[SteveRB]

Hello,

I started a discussion in the Power Conditioning Circle that has led to a discussion on phono stage gain and cartridge output matching. I am new to this concept... I have since tried the gain calculator at KAB (http://www.kabusa.com/pregain.htm).

My current phono stage has a published spec for gain at 23.5 db. Apparently this is quite low. My question is then how do reviewers comment on excellent sound with similar cart output and gain with such a huge gap in the amplification...? (You can't read any article without someone matching arm/cart compliance matching... )

Is my phono stage actually not intended for MM carts at only 23.5 db?

Just interested in people's thoughts.

[neobop]

Hi,
Is this phono stage part of a preamp or integrated amp?   23.5dB doesn't make any sense for a separate phono stage.  "Normal" MM gain is 40dB and 60dB for MC. 
Sometimes a preamp or integrated will have less gain in phono if there is a lot of gain in the line stage, but 23.5dB seems too low even for that. 

What specifically do you have?  It's probably designed for a ceramic cartridge.  They put out mucho voltage and will usually overload a MM stage.
neo

[SteveRB]

Neo,

I am using a Leben RS30eq. I just found the Stereophile article where they publish measurements...

They say off the bat "The RS-30EQ phono preamplifier offered a voltage gain of 37.1dB, which is very much higher than the specified 23.5dB but is appropriate for moving-magnet cartridges."

http://www.stereophile.com/content/leben-rs-30eq-phono-preamplifier-measurements

Strange?

[neobop]

Strange indeed.  Perhaps Leben's slide rule slipped when he calculated gain. 

You should be good to go with most any high output cart. 

neo

[SteveRB]

I'm wondering it is has to do with their circuit design...