You went from a 2.5 mV HO MC cart to a 0.6 mV output low/med output MC cart. According to the KAB gain calculator, your new cart needs 13 dB more gain than the old, so I don't think that the BAT is going to solve the problem. The hiss you are hearing is probably a combination of overload and tube noise from goosing the volume up so high, which, IMO is likely the result of trying to drive low efficiency monitors (published spec I find is actually 85 dB w a nominal impedance of 6 ohms) w tubes. In most cases tube amps will make less power into a lower impedance load. W/O seeing the impedance curve of the speaker, or knowing your room size, it's hard to be more specific.
Gain challenge with Lyra Delos
I recently upgraded to the Lyra Delos. It bests my previous cartridge, the dynavector 10x5 by a long shot. But praises aside, I am having trouble driving this cartridge with my electronics, and something seems like it may be wrong.
I am going from lyra Delos, to audio research ph3se (54dB gain) to audio research LS25 via single ended cable (12dB gain) to Audio Research VT100 mkII amplifier, to Rockport Mira Monitors (87dB sensativity).
In order to get loud-ish sound in my small to medium sized room, I need to set my volume knob on the ARC LS25 to 3 o'clock or all the way to maximum. Once the level is this high, noise from the preamp is quite an issue, not to mention, there is nowhere to go from maximum. It is a bit surprising to me that with 54dB out of the phono pre, and 12 dB more from the preamp, that this situation would present itself. Is there something wrong?
I am considering switching the ARC PH3SE for a BAT VK-P5, which would get me one extra dB from the phono pre and 6 extra dB from the ARC preamp when using the balanced input over the single ended. I am thinking a 7dB jump would solve my problem.
Do you agree? Also, do you think there is something wrong in my cartridge or system, or this low output with this collection of gear seems right?
Thank you!
- Mark
I am going from lyra Delos, to audio research ph3se (54dB gain) to audio research LS25 via single ended cable (12dB gain) to Audio Research VT100 mkII amplifier, to Rockport Mira Monitors (87dB sensativity).
In order to get loud-ish sound in my small to medium sized room, I need to set my volume knob on the ARC LS25 to 3 o'clock or all the way to maximum. Once the level is this high, noise from the preamp is quite an issue, not to mention, there is nowhere to go from maximum. It is a bit surprising to me that with 54dB out of the phono pre, and 12 dB more from the preamp, that this situation would present itself. Is there something wrong?
I am considering switching the ARC PH3SE for a BAT VK-P5, which would get me one extra dB from the phono pre and 6 extra dB from the ARC preamp when using the balanced input over the single ended. I am thinking a 7dB jump would solve my problem.
Do you agree? Also, do you think there is something wrong in my cartridge or system, or this low output with this collection of gear seems right?
Thank you!
- Mark
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