[bmckenney]

Just curious if anyone is using either a high output MC and AVA phonostage, or a low output MC with SUTs and an AVA phonostage.  And if so, are you loading your MC cartridge at something other than 47K? 

Or is everyone using MMs?

Or yes you are using MCs but just not bothering to change loading?

Bryan

[Wayner]

This is a slippery slope Bryan. I have used a HOMC ( Sumiko Blue Point Special) and it is more then happy with 47K loading. Lots of manufactures spec odd ball loading for their MCs, but if you email them, they will tell you that 47k is OK. I've had that happen more then once.

Make sure the ouput of your MC is 2.5mv or better. Any lower could result in a higher then happy noise floor because of the mis-match.

Wayner

[bmckenney]

This is a slippery slope Bryan. I have used a HOMC ( Sumiko Blue Point Special) and it is more then happy with 47K loading. Lots of manufactures spec odd ball loading for their MCs, but if you email them, they will tell you that 47k is OK. I've had that happen more then once.

Make sure the ouput of your MC is 2.5mv or better. Any lower could result in a higher then happy noise floor because of the mis-match.

Wayner

My cartridge specs out loading at > 1K.  I know that different people with different systems and tastes have tried loading this cartridge and settled on anywhere from 1K to 47K.  First of all, they are hearing differences in the load for the most part, but some admit they did not hear a difference.  Some heard differences to the point they would have bailed on the cartridge if they were not able to get it down to 1K because of strident highs and poor low frequency response.  So yes, its a slippery slope in that results seem to be all over the map.  But for those that do hear a difference for whatever reason, its important that they can change loading.

My question still stands.  Do AVA phonostage users change the loading from 47K?  Have you?  If so, I'd like to know how you did it.

Bryan

[Listens2tubes]

My current Dynavector has an output of .26mV which is stepped-up with the Ortifon T-5 transformer 26dB. This works well at matching the impedance/resistance of the Karat but I'd like more gain,  perhaps 32dB, to not be so close to 1 oclock for concert level listening. Also to better match the output of my CD player. When I had the 10X5 with it's medium output of 2.5mV it was a similar story. But the 10X has recommended load resistance of 1K ohms which seemed to work well with my then Super Pas 4i.

[bmckenney]

My current Dynavector has an output of .26mV which is stepped-up with the Ortifon T-5 transformer 26dB. This works well at matching the impedance/resistance of the Karat but I'd like more gain,  perhaps 32dB, to not be so close to 1 oclock for concert level listening. Also to better match the output of my CD player. When I had the 10X5 with it's medium output of 2.5mV it was a similar story. But the 10X has recommended load resistance of 1K ohms which seemed to work well with my then Super Pas 4i.

Are you adjusting loading now though with your T8 and your current low output DV cartridge?  Or are you using the 47K?

As for gain, I read in Jim Smith's book, Get Better Sound, that you want your grain structure to be such that your preamp volume control operated from around 10 to 2 o'clock for most of your listening.  So assuming this is true and I got the numbers right, you probably don't need any more gain.

[Listens2tubes]

No I don't need to adjust loading as the transformer's input impedance range makes up for that.