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Low Output MC's- Are We Playing W/ Fire ??

Might the current rage w/ low output MC's and the neccesity to use step-up transformers, at least on tubed phono stages, be introducing a new potentially harmful link into the chain. Not all step-up transformers are created equal. Might we get overall better performance out of a well executed .45 mv output design ( Helikon ) w/o using a step-up vs. a .22 mv output ( Helikon SL ) w/ a step-up. Or are low outputs almost ALWAYS better ?
fbhifi
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Doing it right with a low output MC needs quite a bit of money and planning. I won't go down into the low output range although I have a good MC preamp capable of handling 0.3-0.5 mV.

I don't think it's worth to go down into the 0.2 mV range. Obviously, there will be people posting that it is worth it. Everyone sets their own standards. My cutoff point would be in the 0.9 mV neighborhood. Right now I'm using a 2.0 mV MC.
sc53
719 posts
 
If you use the super-quiet, high-gain Linn Linto phono stage, you can go low without fear. No noise!
kana813
956 posts
 
Tube phono stages can be designed to handle low output MCs,
like the old MFA preamps.

A better question is why are these MCs so expensive? Does
a $3K cartridge produce 10X more information than a $300.
cartridge? Does it make your records last 10X longer?
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Sc53, my low output MC phono preamp has no noise...one of its previous owners had a Linn Sondek with a Monster Alpha, but the Monolithic Sound PS-1 I recently bought (plain version, $300 for the demo) totally outperforms it in musicality, dynamics, bass extension, soundstage, etc. No contest. I do not have to go down to those output levels to get better music for the money (which in fact, I don't).
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