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Running a LOMC in MM setting?

Hi! I bought a Gold Note Ph 10 for my system, what is the following:

VPI Classic 1 TT, Ikeda 9TT LOMC cartridge, Gold Note PH 10 connected with balanced xlr cable to a pair of Dynaudio BM5 mkIII active studio monitors. I am using the Dynaudio`s dedicated volume box, connected directly to the studio monitors.

The problem is the following:
When I am using MC setting in the PH 10, the sound is just terrible. I set up everything accordingly to the cartridge, and it sounds really bad. BUT, I have tried the MM setting, just to check it. It sounds very close to awesome, but I am affraid to damage my cartridge, and I have no idea how this could happen...
In MC mode, it is getting really loud above the 1/4th of the max volume. In MM mode, I am getting way enough volume 5% below 1/2 of the max.
What can it be the problem? I would prefer to use the phono in the correct setting....

Thank you all!
Milan 


128x128korakotta
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
You can not damage your cartridge with 47k Ohm loading, use it if you like it, absolutely no harm for the cartridge. We have many audiogonners who preferred 47k Ohm for LOMC cartridges. So you can use MM input (47k Ohm) for your MC cart.

As for the MC input i think you can change GAIN setting on PH-10 ? 


noromance's avatar
noromance
9,818 posts
 
Sounds like you need to play more with the settings on the MC input. By play, I mean read up on what is happening with different settings and why they are there.
korakotta's avatar
korakotta OP
50 posts
 
I got an answer from Gold Note. They have really good customer service btw. 
" Dear Milan,
It is a clearly a saturation signal problem.For which reducing the gain using the MM input fix the issue.There is no way of damaging the cartridge because the gain, the gain is just the level of signal you send to the amplifier, in your case the speakers that evidently have a kind of very high input for the PH10 following the AES standards of electronics."
To fix the problem we have to reduce the gain.
It is something technically unnecessary and one day you will want to use the PH10 with other units you have to re-converting it again.
Anyway today with you system you have to play with the lower MM gain alternatively.
If you return we will update the unit to the latest HW/SW model free of charge also.

Kind regards
Maurizio AteriniC.E.O.Akamai S.r.l.

What do you think? Would you send it back, or leave it just like that?
The Ikeda 9TT is much much better at 100ohms also and it sounds like a good option to get it fixed for good. I am not going to change the cartridge for anytime soon, but maybe the monitors...

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