it's a very simple arithmetics.
all you have to do is use the following formula to transfer gain from dB to times:
1. 20Log(times gain) = dB gain
2. times gain = 10^(dB gain/20)
"^" sign in the formula bellow represents power of an argument 10 in our case.
thus if your phonostage has a gain of 60dB than using second formula you should bring 10 to the power of three 10^3 = 1000 times i.e. 60dB = 1000 times.
You should always multiply the gain by your cartridge output and get an output voltage arround 500mV or higher.
A phonostage with 60dB gain can be used with the cartridges as low as 0.5mV on the output or higher. A phonostage with 40dB of gain(100times) can only be used with 5mV or higher etc...
I suggest to pick up phono that have at least 50dB of gain.
Sometimes it's enough(depending on the preamp sencitivity) to have the output of your phonostage 200mV or even bellow but that you will have to check on the preamp specification.
For low gain or zero gain or even passive preamps hold up to 500mV or higher.
all you have to do is use the following formula to transfer gain from dB to times:
1. 20Log(times gain) = dB gain
2. times gain = 10^(dB gain/20)
"^" sign in the formula bellow represents power of an argument 10 in our case.
thus if your phonostage has a gain of 60dB than using second formula you should bring 10 to the power of three 10^3 = 1000 times i.e. 60dB = 1000 times.
You should always multiply the gain by your cartridge output and get an output voltage arround 500mV or higher.
A phonostage with 60dB gain can be used with the cartridges as low as 0.5mV on the output or higher. A phonostage with 40dB of gain(100times) can only be used with 5mV or higher etc...
I suggest to pick up phono that have at least 50dB of gain.
Sometimes it's enough(depending on the preamp sencitivity) to have the output of your phonostage 200mV or even bellow but that you will have to check on the preamp specification.
For low gain or zero gain or even passive preamps hold up to 500mV or higher.