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What on earth is Loading and Gain

I feel like an idiot, but I have a Conrad Johson EF1 which has 47kohm, 1kohm (I think), 500ohm, and 200ohm. I have transfiguration temper and also a shelter 501.

I've decided to use the 501 for a bit. This has a 4mv output, the temper is 0.25.

I found my sytem sort of 'clipped' with the old settings of 52db gain and 200ohm.

I moved to 47kohm and this 'clipping' stopped, but the sound is now quite shut in, quieter, deeper, and darker.

Why is this?

can somebody explain this all to me?
lohanimal
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,381 posts
 
Tom,
Thanks for posting in a way that continues to educate me and probably most of us.
For a guy who listens to equalizers, you sure know your stuff ;-)
Cheers,

Spencer
stefanl
296 posts
 
I am currently running an old Dynavector 20A at 100ohms I think the recommended load is 47Kohms but it seems to sound better at this setting.This is O.K I presume?
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
Here is a different explanation

Loading- feeding drinks to the ugly girl on the bar stool next to you, for a possible sexual encounter

Gain- how much better she'll look, after you yourself get loaded!
twl
3,251 posts
 
Stefanl, you can load the cartridge as you like it. The sound is the only thing that will change, nothing will be destroyed by the different loading. If you like it that way, there is no reason why you shouldn't load it like that.
stefanl
296 posts
 
Thanks TWL,I found that the 47Kohm nominal setting with Dynavector 20A HOMC gave a low volume and soft almost "moving magnet" sound and changing to 100 ohms lifted the volume considerably and yielded a brighter more balanced sound overall-it sounds more real and representative of the source this way.
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