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CONUNDRUM

I'm fairly new to vinyl. In my haste to put together a fairly nice front end, I have created a mis-match between my cart, phono stage and my linestage. I have a Clearaudio Maestro cart feeding a ARC PH-7 feeding an Aesthetix Calypso. The PH-7 is over driving the Caypso with no way to reduce the output without sacrificing quality of sound. (attentuators don't work. In dropping the output, they also compromise the signal quality)) I can go to a low output MC coil cart, or change one of my preamps. I'm looking for a WARM sound with all the usual qualities one would want in a good sounding system. The MC cart seems like the way to go, but the $$ keeps piling up as it so often does in this hobby. Suggestions please.
handymann
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Second Swampwalker and Jcarr, but I would still ask ARC and Tom, FWIW.
elevick
2,636 posts
 
For fun, do you have any 12au7's around? The PH-7 uses 12ax7's, correct? Try the lower gain tube? If not 12ax7's, which tube does it use?
handymann OP
383 posts
 
I think I may go with a Koetsu Urushi MC cart. Any comments?
tobias
1,534 posts
 
If you take Mr. Carr's advice then you have to buy a Lyra ;)
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Elevick, the PH-7, if modified by ARC, has 6 tubes: (4) 6922 tubes in the gain circuit; and (1) 6H30 tube and (1) 5881 tube in the PS. I don't think your idea has legs.

Handymann, the Koetsu is a very expensive cartridge, most models are in excess of $4K. Not sure, but there appears to be several Urushi models. Based on a very high-level check on the Needle Doctor web site, it appears the output voltages range between .2mV and .6mV. This class of cartridge appears to have a low compliance factor of 5.

Clearly, the Koetsu generates much less voltage than the Maestro. Therefore the PH-7's output should be less too.

If you want to try a LOMC, perhaps it would be prudent to try a cheap LOMC and see how it works. As I mentioned above, the PH-7 has a noise rating of 70db. It would be very unfortunate if the PH-7's output put out alot of noise with low output carty. I reiterate, it's worth a 15 min call to Calvin at ARC. He's in the best position to advise you.
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