MM or MC cartridge for Mm input on Preamp

0.5 mV is no problem for the Steelhead even if your linestage adds zero gain to the phono signal. You previously suggested your cartridge puts out .01 mV, which I took to be a typo since there are no cartridges I know about that have such a tiny output.

If you own a v2.0 Steelhead, which hasn’t changed in at least a decade, you should have its remote volume control, which of course is only relevant if you use the Steelhead as a full function preamplifier. Since you use it as a phono stage, the Manley remote is irrelevant of course. Any way you probably need the extra gain afforded by your linestage, if you’re using such a low output cartridge, which you haven’t identified so far.

Presumably the linestage section of your integrated adds gain to the max of 65 db gain you can get from the Steelhead. Incidentally don’t you have a remote for volume with your steelhead? Mine does. But it doesn’t control input, etc.

I am laughing at myself a bit for not realizing that you must have meant 0.1 mV. There are no cartridges I know of that have an output of only .01 mV. My orto phon MC 2000 is one of the lowest output moving coil cartridges ever made, and it puts out .05 mV.

What cartridge are you using that only puts out .01 mV? There are not too many where the output is that low. Also a very important factor is how are you using the Steelhead? If you use it add as a phono stage with an outboard line stage, then you add the gain afforded by the linestage to your total gain. The steelhead can also be used as a full function Preamplifier, but when you use it that way its own internal linestage does not add gain to the signal. So if you are using the 65 DB setting for a very low output cartridge, that is all you are going to get , and the output voltage from the linestage section has to be sufficient to drive your amplifier. 65 DB of gain would be very marginal indeed for a .01 mV cartridge. It would be in a comfortable range for a 0.25 to 0.3 mV cartridge, in most cases. The gain requirement is fairly dependent on the input and output impedances of the devices you are linking together, the sensitivity of the amplifier for full output, and finally the sensitivity of the speakers themselves. So each of us might have a different impression of how much gain is needed for a particular cartridge, because of differences in the downstream equipment, Particularly if you are using an outboard linestage that may add 10 DB to as much as 20 DB additional gain to the signal coming from the steelhead.

Houston, Just look at the selector switch.  In the MM mode you can select any of many possible load resistances, from 47K on down.  Since my own unit is not in front of me, I cannot recall the lower limit available.  For fun, you might start at 47K and go down from there in increments to find what for you would be a sweet spot.  There is no "wrong" choice, except as a rule of thumb you'd like to stay at or above a load R value that is about 10X the internal R of your particular LOMC.

Rooze, the point is that max gain via either MM or MC inputs on the Steelhead is the same. Only difference is the range of load resistance available in each case. Using MM you can load an LOMC at 47K, if you like. Using MC inputs, the max R is 400 ohms. I’m sure you know this, just wanted to clarify for the OP.

The “MM” input on the Steelhead essentially bypasses the autoformers used to achieve low input impedances typically used for LOMC cartridges. Those  low impedance autoformers are accessed via the two pairs of MC inputs. So if you want to load a LOMC cartridge at 47K ohms, you use the MM inputs set to 47K and set gain according to cartridge output. Don’t be confused by this, all the settings are labeled in writing on the front panel. Yes, it’s unconventional.

The MM input on the Steelhead can provide anywhere from 50 to 65db of gain, input to output. Input resistance and capacitance are adjustable on the front panel. So nearly any cartridge can be accommodated. Do you have an owner manual?