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Conrad Johnson PV-7 phono stage any good?

I just acquired a very nice CJ PV-7 preamp. It sounds really nice, but I am a little confused about the phono stage. I am using a MM cartridge with an output of 5.2 mV. I need to turn the volume up to about 1-2 o'clock to achieve a normal listening level, which isn't earth shaking by any means. In comparison, my CD player commands only about 10-11 o'clock on the volume knob to reach the same listening level. There is no noise or distortion of any sort when listening to the phono, it just seems a little odd that I need to turn up the volume that much. Will this cause any damage to the preamp? Is this normal for a tube phono stage? Has anyone experienced a similar phenomenon? One other oddity is that the volume knob and listening level were at about the same position (1-2 o'clock) with a 3.0mV and a 5.2mV output cartridge. I thought the higher output cartridge would play a bit louder. Does the preamp have some circuit that makes the phono output the same no matter what the cartridge output is? Will different tubes make a difference. I'm not sure what is in there now, they have no brand, they just say made in west Germany.
Thanks for any help,
The skipper
skipper320
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
The volume control setting being different for high level (CD) and low level (phono) are correct and nothing to worry about.

Almost every preamp I've ever owned has worked this way. I really think your PV7 is working fine.
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schubert
7,386 posts
 
If tubes say made in West Germany run them till they drop.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
As the others have said and explained, the difference in volume is normal.
The tubes are either Telefunken (highly probable) or much less likely Valvo or Siemens. The Telefunken are very long lasting and should serve you well. A simple way to find out is to remove one and look at the base between the pins. If a diamond extruded mark is present, its a Telefunken. (at least for now until someone figures out how to counterfeit them.)
skipper320 OP
89 posts
 
I was told by the previous owner that the tubes said made in west Germany when I asked which tubes the preamp had. Turns out, they actually say made in Hungary. I have no idea what brand these might be. What brand tubes do you recommend without breaking the bank?
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