2. analog
  3. 1261350841

Convert cartridge output voltage to db gain

Happy holidays everyone. I hope that you may help me with a problem. I have re-configured my system, preamp and amp gone, I'm now using a integrated amp. I still have my phono stage and cartridge. My cartridge has a 0.24mV output, my phono stage has 66 db of gain. This used to sound fine, but now I notice that the noise floor is too high for me. So I'm debating on whether to look for a higher gain phono stage, or more likely, a higher output cartridge.

So now my question, how much more output would give me how much more gain? Should I be looking at a 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0+ mV output cartridge? I think I need at least 10 db more gain, and there are not many 76db+ phono stages out there. So what do you analog experts think? Is there any table out there that can show me how to convert voltage output to gain increase? TIA.

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2

Showing 1 response by uru975

uru975
684 posts
 
My cartridge is low enough, about .35mV that to get it to sound the same as the CD player the volume has to be turned up. Paul Marks, the phono preamp creator said it was a matter of the gain of the phono preamp combined with the cartridge output that made it necessary. A slightly higher one, .65mV was mentioned, would obviate that necessity.
So some part of it is the gain issue, but not the noise issue.
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