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Increasing gain for your vinyl front end when pre-amp doesn't quite have enough juice

Hi Folks, just wanted to get your thoughts on what route you would go if your pre-amp (I’m talking about a normal pre-amp, not phono preamp) doesn’t quite have enough gain for very high listening levels for my turntable set-up. Now, on my phono-pre amp, there is a setting for maximum gain (schiit Mani) up to 59db, but the S/N ratio takes a hit and goes down to 70db, however, it does pump out the needed volume. What about the idea of putting in a good (inexpensive headphones amp/preamp - one of those $99 guys - like schiit Magni, JDS Labs Atom or Monolith Liquid Spark) between the phono preamp and the regular preamp? Does this have the potential of producing the needed gain while at the same time not degrading the signal too much (perhaps not as much as full gain on the Mani?) Just wanted to see what you all think. To me it seems like less items in the signal chain the better, but if it has a higher S/N ratio could be a better option? (with the added benefit of listening to vinyl through headphones, which I’ve never done before.)
bstatmeister

Showing 1 response by lewm

lewm
13,632 posts
 
What cartridge are you using? What is it's output voltage?
From your post, I am not quite certain what you are using now, except it's a Schiit Mani.  If at least I got that right, is the Mani a phono-only unit or does it include a linestage, which is to say, can you plug your CDP or TV into it as well, which would indicate it has a line level input?  If there is a built-in linestage, when you say the max gain is 59db (an odd number for a manufacturer to state), I assume you refer to total gain, phono stage plus linestage.  Yes? 

Once I get the facts straight, I can try to help.  We also need to know what amplifier and speakers you are using, and if possible the input sensitivity of the amplifier. (Defined as the magnitude of the input signal voltage required to drive the amplifier to its full output.)  But for now, if you are asking about the wisdom of driving another separate linestage with the output from the linestage already built into the Schiit, the answer is "not a good idea".

By the way, what is so terrible about a 70db S/N ratio?  For vinyl, that shouldn't be too obtrusive.
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