Phono Stage/Cartridge Settings help!

[ramoneo14]

I need assistance in setting up parameters for my cart/arm/tt. I am new to this hobby and would appreciate your input. Here's what I have:

Denon DL103r MC Cartridge
Tritium Air Bearing Linear Tracking Tonearm
Modified Rega P3 Design
Denon AU-300LC Step Up Transformer
Monolithic Sound PS1 Phono Stage

The Rega has been modified though as a multi-layer maple plinth (very heavy) with upgraded Premotec motor and ruby bearing. The only thing that stayed is pretty much the glass platter and the size of the belt.

The Phono stage is going to a VTL Ultimate Dual Mono Preamp (not enough gain) which is going to VTL 225 Monoblocks. THese now power custom hybrid Quad ESL 63s + 10" Peerless Woofer in a U-frame design (John K. at Musicanddesign.com).

Overall I have a great system and am an active part of an analog club here in Minneapolis. THe club members all think my system is very, very nice.

If the new 103r specs says:
Load Impedance 100 ohm min. (40 ohms when using a transformer)

And the step up transformer specs say:
Output Impedance 40ohm: 4k ohm, boosting 10:1

Question is: How should I set my Monolithic Phono Stage?
Variables are the following:
Subsonic Filter: on vs. off
Load Impedance: 47k vs. 10k vs. 1k vs. 100 ohms
Capacitance: 100pf vs. 270pf vs. 370pf

Please help me with my phono stage settings.
What would you do? And why?

[analog_sa]

The 40ohm load with transformer is not a hard rule. You may prefer the sound at higher loads.

As your transformer has a 1:10 step up ratio it will transform impedance as 1:100, i.e. you need 4k from the phono stage in order to get to 40ohm at the cartridge. Unless you modify the phonostage you will not get it and your only sensible choices are 470ohm (47k) or 100ohm (10k). Or you can try the 10ohm loading and extrapolate the sound for 40ohm. Capacitance loading will have a minor effect on your cart; leave it at 100p.