MC Pre-preamps

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!

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.

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

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.

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. Yes, you might get sound, but that is about it. Get the gain right.

For further info go here:

http://www.kabusa.com/pregain.htm

You will see there that you are currently matched up pretty well (and the Denon you currently use supposedly has an output closer to 2 mV at least according to some who have measured its output). If you are going to .2 mV you need a TON more gain. Either a step-up or a new phono stage.

You need +77dB total gain to boost 0.2mV to the 1.4V input sensitivity of your B&K Components ST-140 amp. Your DJ PRE II phono preamp has a max gain of +45dB, so your B&K Components CS-115 line preamp would need to add at least +32dB gain.

The CS115 manual says that it has an input sensitivity of 150mV and a max output of 9V RMS(12.7V peak), that implies +38.5dB gain (I think, experts please correct me).

Which is a long-winded way of saying - "You should be fine"

BTW, I have a Denon DL-103D which has 0.25mV output.