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Update on my TT causing distortion at higher volume

Recap: SLP-05 pre-amp. Cary 805 mono's Music Hall 11.1 I had a Gold Legacy MC. (under microscope the cart was damaged. Bent cantilever and the diamond was not pretty.

I did the cheapest thing first: I purchased the $100 Ortofon Red MM cart.

The volume jumped up way high. To be expected. The music is very fatiguing.

I did order the EAE GLO PETit BLK. Should be here in about a week.

Any suggestions on a warmer cart, for mostly JAZZ and occasional rock. That is not fatiguing? Price range under $700. I am not prejudiced for or against MM or MC

Thank you for any help / suggestions.

cinqcepages
cinqcepages's avatar
cinqcepages OP
52 posts
 

@nekoaudio I am using the Pro-Ject Align it.

I took my time.

And I have a Stylus Force Gauge. I first got the tonearm to "float" then zeroed. Then dialed in the proper weight for the cartridge. Then I verified and made a minor adjustment after using the gauge.

I work on guns and am used to patient / take my time work. I know that shoddy work could have bad results. But I know how to have fun as well. So I am having fun.

Am I making practical sense? maybe not. But I am having fun. (I am slowly becoming crippled due to pinching nerves at the L5 / S1. So working on guns and working on my music is all I have now.) 

cinqcepages's avatar
cinqcepages OP
52 posts
 

@lewm Very good advice. I am into the technical details on things I work on (Old Colt firearms) and my music. Math major and IT field most of my life. I like details and I like projects coming together.

lewm
13,585 posts
 

What made me think you just might be running your MM into the MC inputs of your phono is your mentioning that the volume jumped way up when you first auditioned the MM cartridge, after having listened to your MC.  That suggested to me you might have connected the Ortofon to MC inputs.  Otherwise, the signal output from your phono stage, for an MM connected to the MM inputs vs for an MC of proper output connected to the MC inputs, ought to be about the same, in terms of the resulting SPL for a given setting of the attenuator on your linestage.

cinqcepages's avatar
cinqcepages OP
52 posts
 

@ghdprentice At some point there are diminishing returns. I don't like the re-tipping of MC carts or having to send to the factory for a rebuilt one. But then how many hours do you get from one? 1000 hours? 2 albums a day a year and a half of life? 2000 hours = 3 years of life?

I like the stylus replacement of MM carts. Seems practical.

I have a hard time spending $2,000 and up on a limited life cart. And will my ears tell the difference? Yes, my ears might. I have played (piano and sax) and listened to music since grade school. can easily tell in tune and OOT. I can tell musical nuances. within reasonable balance - music has been my life.

Maybe I will graduate to a top end (in my league) cart in the near future.

cinqcepages's avatar
cinqcepages OP
52 posts
 

@lewm You had to ask. A logical question. But yes, it was plugged into the MM inputs.

My Musical Fidelity 5.5 CD player has a moderate volume into the pre-amp; my Cary Audio DAC is a higher volume into my pre-amp (I have to turn down the volume slightly). That phono was way higher through the phono stage into the pre-amp. I had to crank the volume way down.

On a side not: My Audia Flight 2 CD from Italy is a high volume output into the pre-amp. I will look at the specs on all of those devices just for kicks and see what the outputs are. I never much cared until now.

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