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Do I need a sut?

I purchased an Ortofon MC2000 cart from a fellow A'Goner, it is very low output .05mV, my phono pre is a Herron VTPH-2 which has 69db of gain and my pre is a Herron VTSP-3a(r02) 14db gain.
The cart sounds wonderful, but with such a low gain I have to turn up the volume by quite a lot. If I had, another source at that volume, I wouldn't be able to stand it. With the volume turned up so high I get a fair amount of noise between tracks. 
Should I be looking at an sut or just live with it the way it is? I found an Ortofon at a decent price, it has 24db of gain. Would that be ok to go into the mc input on the VTPH-2? The mm gain is 48db, if I plugged it in there I would only gain 3db(if I'm doing my math correctly) I will also be contacting Keith, but I thought I would ask here too.
Thanks
Jeff
jdodmead
jdodmead OP
257 posts
 
So the XG-5  should work for me.

jdodmead OP
257 posts
 
There are in and out ground lugs on the XG-5, would I be ok if I just went straight to the Herron phono pre with the output ground from the turntable? 

Thanks
Jeff
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@jdodmead regarding grounding I'd start by connecting the phono ground to the SUT and see how that sounds -- really it's a matter of checking what sounds best (most open and "solid") with least hum -- it may be the SUT, or leaving it unconnected. I'd be surprised if grounding to the phono stage rather than the SUT is best -- in fact it may induce a hum

If after all this you still get hum (and after trying moving the SUT around and away from transformers and power cords) you may need a more sophisticated SUT with a ground lift option. I'd be surprised however if you have these issues with an Ortofon -- I only have hum issues with my mono cartridge (which is another set of problems)
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rauliruegas
13,088 posts
 
Dear @jdodmead : Don't pull the triger yet on that SUT. Gain and noise are only two SUT issues for you and that great MC 2000 you own. The FR XG-5 is and will makes atremendous /heavy degradation to the 2000 quality levelperformance. It's not the rigth SUT, it's a very low quality SUT.

Do it a favor and buy a different SUT because that is terribel.

Before you buy any SUT you have to look not only for the high gain the cartridge needs but the SUT frequency response that must be in the range: 10hz to 100khz at least and it has to stay flat and with very low noise/distortion levels. These are the SUT manufacturer specs.

If you can't afford the rigth spec SUT then stay away from low price SUTs. The T2000 was designed ( all silver wiring. ) expressely for the MC 2000 and the levels of noise depends not only in the SUT it self but if the additional IC cables has very god shielding or not and even the cable orientation in the system rack or if there are other electronics/active transformer around that induces noise.

If the Herron designer can help you in some ways for gain in that great cartridge then ask him directly before you make any choice. The MC 2000 deserves the best for it can shows it at its best.


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
jdodmead OP
257 posts
 
Raul,
I did purchase the FR, but now I'm trying to see if I can back out of that purchase(if it hasn't shipped yet). I did previously send you a couple e-mails requesting your advice, but maybe you didn't receive them, that's why I posted here.
Thanks
Jeff
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