It sounds to me that you are using a passive linestage or a linestage with no gain or very little gain. I have a Rotel phono stage and when I used it with a linestage with no gain I experienced the same problem. My preamp is a VanAlstine Super PAS3si tube unit. I have since switched to a Hagerman Piccolo step up or headamp with gain settings and cartridge loading. It plugs directly into my tube preamps phono stage and all my problems with gain have been solved. With my existing phono stage having about 40db of gain the Hagerman gives me settings of 12, 20, and 30 db of additional gain. I choose the 12 db of gain and provides more than adequate volume.
I'm using an Audio Technica OC9II ML (0.4mv) with a Rega RB 600 tonearm. I have tried the 20db but the sound quality is better at the moment on the 12db and 100 ohms loading. I love that flexibility. If I play a record with lower gain and I need more I simply select the setting I want and in seconds MUSIC!
This was an example of how the linestage and gain play a role in the volume of your phono stage. The Rotel should be the gain of 40db MM or 5? or 60db for the Rotel PLUS the gain of your preamp or linestage.
I'm using an Audio Technica OC9II ML (0.4mv) with a Rega RB 600 tonearm. I have tried the 20db but the sound quality is better at the moment on the 12db and 100 ohms loading. I love that flexibility. If I play a record with lower gain and I need more I simply select the setting I want and in seconds MUSIC!
This was an example of how the linestage and gain play a role in the volume of your phono stage. The Rotel should be the gain of 40db MM or 5? or 60db for the Rotel PLUS the gain of your preamp or linestage.