[CButterworth]

I am thinking of building a Cornet2.  However, my Aikido preamp has a gain of only 18dB (maybe 20dB).  While this is sufficient using CD's, I am unsure if vinyl put through the 44dB gain of the Cornet2 will be sufficient.

Will the Cornet2 at 44dB be sufficient feeding a preamp of only 18dB?????

Thanks,
Charlie

[JoshK]

Depends on your cartridge output, your amp gain and your speaker's sensitivity and how loud you like to listen at how far back. 

[CButterworth]

Josh,

Gosh, I had no idea.  My assumptions were that as long as the output of the phono stage was equal to that of a CD-player.  I checked the Rega specs for their Fono preamp (I may use their turntable).  Their specs were for 3mV input and 200mV output.  They reckon that this would be fine for input to CD, tuner, tape inputs on an amp.

If I calculate the gain with 50K impedence into the Fono and 50K out, then I get a gain of 36.48dB.  This becomes 36.21dB if I use 47K input and 50K output impedences in the calculation.

Does this seem OK?

This would lead me to believe that 44dB gain would be quite sufficient, wouldn't it?

Charlie

[GRD]

What is your phono cartridge output?  If it's moving magnet - MM, or high output moving coil - MC, then the output will be a few millivolts which is just fine with 44 db of gain.  If it's a low output cartridge like many MC's (less than a millivolt), then you'll need some more gain ahead of the Cornet.  Step up transformers or Jim now has a headamp for the Cornet on his webpage. 

You want to have enough overall gain to drive your power amp to full power.  Something like one volt, depending on you particular amp.

[WEEZ]

As long as you're using a MM cartridge, you'll be fine. Worst case...you may have to turn the volume up a couple clicks on the line stage, but I doubt it. 40db for a phono stage plus or minus 10% is pretty standard.

WEEZ

[JoshK]

I was quick to answer, but like others said if your system works now with CD, then it'll work fine with a MM or high output MC cartridge.  That was the simple answer.