It always boils down to "distortions" that the other guy "likes".
You don't seem to recognize that the Manley Steelhead drives the Beveridge speaker system and woofers that I have in a system totally separate from the Sound Lab system. The Beveridge amplifiers are single-ended, so I chose an SE preamplifier (the Steelhead) to drive the inputs. The 3160 and my MP1 drive the Sound Lab system, which is fully balanced from cartridges (three turntables) to amplifier outputs. (For those who don't know, those two preamps are fully balanced.) Each system, and every other single system, has its own gain characteristics that are determined primarily by the phono and linestage gain, the input sensitivity of the amplifier, and the efficiency of the speakers. The MC2000 has been in the Beveridge system for the last few years. When I did have it driving the 3160 in the Sound Lab system, it was my perception that the SQ was a bit "anemic" (my choice of word). Which is to say that if I turned up the gain to the point where associated noise became audible, which I don't like to tolerate, the SQ, while clean and quiet up to that point, was not as "full" as I thought it ought to be. These are totally subjective terms, and one would have to be in the same room with me to verify or deny the truth of those opinions. I was even contemplating selling the MC2000, in my frustration.
Based on the printed material that was supplied to me with the 3160, the MC section can provide 60db of gain. You were not able to tell me, a few years ago, how much gain is added by the linestage, but I am guessing it must be at least 15-20db, because the 3160 works like a champ with my Audio Technica ART7, which makes 0.12mV (about twice the output of the MC2000) at the standard velocity. At about 75db of total phonolinepreamp gain, the ART7 would supply around 0.7V to the amplifier inputs, at full output. I can blow myself out of the room, with the 3160 attenuators at about 1 o'clock. Hence, my estimate of linestage gain in the 3160. As you may also recall, my particular 3160 has two separate MC sections; it does not have an MM section, like the standard version. When I asked you whether you could convert one MC section to MM, I was told it cannot be done. Thus I do not have the option of running the MC2000 into a SUT or pre-preamp and then into the 3160 MM stage. The MC2000 makes only .05mV output at standard stylus velocity. I estimate you need a minimum of 80db total gain, or more would be better, to be sure of driving most amplifiers properly. 80db of total gain would give a preamplifier output of ~0.5V. As you know, most amplifiers are OK with anywhere from 0.5V to 2V for full output. Given the characteristics of the 3160, I was not surprised that I felt a sense of lean-ness to the sound from the MC2000, at attenuator levels where noise did not intrude. My particular Sound Labs are probably more efficient than any others that do not bear the modifications performed on mine, which involved removal of passive crossover components that suck and waste amplifier power. So, I am loathe to blame either my amplifiers, which are coasting with the Sound Labs, or the SLs themselves, but if I have a "problem" it is a very slight lack of total phonolinepreamp gain when using the MC2000 into the 3160. Your "problem" is your extreme sensitivity to even the hint of criticism of the the 3160. I have written here more than once that I think it is a terrific unit, easily the best SS preamplifier that I have ever heard and one of the best of any kind that I have ever heard. To say that it is just a bit short of gain for the MC2000 is hardly an insult. I am very happy with the 3160.
Should I conclude every post from now on with the statement, "I hate distortion as much as you"?
