Would changing to a MC solve my problem?

@traudio : In the mean time to decide what to do you can test the Goldring 1042 that’s not so expensive and that has higher output level ( 6.5mv ) and is a better performer that what you can think for its low price tag: the 1042 stylus is similar to the one in the over 10K Ortofon MC Diamond or the Verissimo models ( Replicant 100. )

Btw, the gentlemans that try to help you are at " blind " because you do not disclosed your system items yet.

MC gives you not more flexibility. What can help you ( not the MC. ) is to match your system items to your MUSIC/Sound targets and then choose the items that could match it and could match it electrically in between.

R.

Again, the only thing I changed was the phono stage which was a Musical Surroundings Phonomena, and now the Hegel V-10.

Only analog and a digital input, no other sources.

Ok, the only one not mentioned is the cart which is a Soundsmith Zephyr III with about 60 hrs on it. Not a Moving Magnet, but the instructions have you set it as such.

It looks like either the phono stage needs to change our I need to switch to a MC.

Traudio, both Raul and I are trying to help but you don’t seem to pay attention. What linestage are you using? (That’s my question.) IMO, unless you dislike the Hegel on other grounds, the last thing you need to do to solve the particular problem at hand is to dump the Hegel.

2.4mv output. Sounds like a Soundsmith cartridge output. I have one that outputs the same. It’s great cartridge yet annoying to match up gain wise due to its in between output. Running it, via the phono pre, to my Coda 07x was no issue due to  the 07X having input level matching capability. The new pre being used does not have that feature. Kind of annoying.
 

There is no perfect world….