SUT experience

@lewm   The synergy cartridge is .5mv, whereas the century is .2, and the #1 carts are .18    When I first tried it, I had the SUT on 3, and the Pro-next on 65 and i literally thought I blew my speakers it was so distorted.  At 10 ohms and 60 db my volume knob is at 25% to get 90db at my chair.  It used to need to be at 35-40.  Do you still suggest I go down to 50db gain ??  

I don’t know why it keeps auto correcting the Pro-Ject to Pro-next.  I swear I’m literate. 😵‍💫

Adrian, In your last post you name 3 cartridges, none of which is identifiable as an Ortofon SPU, unless it’s “#1”. Then you don’t say whether my own assumptions of the current setup are correct. If you want commentary you need to be very specific.Not surprised that the earlier setup was grossly distorted. Also are you sure your phono offers 60 and even 65db gain in MM mode, where the cartridge or the SUT sees a 47K ohm impedance?

Hey Lewm ! Yes your assumptions were correct as you described my signal path. Let me add some information that may clarify some things. I do have an SPU Synergy, an SPU Century 100th anniversary model, then the #1 spherical and #1 elliptical.  I also own a sumiko blackbird MC cart as well as an Audio technica OC9XML.  I listed all of them because I have 3 turntables and one of them has 2 arms. I typically listen to the SPU synergy but it could possibly be any of the other carts. That’s why I tried the Entre SUT since it gave me choices.  Also that Pro-ject tube box has multiple gain settings from 40db, to 65db, in 5 db increments. Fortunately the synergy and both of the #1 carts weigh the same so they swap easily.  The century model is heavier and requires rebalancing of the arm.  I guess the oddball is the Synergy with its higher output at .5.  Maby that will clarify my earlier posts. When I find my favorite combo, I’ll likely leave it there and maby rotate carts every month or two.  Adrian

Sorry, I am not steeped in knowledge of the SPU series and so did not realize what you were talking about. With the Synergy (0.5 mV), you definitely do not need the 60db gain setting. Even 50db is slight overkill with a 1:10 SUT. For example, with the SUT the cartridge, and SUT are dumping 5 mV of output into the phono inputs. That is the typical output of a high output moving magnet cartridge. With such a cartridge, usually only 40 to 45 DB of phono gain, along with line stage gain, are more than adequate.