2. amps-preamps
  3. 178575-175711

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?  

128x128cinqcepages
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

Except for @ditusa the other posters have all provided the WRONG solution by focusing on the phono stage/cartridge instead of the amp/power requirements to drive a pair of Totem Winds! Can't be done with a 15 watt tube amp - the Cary 805's.

cinqcepages's avatar
cinqcepages OP
52 posts
 

thank you jasonbourne52

imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,180 posts
 

@jasonbourne52 

How do you explain this:

imhifiman: with volume halfway up on the SLP-05 using an Audia Flight CD player the volume is very high and no distortion... But at halfway with the TT the volume is 3/4 of the volume of the CD but with distortion. The mono blocks are the CAD805 Anniversary. 

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,766 posts
 

Could there be an issue with acoustic feedback?

gregdude
222 posts
 

Has anyone suggested better isolation for the source? If not, there you go. I upgraded to a marble plank for better iso and I can jam much louder now with less distortion. Might be something to consider. 

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