2. amps-preamps
  3. 1261675658

Weak ROTEL phono section

Hi all,
Have a Rotel rc1090 preamp...former top of the line...with balanced ins/outs.
Despite using a very powerful 6.5mv cartridge, the output seems a weak and flat. The volume knob on the Rotel has to go far (almost 2 or 3 o'clock) on some recordings to get a satisfactory volume.
I have no problem with cd playback, plenty of power using that input.
I'm using the Rotel with a McIntosh 252 amp. Again, sounds great(and powerful) with CDs.
Any insights or advice greatly appreciated.
Andrew
dordevic
vtvu
97 posts
 
Are you sure your preamp has a phono section? If you can use a CD player with the input, it is likely that it is a line level input. The marking may say Phono or Phono/Aux but you may need a phono board option. My Cambridge Audio int. amp has an input marked Phono/Aux but is a line level input. To use with a TT, you need to add a phono board inside.
One way to tell is to open up the top to see if the input traces to a phono section in the preamp.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Also it will lack the RIAA equalization curve, which will make it sound strange. If you can use a CD into it I don't see how it could possibly have a phono stage. If it did you would be grossly overloading it and it should sound very distorted.
hifitime
715 posts
 
Double check the wiring to your cartidge.With the unit off,cycle the MM/MC switch a couple of times to see if it is not making a good contact.Make sure you have it in the correct position before turning the unit back on.Last resort,hopefully you have another TT to try in place of that one.Owners manual link>>[http://www.rotel.com/content/manuals/rc1090_multi.pdf]
zormi
105 posts
 
I use the same preamp with (modest) Project turntable. No issues, loudness correct.

It seems to be some problem in catridge itself, or perhaps wiring, as someone alredy mentioned.
dordevic OP
11 posts
 
Hi Zormi,
Can I ask you...are you using the Rotel with the balanced outputs to your amp or the RCA outputs? Wondering if related to this.
All my wiring is correct and I don't think it's the cartridge.
Thank you much for your advice.
Andrew
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