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New cart, step-up or ???

Just got a Hagerman Trumpet to go with a Joule LA-100MKIII I recently acquired. Analog front end is Benz Glider L2 (0.25mv)/OL Silver/SOTA Star Saphirre. The Trumpet has 44 dB gain, the Joule 11 dB. I have run it as is, and the volume is fine at about 11:30-12:30 rotation on the Joule. Hagerman recommends his 20 dB step-up instead of his additional gain stage; or I could stand pat, or I could go to a new, mid output MC. Recommendations?? If a new cart is in the offing, what is a good match. Price of the step up is $850, addntl gain stage $500 plus 2 way shipping, cart would be less salvage value of near new Benz ($300 +/-?) What say you, analog gurus? TIA
128x128swampwalker
twl
3,251 posts
 
Personally, I think you have too little gain for that cartridge presently.

55db in the front end, for a 0.25mv output cartridge is at least 20db too low.

I'd suggest the step-up.

In my experiences, I found that the sound from the TT had more "life and dynamics" to it when the phono gain is high enough to not have to depend so much on the linestage gain. Not entirely sure why that is, but in my experience it has been so.
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rauliruegas
13,105 posts
 
Dear Swampwalker: Stay away of step-up transformers, always do a heavy degratdation to the music/sound reproduction.

++++ "and the volume is fine at about 11:30-12:30 .."++++

If you don't have any compliant about and you don't have residual hum/noise, then you do nothing.

Now, you can up-grade the quality sound reproduction of your system, change your cartridge for a Sumiko Celebration ( output: 0.5mv ), this one will be great in you analog rig and the whole system, better than any Shelther ( but the 90X ). Btw, the Celebration is the century bargain: great performer.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
david12
1,454 posts
 
funny the same questions recur, I have a thread running now on the same subject, with the same mixed response. Some say having the dial at 12 does'nt matter and adding a step up will degrade the sound, others that the phono stage gain is inadequate and a step up will improve "life" and dynamics. it's a pity most questions are'nt staightforward, then if they were we would'nt need to ask them I suppose
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swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker OP
5,138 posts
 
the variable responses I have read made me ask this question with a third option- which I am now getting some support for- getting a higher output MC cart. The Glider is pretty new, not more than 100 hrs since it was re-tipped. Anyone got any idea on the re-sale value? Then if you add in the $500 that it would cost to have Hagerman mod the Trumpet phono to provide proper gain for an MC stage or the cost of a good transformer, give me some suggestions for a cart. Pretty please? If I go to NYC, maybe I can listen to some of them.
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