2. amps-preamps
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Phono Stage Amp

I have a mid-level to low end turntable. (Music Hall 11.1) and a low end decent Phono Stage Music Fidelity M1. Good tonearm and good cartridge. 

I listen to JAZZ so volume isn't too much of an issue, but sometimes I just want it loud. I have Cary Audio slp-05 tube pre and the Cary Audio mono block main tube amps as drivers

I crank the volume up just past half way and there tends to be distortion. Below half way the sound is incredible. The records sound better than the corresponding CD or, of course, DAC streaming.

Would upgrading my phono-stage to one with greater boost help me? Or is that half (my whole phono system) of my system as good as it could get?  

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ghdprentice
6,957 posts
 

+1. Phonostage at least as good as TT… by that, carefully chosen and of similar or higher value than the TT + cartridge. 

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

It's your tube amps running out of power (clipping) and distorting! No wonder they sound better at lower SPL's! Nothing wrong with your phono stage. Get a powerful SS amp if you want to listen at louder SPL's! Bryston, Parasound, Krell ...

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

@ditusa : +1! At least I am not alone with speaking the truth! Tube amps are NOT low distortion devices - particularly when used to drive difficult speaker loads. Electric guitarists like them for their distortion!

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

Even at lower SPL's a good SS amp will sound cleaner than a tube amp. I am speaking from 40+ years experience. Plus I own a collection of tube amps and preamps - but prefer SS.

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

The Cary 805's only have about 15 watts at 1% distortion before the distortion goes way up quickly - 2%, 4%, 8%, 16% ... This distortion profile is typical of single-end amps - tube and SS. No wonder the 805's sound way better when they are only putting out a watt or less! They shouldn't be asked to drive a low sensitivity speaker like the Totems loudly!

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