2. amps-preamps
  3. 153105-139713

Phonostage/preamp recommendations. Parasound JC3 Jr.?

Hello all. After searching for hours and not quite understanding if I’m processing the information right, I figured I would sign up ask the question directly with my specific information. Obviously new to home audio so please go easy. I bought a "new to me" Sota Sapphire with a Sumiko Premier FT-3 tonearm and Dynavector DV-10X5 cart. I leveled it out and set up the arm. Hooked it up to my Denon DRA-800H receiver (which says it has a phono input) paired up with Polk RTI A3 bookshelves. Everything "works" fine. Highs are clean and crisp. No funky sounds or anything like that so overall success. My issue comes with the overall loudness of the playback (having to almost max the volume at 70 before achieving listenable levels) and the lack of bass and overall dimension in the music. Not having a sub and understanding they are only bookshelves I don’t expect the world of them but I was thinking it should sound better than my bluetooth Bose Soundlink? Being an MC cart the person a bought the turntable from suggested I could benefit from running a dedicated phonostage before the Denon. The Parasound Jr. looks good giving the option to switch from MM to MC and seems to have a good fanbase.  Am I on the right track to a decent starter system? Any recommendations? looking for something I won’t have to upgrade for a while, but not looking to sell my bike either. Please help school me on this rabbit hole I’ve ventured into! Also not opposed to tubes, but I’m sure that’s a whole other world I shouldn’t be exploring quite yet. Thanks in advance.

Recap on what I have:
Sota Sapphire
Sumiko Premier FT-3
Dynavector DV-10X5
Denon DRA-800h
Polk RTI A3
tommyd902688
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
Usually, high output moving coils are designed to run into a MM section, not a MC section. Your overloading it.

Also, did you hook up your new phono stage to the phono input, or any other high level input, (i.e. Aux, tape, CD, etc)?  That's where it should be, (high level input, NOT phono).
tommyd902688 OP
9 posts
 
Its hooked into the CD input on the reciever. So plug the turntable output into MM and give that a try? 
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
That's the right input on the receiver.  Now hook up the turntable to the MM input on the Parasound Zphono.
flynnrd
41 posts
 
The Pro-Ject Tube box DS2 (I think that’s the name) is a really cool piece for $699. All tube design (which means you can roll and adjust sound) and all setting adjustments are done with dials on the front panel: might be exactly the user-friendly device you’re looking for. It also has two inputs so can act as a pre-amp (which would increase your enjoyment a whole lot)  if you have another line source. Maybe give it a look. 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,784 posts
 
2. The MC section of the pre amp has 50db gain or 60db. I'm having trouble finding a balance. Recommendation from dynavector is 50db with 1000h ohmz load. So that's where I started. It seemed fine. And playing with the knob up or down didn't improve the sound, and actually degraded in most cases.
It sounds like the 50dB setting is the correct one. I would try the loading as high as you can- 47K (which is the standard for phono inputs) if possible and work your way down from there if needed. Here is an article about what the loading is about:http://www.hagtech.com/loading.html
There is more to it than that of course... BTW I would check the tone are settings just to make sure everything else is right. The height is one thing but tracking force is another, as well as something called 'overhang' which can be checked with a turntable protractor (which should not be expensive).

More to discover