Tube Phonostage help

i can strongly reccomend the E.a.r. but i think 0.8 or more will overload the input of the 834p or (because of the strong signal) the input of the following amplifier as happened with my Benz M2 (0.8 mV). i had to trim down the volume on the E.a.r. to keep my Gryphon Tabu from distorting.

i also have a ARC PH5 wich is miles ahead of the E.a.r....and the PH5 is supposed to be better than the PH3 SE...but the PH3 SE may be better than the E.a.r. you have to try.

Thanks Xronx: I have never owned tube gear before. I want to start out with a phonostage and take it from there. Thats a good point about the overload, it seems that a .8v to ,9v might work on some higher gain MM outputs. I think think the EAR puts out 65 gain and somewhere around 45 or so in the MM stage, this might mate better with the MM position. Or i could go with the ACE low MC or the Glider ,4v MC cartridge. this might work better in the MC position. Any other thoughts from anyone. I already have high MC cartridges and i would like to go with a lower MC.

Steve

i tried the MM position on the E.a.r. but in my system the MC position caused a more meaty, colorful sound wich i liked better. and before the benz wood i had also a first generation ACE Low wich was a good match with the E.a.r...but if you go for a low output model a Benz L2 would also be worth a try...

My cartridge is a Benz M2 (0.8mV) so I can tell you from experience the EAR won't do it for you unless you go to a low output MC. I would not recommend using the MM setting on the EAR with a MC, only due to the fact that the load is set at 47k ohms (if I recall correctly). Most MC stages allow for multiple load settings, either via soldering, switches or plugs. That is why I did not choose the EAR, incompatibility gain setting with my cartridge in MC mode. You could use the MM setting on the EAR if you also go with a step-up transformer (EAR makes one, as do many others), which would allow you to set the load and gain to your cartridge. I found that 58db is a good setting for my 0.8mV (44db on the phono stage MM setting and 14db through the step-up transformer, cartridge load is 940 ohms).

Thanks for your responses. I was wondering if this could lead to cartridge problems because of the limited settings on these units. I'm not in a position where i can keep buying and selling cartridges until i find one that mates well. I guess we would all like to have an EAR 324 or the Manley Steelhead, but in my case i wouldn't be able to afford any software let alone a cartridge after purchasing one of them. Does anyone know of a tube phonostage within the $1500 range that will allow more flexible loading options? It seems the audio research and the EAR 834p are limited as clio09 stated.