What DIY preamp for high output type MC cart?

leadbelly · 14th December 2009, 05:02 PM

I don't follow this forum often, and "MC" can't be searched on, so I was hoping for some help.

I just ordered a high output type MC cartridge, the type which can work with an MM preamp.

My question is related to what is the recommended or optimized type of phono preamp with this kind of cartridge? In other words, would an MC type preamp still be best because of low noise or input impedance? Would an MM type preamp be best? Or would some kind of DIY effort, say taking an MC design and cutting gain, be best?

MRupp · 14th December 2009, 06:07 PM

Wayne Colburn's "Pearl Phono Stage" would be a suitable and pretty good preamp, article should still be on passdiy.com. The Alephono MM stage may be even slightly better, though more complex.

Or: Any of a number of tube phone preamps, including maybe a FVP5 set to lower gain, the D3A phono preamp by Andrea Ciuffola, etc..

My candidates, in no particular order ...

MRupp · 15th December 2009, 08:58 PM

P.S. Just stumbled across this thread: Pearl Two

Allen Wright · 15th December 2009, 10:10 PM

Leadbelly,
You need a preamp that won't overload on the hi output of your cart - so a pure MC pre will have too much gain and almost certainly be moving into overload, if not there most of the time.

47k would be the correct loading.

I'd (naturally) suggest a tube preamp - there are lots of choices, but make sure you dump any MC step-up traffo - simply not needed.

Regards, Allen

14th December 2009, 05:02 PM	#1
leadbelly diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta	What DIY preamp for high output type MC cart? I don't follow this forum often, and "MC" can't be searched on, so I was hoping for some help. I just ordered a high output type MC cartridge, the type which can work with an MM preamp. My question is related to what is the recommended or optimized type of phono preamp with this kind of cartridge? In other words, would an MC type preamp still be best because of low noise or input impedance? Would an MM type preamp be best? Or would some kind of DIY effort, say taking an MC design and cutting gain, be best? __________________ Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. Enzo Ferrari

14th December 2009, 06:07 PM	#2
MRupp diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Frankfurt area	What DIY preamp for high output type MC cart? Wayne Colburn's "Pearl Phono Stage" would be a suitable and pretty good preamp, article should still be on passdiy.com. The Alephono MM stage may be even slightly better, though more complex. Or: Any of a number of tube phone preamps, including maybe a FVP5 set to lower gain, the D3A phono preamp by Andrea Ciuffola, etc.. My candidates, in no particular order ... __________________ Martin Rupp

15th December 2009, 08:58 PM	#3
MRupp diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Frankfurt area	Pearl Phono Two P.S. Just stumbled across this thread: Pearl Two __________________ Martin Rupp

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15th December 2009, 10:10 PM	#4
Allen Wright R.I.P. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Schaffhausen Switzerland	Leadbelly, You need a preamp that won't overload on the hi output of your cart - so a pure MC pre will have too much gain and almost certainly be moving into overload, if not there most of the time. 47k would be the correct loading. I'd (naturally) suggest a tube preamp - there are lots of choices, but make sure you dump any MC step-up traffo - simply not needed. Regards, Allen

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