In my direct experience, you want at least 80db of total voltage gain (phono + linestage) to get the most out of an MC2000. More is even better.
MM Phono Stages With Greater Than 40 dB of Gain?
One of my favorite phono cartridges is the Ortofon MC 2000, I have it with the T2000 SUT. Even so the combined output is still low, and going into my Esoteric E-03 phono stage I have to add a lot of additional gain from the pre amp.
Since I no longer use the Esoteric for direct input of moving coil cartridges I thought I might see if there is a better choice for a MM style phono stage that offers greater gain.
I have looked a bit, but not seen anything jump out. Anyone have run across an excellent MM only phono stage with higher than 40dB of gain?
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- 31 posts total
Cornet MM has a fixed gain of 44dB. You can't change it, as both passive EQ and gain are tied to 12AX7 parameters. It is what it is. https://www.haglabs.com/collections/phono-preamps/products/cornet-mm-vacuum-tube-phono-preamp If you need 64dB gain at 47k loading, Bugle MC? Trumpet MC can do 74dB at 47k load... |
80db gain would give you 500mV or 0.5V from the MC2000, marginally enough to drive most amplifiers. So you can include the gain added by any linestage to get to 80db+ total voltage gain. My 3160 Phonolinepreamp almost does it alone, because of the gain added by its linestage, but not quite enough oomph. It's very quiet and clean even at full output, however. What I settled on is either an outboard solid state current driven module custom made for me by Dave Slagle (Dave estimates its gain at 32db, I think), into my Silvaweld tube phono stage driving the linestage of the 3160. Or the BMC MCCI driving the 3160 linestage. |
@lewm : You are right, your 3160 came with the normal gain but the MC2000 it's not a normal output level MC. It needs 85-86db that the 3180 does it with very low noise, a beauty or through its MM stage that comes with 100k fixed impedance that likes to SUT's.
R. |
- 31 posts total