[CButterworth]

I have rephrased my original question.

I use my Rega Apollo as an input to my Aikido preamp via a 50K stepped attenuator.  The specs for the Rega suggest that the maximum output line level is 2V.

My intention is to get the phono to use similar volume settings as the CD-player.

How can I get the Cornet2 to achieve this?  Is it possible?  Would the Cornet2 with a Piccolo front-end work?  What about a step-up transformer?

Thank-you,
Charlie

[GRD]

One suggestion - pad the output of the CD player to match the Cornet if you really want to get similar volume.  Could be the simplest solution.  And you can do it when you want.  You may decide it's not worth worring about. 

[hagtech]

Most CD players spit out 2Vrms full scale.  In my opinion that is way too high.  Why?  Well, most power amps reach full power usually around 1V.  Very few require up to 2V.  The point is, a signal straight out of a CD player will drive virtually any amplifier into clipping.  Hence, the linestage acts as nothing more than an attenuator.  Worse yet, active linestages have 15dB to 20dB gain.  The result is a LOT of attenuation.  One step forward, two back.  Why all the gain?  So you can throw it away!

Simpler is better.  Sonically you will get the most musical and transparent results at minimal gain.  This is even better if you can bypass the volume control (minimal attenuation).  Basically, try to throw away as little signal as you can get away with.  Otherwise you are adding more distortion and coloration than is needed.

To answer your question, yes, a PICCOLO will add some front end gain to increase the signal level.  So you can throw it away later.  However, this will tend to drive the input of the CORNET2 too hard on transients leading to possible harshness.  The CORNET2 phono is designed to sing with nominal cartridge levels of 5mV (and their expected +20dB peaks), not 20mV.  The significantly higher levels drives the second stage tube out of its linear operating region (only on transients), leading to distortion.  

The other possibility is to use a PICCOLO on the output of the CORNET2.  Yes, it can handle pretty high signals and will spit out 2Vrms.  But again the levels are too high.  In this case limited by power supply rails.  A step-up transformer might work better here.  Just make sure it can handle the relatively high signal levels.

Perhaps your best choice is to decrease the output from the CD player.  You will then apply your linestage in a more linear fashion, leading to better sound.

jh

[JoshK]

I agree with Jim.   But try explain this to the masses...     Everyone seems to think they need a preamp, because in their logic it sounds better and is more dynamic.   My own take on this is because they need the current drive the preamp provides, not the gain.  Most of the opamps in standard source components can't drive the cables and reactive front ends in a lot of SS amps with enough headroom and authority because they don't have enough current swing.   This is different than having enough gain. 

I often wonder why more preamps aren't just configured as buffers.     I can understand 3-9db's of gain, but who needs the 16-26db's of gain many tube preamps put out?  Maybe if you tube amp is depending on it, but most amps today aren't built that way. 

[CButterworth]

Josh,

You may be very correct.  In fact, if I think about it, the 100K pot on the front of the Aikido is vastly attenuating the CD signal prior to it reaching the tubes.  The l-pad in the main amp attenuates the Aikido signal before it enters the main amp.

As for using a tubed preamp.  I have the AKSA 55N (Aspen Amplifiers) and I love it.  You cannot believe the number of folks who marvel that 55WPC can give such good sound compared with their 500W plastic cr*p, afterall power is everything, isn't it?

Hugh Dean the AKSA designer reckons that some preamplification to improve the bottom end of the AKSA55, he also believes that a tubed preamp with a SS main amp can eccentuate the best qualities of both amplification types (tube and SS).  This combination has certainly made my eyes open and jaws drop in disbelief.

Hence the tubed preamp.

Anyway, I'll get a home demo of turntable and phono amp, as I want to try the Rega P1 or P2 before I committ to buy.  This will give me an idea if a phono preamp of 30-40 dB will be radically different in volume than my CD-player.  Then I can order parts for the Cornet2 - Oh what fun!

Charlie

[JoshK]

Well I wasn't poking fun at you.  I was just stating something that seems to be hard to grasp for a lot of audiophiles.  I agree with Hugh on what you said, but I think Hugh uses the tube preamp as a buffer, not for gain, but I could be wrong. 

[CButterworth]

Josh,

I had no idea even if you were poking fun at me, I certainly didn't think you were.

As I remember Hugh's TLP (and maybe the GK-1) has very little gain (maybe even unity gain).  However, I do remember him saying that the AKSA55 does benefit from a little preamplification.  For the Aikido, I opted for relatively low gain (just less than 20dB).  I could have gone for lower gain, but the lower gain tubes seem to draw more power from the PSU.

The difference between non-preamp AKSA and preamped AKSA was (for my wife and I) quite profound. I lack the audiophile volcabulary, but the sound seemed fuller, but also more open.

I hope to be able to upgrade to the LifeForce one day!

Charlie