MC Pre-preamps

Throw me in the "very skeptical" camp if not downright shocked if it would work. With a .2 mV cartridge you are going to require around 64 db of gain from the phono stage ALONE to properly match up

Ooops, thanks for the correction HDM. I wrote that post ate 2:30 AM last night while trying to watch "Sopranos" reruns. Obviously, the brain wasn't working right. It's a "no go" on the 0.2mV cart with his current setup.

Thanks gentlemen! For a moment there...so presumably, my old(25 odd years) Koetsu Black @ .4mV(from memory: no prob' on my then MF "The Preamp") might just work yes...Garrot Bros here I come:as soon as a "new stylus req'd" Black comes up on ebay! Now step-ups simply boost the phono-pre's output: correct?
I have to say the Black was the ONLY MC cartridge I used that didn't eventually leave me feeling:"...there's something wrong here;now WHAT IS IT?!!?" starting with the ASAK...no wonder A&R P77's can go for $150: was I pissed!
OBTW, any chance of a photocopy of the CS-115 manual; wasn't able to get one on the website.
thanks again

No, the Black will not work well with 45 db of gain. You're going to need closer to 58 db so, once again, either a step up or new phono stage.

It's my understanding that Koetsu outsources the manufacture of the Black. You might want to pin someone (like the distributor ;-) down on that one!