MC cartridge input sensitivity range

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355F1

355F1

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Joined 2008
#1
The MC cartridge that I want to buy and is compatible with my tonearm has an output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec. - 0,25 mV.

My preamp's manual says MC input option: sensitivity adjustable 38 – 210μV for 5cm/s @ 1kHz.

Is that acceptable or should I look for 0,3 mV and up?

Regards,
 
#3
Your question seems illogical. 0.25 mV is already a bit more than the 0.038 mV to 0.21 mV that the amplifier is meant for, so why should you want to go for 0.3 mV?

In any case, 0.25 mV should be no issue. The maximum levels on records can vary all over the place, so any decent phono preamplifier has lots of headroom.
 
#8
Hi, Pity you do not mention what cat it is, it would help. Bit it should be OK. It is the same case with the 103 is 0.3mv whereas the 103R is 0.25mv. Your vol will be down a bit that is all that should happen. However you should also realise that many of the best MC carts have an output of under 0.2mv & therefore your pre could become a limiting factors. You the have 2 choices use a SUT into MM or build something like the Audio Karma MC phono amp AD797 that costs myth less than a decent SUT & can could with output voltages down to around 0.05mz & it also has adjustable loading

Cheers
 
#10
As I mentioned in my previous post, it is an MC20 Supreme. My amplifier already has an MC card, a SUT or head amp are out of the question, adding an extra link to the chain. For me it is a no no.
 

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#13
Going back to other equip, you say a separate head amp & SUT is out of the question. But the HypnoToad AD797 is not pne of them a high end phono amp. (diy build cost is about $250) & goes into a standard RCA input. Your preamp would need to be some like a $10,000 Benchmark to better it. Then you would never have any problem with cart matching again as it has adjustable vol & loading.

Cheers
 
#14
DNic said:
Then you would never have any problem with cart matching again as it has adjustable vol & loading.
Click to expand...

The MC gain can be adjusted for nominal levels from 0.038 mV to 0.21 mV. Please see levels. The problem is that the manual does not say how to do it. There are no micro switches on the card.

Gain MC

0dB 210μV
3dB 150μV
6dB 110μV
9dB 75μV
12dB 54μV
15dB 38μV

Cheers,
 
#18
It's an integrated amplifier of which the line inputs have a sensitivity that can be set by software (pages 22 and 23). I think the moving coil preamplifier itself just has a fixed gain, presumably 57 dB at 1 kHz (#), but it drives an input that can be set via software.

(#): As the default line input level of 150 mV is about 57 dB more than the 0.21 mV default MC input level.
 
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