ezwicky - not exactly what you are asking about but somewhat related and hopefully helpful...
Why not just enjoy what you have for a while before upgrading to an external phono pre-amp? Not saying don’t do it ever, but sounds like you have a lot of vinyl that has been unplayed for some time and are trying to get reacquainted with its sound. I'm not surprised you need to bump up the volume when playing records vs CDs. The output voltage from my CDP is way higher than from my phono-pre. A volume adjustment isn't unusual. It isn’t like you are trying to run a low output moving coil and just don’t have adequate gain.
I use a Technics table w/Grado Black cartridge. The nice thing about the Prestige series is you can substitute a higher end stylus in the lower level cartridge bodies like the Black. You could go with a Grado Gold (top of the Prestige series) or get an 8MZ V stylus that some people think is an improvement (the option I choose). Price is the same: $150 for either. If unsure about the health of your current Grado Black stylus, get a new one for $50 bucks from Needle Doctor (they carry the full line of Grado replacement styli including Gold and 8MZ). Use the Black stylus for older more beat up vinyl and the Gold or 8MZ stylus for the pristine stuff. Enjoy the stuff you have for a while. Get used to the sound. Then decide if you want to invest further in vinyl playback.
Don’t make yourself crazy with volume matching and A/B testing from the get/go. Live with the sound of your records for a while. Once you are familiar, volume matching - while still helpful - won’t be as much of a distraction and I think you will begin to better hear what vinyl has to offer you vs digital.
Why not just enjoy what you have for a while before upgrading to an external phono pre-amp? Not saying don’t do it ever, but sounds like you have a lot of vinyl that has been unplayed for some time and are trying to get reacquainted with its sound. I'm not surprised you need to bump up the volume when playing records vs CDs. The output voltage from my CDP is way higher than from my phono-pre. A volume adjustment isn't unusual. It isn’t like you are trying to run a low output moving coil and just don’t have adequate gain.
I use a Technics table w/Grado Black cartridge. The nice thing about the Prestige series is you can substitute a higher end stylus in the lower level cartridge bodies like the Black. You could go with a Grado Gold (top of the Prestige series) or get an 8MZ V stylus that some people think is an improvement (the option I choose). Price is the same: $150 for either. If unsure about the health of your current Grado Black stylus, get a new one for $50 bucks from Needle Doctor (they carry the full line of Grado replacement styli including Gold and 8MZ). Use the Black stylus for older more beat up vinyl and the Gold or 8MZ stylus for the pristine stuff. Enjoy the stuff you have for a while. Get used to the sound. Then decide if you want to invest further in vinyl playback.
Don’t make yourself crazy with volume matching and A/B testing from the get/go. Live with the sound of your records for a while. Once you are familiar, volume matching - while still helpful - won’t be as much of a distraction and I think you will begin to better hear what vinyl has to offer you vs digital.