Mark Levinson No 52 Preamp phono stage custom loading


The ML site has a download for HIFI news article, for the phono stage, it states:

"Custom input loads, should one be required, can be configured using internal solder-less connections by your dealer."

The ML user manual is not much help either:

"R Load: This setting offers a choice of resistive loading values for the Phono input:
• 47k ohms: The most commonly specified value for most phono cartridges.
• 3.3, 5.0, 7.7, 10, 33, 50, 77, 100, and 330 ohms
• Other: Enables the use of a custom-installed load. If you require a custom load to match your phono setup, contact your authorized Mark Levinson dealer for details"

Does anyone know about how the custom loading is done or has anyone done this? Sounds like jumpers or something, but I cannot find any info on how to accomplish this, thanks.
dnicol

Showing 6 responses by dnicol

It dawned on me that I should be able to also set the load to the option of 47K, and then use loading plugs. Example 900 ohm resistor used on a loading plug (1 male RCA to dual female RCA) would give me ~900 ohm resistive load?
SS Hyperion. I want to be able to resistive load between 470 and 1000 ohms. Loading plugs using 47K stage setting would be easier maybe to find what I like. Then I would use the internal screw terminals (if they exist in the No 52).
@bpoletti Thanks. I have been listening to the cart using a different stage that has variable loading, and no loading, etc., Soundsmith's loading recommendations for me are pretty spot on. The ML stage may be better, might be worse or lateral, but I will never know unless I can load it the way I want, and in the end if it has an internal custom loading option, for me that would be the best way to load after I find how the cart reacts to a different stage.
@terry9 If you are referring to the No52, could you tell me how/where the custom resistive loading is done? Are there screw terminals somewhere like the 32? Thanks.
@terry9 Curious, what were the most expensive and the cheapest?

I do have some 2575’s on the way, so far found dirt cheap chinese metal film 10 for 75 cents to sound better then a dale cmf55 or pink takman!

The worst was the most expensive resistor and the 2nd best was the cheapest.