phonostage and power amp compatibility?

[loonieboo]

Help please, I have aquired a phonostage that states in the manual not to use with
amplifers that amplify DC voltage ,I have never seen this warning on a phonostage before and am perplexed. Can anyone explain what this warning means and inform which amps do amplify DC voltage.
thanks

[rhomanski]

I'm not sure, but I think there was a fad in the early eighties where some manufacturers bragged about their amps going down to DC. One of mine boasts going from 5Hz to 100KHz. Later ones I believe would go down the extra 5 Hz. Although I'm not positive about that. I haven't explored the world of early eighties equipment that much yet. Sansui's emblazoned their later amps with DC/DD and I think that's what it meant, it would amplify DC. I could be totally wrong though. So take it with a grain of salt.

[Rothwellaudio]

Most power amps have a DC blocking capacitor at the input so that DC is kept out. However, since capacitors are considerd a "bad thing", some manufacturers do it differently. It sounds like your phono stage has DC on its output and should be used only with power amps that will cope with it. It's easy to spot which ones will be suitable if there's a circuit diagram to peruse, but not otherwise.
BTW, a phonostage straight into a power is unusual, isn't it?

[loonieboo]

Hi thanks for the replys.
@ Rothwellaudio your spot on, after more research I found it relates to the dc offset voltage at the phonostage output which could cause damage if amplifed.
Unfortunatly I do not have any circuit diagrams for any of the amps that I use.
So could be setting myself up for a fall if I use it.
Also I will be using a preamp if that will make a difference ,Either a MF audio TVC
or a musical fidelity ,just didn't mention it in the first post as the manual mentions only power amps. Can preamps also amplify dc or can they block it ,or can I block it at the phono output somehow?
thanks in advance for any more help.