Need to turn volume all the way up with cartridge

Gain sounds okay, Zenieth, but loading seems off. Did the manufacturer of the cartridge suggest 47k? Try the the KAB website. They have lots of helpful advice and a preamp calculator. Plug in some numbers. The Cartridge Database is a good info source, too. Good luck.

Calbrs03, I have a BAT VK300x integrated with the phono card. They told me that the card was factory set at 47K. The card has a switch for MM/MC on it. The gain was 45/60. I'm tring to use a Lyra Skala cartridge. They say the impedance can be between 100/47k ohms. That doesn't make sense to me. I wonder if it's possible that I have the gain switch on the card in wrong position? Would I get sound at all at 45 db's of gain? I'll check out your suggestions.

60db of gain should be fine for the Skala but you should play with the loading if you can try between 100 and like 470 if possible.

Pdxhdhunter .25mV is pretty low you need at least 66db of gain as John said....