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Is there an ideal (ish) cartridge output?

I just got done building the Pearl 2 and I went back and forth with gain and impedance. Using a cart that had .15mv and another at .3mv. I also have a Sony TA-5650 V-FET that has a vfet MM phono stage that I have been curious to try out. In that curiosity, I read the specs on the phono stage and its 70db SNR, which is meh. I then thought about SNR, THD, gain, and output of phono cartridges and stages. I looked at a lot of specs of cartridges and stages over the years, and as the gain of the stage goes up, the SNR goes down, which eventually leads me to this question:

Is the ideal cartridge output 1.5-2mv? Do you then get a medium output that is the best middle ground for SNR and THD? If that could be the case (or if not if you disagree) then why isn't there more cartridges with around that output available? 
enobenetto
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear frogmn, You get support from those phono-pres producers 
who build phono-pres with 4 amplification stages. They then recommend the lowest possible amplification for the used cart.
The reason is ''the higher mplification the higher distortions''. I
own two of such pres: Basis Exclusive and Klyne 7PX3.5.
However for my Ortofon MC 2000 I use an SUT. 


bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,896 posts
 

Yes: the 5mV output of the London pickups. ;-)

Schitt includes a 30dB gain "Decca Mode" setting on their Mani phono amp.

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
We all know that most preamps sound best with the volume control fairly wide open.... So, I always look for a cartridge with output that for my typical system listening volume will keep the volume control on my preamp in a generously open (highish) range....


Do you mean an active preamp with gain ?
This problem is irrelevant for passive preamps if the rest of the components in the chain matched well.
@frogman
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
This question is ''other way round'': which phono-stage for which
output? 
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