Threshold FET 10/e cartridge amp questions

Best bet is to go on-line, either to the Shelter website if they have one or to Vinyl Engine, and find out the recommended capacitance for the load resistance you are probably running (47K). However, you've stated that capacitance is not adjustable for the Threshold, so it will be painful to change it. You could do so by soldering the capacitors in parallel with the input, but you probably would not want to do so.

You can figure that there is about 100pF minimum to ~200pF load capacitance already; that's typical for the phono cable capacitance plus the capacitance presented by the input transistor. Unless the Shelter needs much more, e.g., 400pF or more at 47K ohms, I would not worry about it.

I have a Shelter 901 and looking at Shelter dealer's on-line information shows the 501 II as a MC with an output voltage of 0.4mV, which is about the same as the Shelter 901. I use a gain setting of 56 db for the 901 and a load setting of 125 ohms. I would use a low capacitance setting, but I am not sure it matters that much in a MC cartridge.

It looks like the only MM cartridge made by Shelter is the 201

Thanks to all for your help! It's much appreciated.

My FET 10 had adjustments for load resistance and capacitance. There are four small slider switches (I used a toothpick to move them) for each in one red block for each channel. More than four settings are available by multiple combinations of the switches. The owner's manual covers this. I cannot imagine Threshold discontinued this in the "/e".

I found the FET 10 to be a great phono stage and was very satisfied with the sonics. My reason for selling it was wanting to more easily accommodate different cartridges and those adjustment blocks are internal, not on the back for ready access. And if I remember correctly the top has 12 screws! :^(

I must admit I'm surprised by the report the Shelter 501 II is a MM, I remembered it as a MC. If so, the lowest capacitance setting as Jperry suggested should be all that is needed.

Pryso, You (and I) were correct the first time. Jperry confirmed that the 501 is indeed an MC type. Other than that, your advice as an owner should help the OP most. Yes, not much need to worry about capacitance with an MC. The OP needs to be sure he is using the hi-gain setting, and then to check the load R adjustment. Possibly he is loading down the Shelter too much; that is to say that the selectable load R is too low in value. This would result in an apparent lack of gain (because energy is being lost to ground) and reduced treble, bloated bass.

Etnier, you may want to remove the cover of your unit and look for the adjusters that Pryso described. Then make certain that the load Resistance is no lower than 125 ohms, as Jperry uses for his 901. If you're not happy with that, increase load R progressively until you get better tonal balance and more apparent output from the Threshold. Or, more scientifically, find out the internal resistance of the 501 from the spec sheet. Start then with a load resistance that is at least 5X the internal resistance, and go up from there.