What yogiboy said. Looks like you are using a low output moving coil in an amp designed for high output moving magnet/iron. The idea of LOMC is that the few turns of wire that generates the signal are lighter and more sensitive.
Replace a 0.5 mV Grado Reference Sonata 1 for a Dynavector-DV20X2-H 2.8 mV ???
I'm
using an Oracle Delphi mkII, with a Rega RB-300 arm (modified), wired with
Discovery's lockable interconnects, into a 2 box Audion pre-amp (built in phono
stage) using 4 Siemens E88CC 6922 tubes.
Lets start with the Grado hum (which I may add IMHO the support at Grado was
virtually "Zero").
The hum is faint, but still audible, especially considering that with tax & installation the better part of a grand Canadian went out the window; so lets just say the hum is totally unacceptable. Which is too bad, because outside of the faint hum & gutless gain (more on that to come), it's a flippin nice sounding cartridge.
The other beef is that my set-up guy selected the wrong Grado to pair with my Audion pre-amp. Apparently the Reference Sonata 1 came with either a 4.8 mV gain, or a 0.5 mV gain. His reasoning was that the 0.5 would be quieter, and it is, but the problem is I have to turn up the volume to 3 o'clock to get the gain I want.
Qu #1: Does anyone out there know the specific gain difference in % between a 0.5 moving iron Grado & a 2.8 MC.
Qu #2: Anyone ever experience "HUM" with a Dynavector-DV20X2-H 2.8 mV on a Rega Tonearm?
Qu #3: Does anyone out there have experience using Dynavector-DV20X2-H 2.8 mV with a tube pre-amp? What are your thoughts?
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Sonata 1
Matt M, great input, some real relevance to your reply, but I'm a bit uncertain with your reponse - " I own both these cartridges ". Buy that do you mean a Sonata 1 & a 20x2 (low) or, did you mean Dynavectors....10X5 (high) & a 20x2 (low)? Thx for adding that you're using a Manley Chinook. I've heard people's issues with tubes, so that's covered. Are you using a Rega arm? |
Thehorn, What yogiboy and noromance said. You have a low-output cartridge with a preamp designed for high-output devices. Maybe Grado will agree to exchange. Or you could look at getting a step-up transformer to enable your exiting cartridge and preamp to work together. This is an expensive option. I used the Dynavectot 10X5 myself and love it. Haven't used the 20X2H but it should work fine. I don't see any problems with a tube preamp. Good luck! Gasbose |
yogiboy Where did you find the preamp has an input sensitivity of 2 mv? I’ve been looking. As far as Grado is concerned, let me reiterate what I wrote in my post. "(which I may add IMHO the support at Grado was virtually ZERO)". I called Grado, gave them the skinny on my situation, & they said that the new Sonata was coming out & an exchange is out of the question. Also, the new Grado will likely hum with the Rega arm as well, so why don’t you go buy the Dynavector. |
@thehorn The phono input sensitivity spec is listed at 2 mv. You need a mm cartridge with 2 mv or more ! http://www.audion.co.uk/pre-amps/Premier%202-0%20line%20phono.html |
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