help me pick a phono preamp.

Hey Todd, ignore my former posts. Heck, ignore all of the other posts. I'll give you a great price on a slightly used Grado PH-1--well matched to your cartridge, and they have such informative customer service.

Please enjoy. ;)

I just put together an analog rig using a Grado Statement Sonata (0.5 mV output) w/the Scout/JMW9 combo and the Grado PH-1 phono pre. I'm using the setting for low output cart. and have gain problems...

I'm well past 12 o'clock on my ARC LS16-II to get decent volume, which introduces a large amount of background noise from the tube pre-amp. The PH1 is supposed to be 56 dB of gain (yes, I've tried the little switch on the bottom and I am on the right setting, not the 40dB setting), wondering what I'm doing wrong here... If I switched from phono to CD on the pre-amp without adjusting the volume, I'd blow my ears out. Any ideas?

Wonder if I've got a bad PH1 or something. I'll try switching to a different input on the pre, but wonder if there are any other PH1/Statement Sonata owners out there who can compare the relative volume of their phono inputs v. CD or other line stage...

OK, how the h*ll can I verify that its the PH1? Is there some way of using my multimeter to measure input V and output V?

Well, I did as Rushton suggested and emailed Grado Labs. Their response to the fact that the gain on the phono in through the Statement Sonata/PH1 is disproportionately low compared to any other input was "That is normal with this cartridge. Please enjoy." Somehow less than satisfying. Based on that, I'd say 56 dB is not enough gain.

hrmph.