Ugraditus is calling....again. Phono stage?
Hi Uberwaltz, By just about all accounts that I've seen the ART7, like the ART9, is an excellent cartridge. However, its very low output will definitely be a problem for many phono stages, in terms of noise. Specifically, its rated output of 0.12 mv is about 10.5 db less than the 0.4 mv rated output of your Shelter cartridge. I don't know how the volume control on your 2170 is calibrated, but presuming it adjusts volume in discrete steps, and if you can determine how many db each step corresponds to (perhaps by contacting Lyngdorf) I would suggest the following experiment: Set the gain on the PH-10 to max (65 + 6 = 71 db). Listen to some music, preferably something that has wide dynamic range, and turn up the volume control to the loudest setting you would normally use. Then stop playing the record, increase that volume setting by about 11 db, and see if the hiss level becomes bothersome. It might also be worthwhile to perform the same experiment at 65 and/or 68 db settings of the overall gain. Also, the following post by Pani dated 2-27-2015 in one of the major ART9 threads will be of interest: Dgarretson, I have not heard the ART7 so I cannot comment on its sound per se. Its heartening to know that it can be amplified without SUT. Here is an email that was sent to a friend of mine by Audio Technica:Best regards, -- Al |
Thank you Al For my tastes in music I truly think the art9 would be a better fit regardless after reading that reply from AT. However that is a very useful test to see if at any future stage I could contemplate a true lomc in my present system and will perform it to satisfy my curiosity and increase my depth of knowledge on what is and what is not possible for me. |
P.S: Although I doubt it would happen, it’s possible that running your Shelter cartridge with the PH-10’s gain set to 71 db might result in distortion on musical peaks, due to an overload condition in either its circuitry or in the circuitry in the 2170 that precedes its volume control mechanism. If that were to happen, though, the resulting distortion should be pretty obvious, and would be present even at relatively low settings of the volume control. As I said I doubt that would occur, but if it does you could perform the experiment just with the 65 and/or 68 db settings instead. Best regards, -- Al |
May just put a new cartridge on hold for a while. Just added a SR Blue fuse to the Gold Note and I definitely can hear a sq improvement, very tight and more focused. Actually very very enjoyable so I am not in the mood to upset the apple cart right now. I know there are a lot of fuse haters and doubters out there but I am not one of them! |
