[JackD]

Try between 300-600ohms and 60 or 65db gain.

[tomytoons]

I set it at 300 Ohms.
He will have to lower to 100 Ohms I would say.

[JackD]

Odd then as the cartridge is 30ohms and 10-20x should work.  I would try one up and one down and see what happens, based on the speakers.  Den what is the gain set at?  The calculator at KAB shows 60db to be right for that cartridge, but he might need 65db.

[neobop]

Thanks guys, lots of interesting suggestions.

The Van Alstine looks interesting, but I hesitate(maybe silly) to get a super early model.

The Heed looks nice, but I am not that patient to wait.

The Ifi is hella interesting.

People keep raving about that Dynavector with the Phono Enhancer. Something I am definately considering.

I do have Tomytoons' Vista, just received it yesterday. So far so good, but I think I need to play around with the resistors a bit, I am getting a bit of harshness in the highs, almost a sibilance.

Hi BOP,
You have a Technics 310MC?  VE database lists output as .28mV,  Impedance 30 ohms.

First off, the amount of gain you'll need depends on your system, speaker efficiency and amplification gain.  Some preamps have 20dB and a passive has none.  You can experiment easily with Vista.  Don't forget to unplug it for awhile before making changes.

There's a good chance your cart has a non-magnetic core.  I don't know this as fact, but the 300MC and 305MC are both coreless.  With impedance of 30 ohms it's a distinct possibility.  This is a good thing.  Some great carts like the DL-S1 and AT ART 7 are coreless. It could interact badly with some phono stages though.  This is characterized by a harmonic overtone sometimes present in the midrange and treble.  It's caused by the small amount of inductance present at the cart output interacting with capacitance and creating ultra high freq oscillation or overload.  It happened to me.

I don't know if in fact this is the problem.  Try loading it down (100 ohms) and set the gain so you're at 11 or 12 o'clock most of the time.
neo

[tomytoons]

Yes as I stated in a PM to Jason, it is a balance your after and it depends on your equipment.
I have seen one of those cartridges on E Bay for $550 NOS!!

I have understood the Impedance at 10X the 30 Ohms, 300 ohms.
Again balance and taste. That 60db gain seems a bit low according to KAB calculations. I would go for the 65db gain.

I have heard that harmonic overtone in the midrange on my OC9ML /II, piano in particular a ringing effect, got rid of by going to 75 ohms not the recommended >100 ohms without a step-up. Looking at step-ups now.

Ya gotta play on........

[BellyOfPork]

Good stuff here, guys.

Much trial and error has gotten me here as of this morning.

Gain set to 60db and Loading at 68 Ohm.

I got the gain dialed yesterday, 55 was a hair too low, 60 is a hair to high. I probably actually need 57/58.

I Cranked up the loading for quite a while to see what was going on, at one put I accidently put in the 75K ohm, thinking they were 75 ohms. That was not overly pleasant . I have been getting lower at every iteration, I will try 50 ohm in a few hours.

I am getting some weird bass response at this point, but only on some really low end recordings(Om - Conference of The Birds). On the other hand Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is sounding nice right now.

And Neobop, thanks for the volume at 11 o'clock reminder. In addition I think you are right about the 0.28mV, I have read too much conflicting stuff about 0.2mV etc. The .28mV makes sense with the gain I have going now.

Minn Mark: You sound hella excited about the VanAlstine stuff, I will ring the guy.

Thanks for all the help!