I would minimize the gain consistent with a full robust sound, making sure that your pre-amp can work within the range of attenuation that is comfortable with your ears and provide fine enough volume adjustment. With a 2.5 mV output you should not need it on a high gain setting, but its also dependent on total system gain. As for cart loading, I think that that is highly system/cart dependent but in general high output MCs are typically loaded as if they were MMs. But there really is no way to harm your rig as you alter loading, so experiment til you find what sounds best.
Gain and Loading
Hello friends,
I recently acquired a phono preamp with adjustable gain and loading. What should I listen for when trying to come up with the best settings? My cartridge is currently a Dynavector DV20-XH (2.5 mv output and loading specified as ">1000").
I currently have the phono stage set at 50db gain and 47K loading.
A related question: Should I be trying to use the minimim amount of gain that produces a good result, or the maxium amount? (Same goes for loading).
Thanks in advance.
Tom
I recently acquired a phono preamp with adjustable gain and loading. What should I listen for when trying to come up with the best settings? My cartridge is currently a Dynavector DV20-XH (2.5 mv output and loading specified as ">1000").
I currently have the phono stage set at 50db gain and 47K loading.
A related question: Should I be trying to use the minimim amount of gain that produces a good result, or the maxium amount? (Same goes for loading).
Thanks in advance.
Tom
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- 10 posts total
Gain: given the cartridge output, 40-50dB would be indicated. If you have a normal cdp, try to get similar amplitude (i.e. ~2V entering the pre section. Loading: >1000 is hardly specific. While 47k ohm is standard for MM, it would be best if you could: a) ask Dyna for their recommendation b) ask Dyna for the cartridge inductance. Then you can compute the resistive loading as: sq rt L/C (or go to Hagerman's site to do it). Failing all that, try 43-46-50dB gain & choose which gives the best frequency extension and THEN go down from 47k until you find the best setting... |
What exactly is loading? I have an okay understanding of gain since I've been trying to roughly calculate the dB I'd need to achieve normalization with my CD. Tfk, what preamp are you using? I've been searching for a decent preamp that has at least an adjustable gain. I doubt I need a high-gain preamp since the cartridge I'm using is a 6.5mV MM. |
Tom: Depending on the rest of your system, 50 db of gain may be putting you into an overload situation. If you can do it, I would suggest getting as close to 42 db as possible for gain and starting with the 47K loading. From there, you can experiment up or down with loading, but I would certainly dial the gain down from 50 db as a start and at least try that out. I would think that the sound should be improved with the lower gain. |
- 10 posts total