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Help system not working

I just put together a new system and being an Aesthetix fan, which is quickly changing, I got all Aesthetix equipment. Trouble is I got a IO phono stage paired with a Calypso sig pre amp and it is overloading the inputs. I have changed the jumpers and when calling Aesthetix they are telling me it is just not compatible and go buy there lower end Janus sig phono stage. Reviews on the Janus compared to the IO is not great. I could change the cartage but don't really want to. I am open to any suggestions. At this point replacing the IO seems like the best solution but would like to verify it.

Here is my system

Basis Debut
Lyra Delos cartage
Aesthetix IO
Aesthetix Calypso sig, pre amp
Aesthetix Atlas monoblocks

Thanks in advance for any advice totally frustrated that all the Aesthetix equipment doesn’t play together.
programmergeek

Showing 3 responses by almarg

almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Another option is to insert an inexpensive passive attenuator between the phono stage and the preamp, such as the balanced version of the Rothwell 10db attenuators.

I'd be very surprised if the input stage of any reasonably designed line-level preamp would be overloaded by the output of a nominally 0.6mv cartridge amplified by 40db (corresponding to the IO's minimum gain setting of 50db, with a 10db attenuator between phono stage and preamp).

The Calypso, however, has a relatively high gain, which could still result in your having to use its volume control at undesirably low settings. In that case, another passive attenuator could be inserted between preamp and power amp.

Regards,
-- Al
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
One follow-up to my previous comment. Are you completely certain that you have set the jumpers in the IO for minimum gain (approximately 50db), as indicated on page 4 of the manual?

If the specs on all of the components are accurate, according to my calculations the Calypso should not be getting overloaded by a 0.6mv cartridge amplified by the IO at its minimum gain setting, even without the 10db attenuator I suggested.

I am interpreting "overloaded," btw, to mean that distortion is present, as opposed to just having to keep the Calypso's volume control at a very low setting.

Regards,
-- Al
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
OK, good clarifications. Given that, I think putting a 10db attenuator at the inputs of the Calypso stands a good chance of resolving the distortion/overload problem, possibly with another pair of attenuators at the power amp inputs to allow you to operate the volume control at higher settings. I'm basing my calculations on the statement in the Calypso's manual that it accepts inputs up to 7 volts balanced or 3.5 volts unbalanced.

I think there are some line-level inline attenuators available that offer more than the 10db provided by the Rothwell's, but I'm not sure if they are available in balanced form.

As far as the Wadia is concerned, not sure why there was a problem, as its brochure indicates that its maximum output level can be adjusted to as little as 0.3 volts via internal switches.

Hope that helps. Regards,
-- Al
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