There seems to be an underlying assumption that the Whest phono stage is a truly balanced device. It may have XLR input or output jacks, but I find no evidence anywhere to say it is balanced. For that matter, the same holds true for the ARC, altho in the latter case one can probably find out. Whest are so mysterious about their products that one can only go on the absence of a claim on their website, rather than on any real circuit description. Well, they do not claim that any of their products are balanced, so I am tending to think they are not. Ergo, subtract some db from your estimates.
Cartridge gain overload - please explain
I am using a Lyra Delos on a JA Michell tecnodec, a Whest .30R phono stage,
an ARC LS25 linestage, ARC VT100 amp, and Rockport Mira Monitors.
I recently added the Whest to get more gain because the ARC PH3SE with 54dB was not enough, especially because the LS25 gives just 12dB of gain to single ended sources. By switching to the Whest, I was able to get more gain right from the phono stage, and also an additional 6dB from running balanced into the LS25.
Because I was coming in from a under-gain situation, I started with the Whest set to 66dB, thinking a bit more is good, and I could just turn the volume knob lower on the LS25. But there was that record pop / loud static discharge sound which was actually cartridge gain overload. When I changed the gain settings to 60dB, the problem ceased.
My question is, why does this happen? Whats wrong with an extra 6dB from the phonostage and just a little less output from the linestage to compensate? In my mind, that seems like it would work fine.
I would like to know more about this. Perhaps there will be even a benefit if I switch down to 55dB? But that seems counter intuitive, because I was getting too little gain before and I had to really ramp up the volume on the line stage, which caused a lot of noise.
thanks,
Mark
an ARC LS25 linestage, ARC VT100 amp, and Rockport Mira Monitors.
I recently added the Whest to get more gain because the ARC PH3SE with 54dB was not enough, especially because the LS25 gives just 12dB of gain to single ended sources. By switching to the Whest, I was able to get more gain right from the phono stage, and also an additional 6dB from running balanced into the LS25.
Because I was coming in from a under-gain situation, I started with the Whest set to 66dB, thinking a bit more is good, and I could just turn the volume knob lower on the LS25. But there was that record pop / loud static discharge sound which was actually cartridge gain overload. When I changed the gain settings to 60dB, the problem ceased.
My question is, why does this happen? Whats wrong with an extra 6dB from the phonostage and just a little less output from the linestage to compensate? In my mind, that seems like it would work fine.
I would like to know more about this. Perhaps there will be even a benefit if I switch down to 55dB? But that seems counter intuitive, because I was getting too little gain before and I had to really ramp up the volume on the line stage, which caused a lot of noise.
thanks,
Mark