

Listening to vinyl without the RIAA correction filter of a phono pre would leave the highs way too hot, and that's where most of the surface noise lives. Just a wild guess.... 

I use the phono preamp of the turntable,not mine,I understand what you say about RIAA.

The situation is as other posters are saying,which is true,they have no problem with.

This test I did compared cd to vinyl with headphone listening.

cheers

[richidoo]

OK good!