Agree with ZD; I think Dgarretson had read "amp" to be "preamp" in your post. Only qualification is that you could use a standalone phono stage with enough gain and a volume control (like the Aesthetix IO) in lieu of the preamp. But, except in the unusual case of a cartridge that has one (like the Strain Gauge), you need the phono stage (or a preamp with one) for the RIAA equalization it provides.
