Hello all. I own a Pro-Ject Turntable with a red Ortophon cartridge connect to my Outlaw RR2160 receiver (witch I love). However, when I'm using the turntable the level of sound is much lower than the PC-USB input connect to my computer system. Not only the ''level'' of sound is low, but it seem ''thin sounding'' as well. Should I change the cartridge or should I buy a decent phono preamp ? Maybe I would like a tube phono preamp for warmer sounding. Thank you for your opinions.
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Hi BOTH,
The Red is one of the WORST sound cartridges available, but it has a healthy output at 5.5mv. you can get better sounding Golding carts that have a 6.5mv output, but than in itself will not be enough to significantly increase you gain. Another option, changing the stylus of the Red to a Blue will improve the S/Q
So you need a separate phono amp that will do the job, Look for one that has various gain selections. There are plenty of very good phono amp kits on this site.
So it really depends on your DIY skills & budget to recommend further.
Cheers
The Red is one of the WORST sound cartridges available, but it has a healthy output at 5.5mv. you can get better sounding Golding carts that have a 6.5mv output, but than in itself will not be enough to significantly increase you gain. Another option, changing the stylus of the Red to a Blue will improve the S/Q
So you need a separate phono amp that will do the job, Look for one that has various gain selections. There are plenty of very good phono amp kits on this site.
So it really depends on your DIY skills & budget to recommend further.
Cheers
Digital sources like CD players and DACs all have similar audio output levels, limited to 0dBFS (decibels full scale), which usually corresponds to 2Vrms.
Analog sources do not have that kind of standardization. There is no hard maximum level like 0dBFS. There is only the level at which the medium is 'saturated' and cannot store any more signal.
It could be that the needle on your Ortofon Red has been damaged or is simply misaligned.
It could be that the phonograph preamp section in your Outlaw receiver does not have much gain and so you hear a lower sound level from your records.
It could be that you have the outputs from your turntable connected to a line level input on your Outlaw receiver, and you're hearing the unequalized output from your Ortofon Red. That would be ''thin sounding''.
Have you checked connections?
Have you checked the alignment of your cartridge in the headshell?
Have you examined the stylus to see if the cantilever isn't bent, or the needle is in good condition?
Analog sources do not have that kind of standardization. There is no hard maximum level like 0dBFS. There is only the level at which the medium is 'saturated' and cannot store any more signal.
It could be that the needle on your Ortofon Red has been damaged or is simply misaligned.
It could be that the phonograph preamp section in your Outlaw receiver does not have much gain and so you hear a lower sound level from your records.
It could be that you have the outputs from your turntable connected to a line level input on your Outlaw receiver, and you're hearing the unequalized output from your Ortofon Red. That would be ''thin sounding''.
Have you checked connections?
Have you checked the alignment of your cartridge in the headshell?
Have you examined the stylus to see if the cantilever isn't bent, or the needle is in good condition?
The sensitivity of the MM Phono input of your amp is 3.3mV/47kohms so the Ortofon Red should drive it adequately.
Your description "thin sounding" and low level of sound makes me want to check that you don't have the turntable plugged into one of the "audio in" inputs instead of "phono".
Your description "thin sounding" and low level of sound makes me want to check that you don't have the turntable plugged into one of the "audio in" inputs instead of "phono".
Ortofon red is lowest in the line of three, but its not bad. With stylus shape there are improvements in higher models, but not dramatic.
If all is done well, even the lowest at for $45 will provide satisfactory sound.
I would check wiring, just in case there are no live and ground wires swapped. I trust he plugged it into phono input 🙂
Other thing maybe cartridge damage, the only way to find out is to install another.
If all is done well, even the lowest at for $45 will provide satisfactory sound.
I would check wiring, just in case there are no live and ground wires swapped. I trust he plugged it into phono input 🙂
Other thing maybe cartridge damage, the only way to find out is to install another.
From reading posts on other forums, people invariably realize just how poor all the entry level turntables are (not just Project) and eventually trade up to something decent, and get better phono preamps etc. I heard a Project Debut III many years ago, and an Xpression that had a 2M Red on it. It had the worst treble I think I've ever heard from a turntable.
jeff
jeff
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@vinylkid58 Makes a very good point.
Good sound from phono is neither inexpensive nor straightforward.
Good sound from phono is neither inexpensive nor straightforward.
I just looked up your receiver and noticed it has "a moving-magnet/moving-coil phono stage". Any chance you have MC selected instead of MM. The Ortofon Red is a MM cartridge.