The answer is you want to MATCH cartridge output level to phonostage gain in order to attain the best SQ . If the phonostage doesn’t have sufficient gain for the cart’s output level, the signal will be noisy and the dynamic contrasts you’re seeking will diminish as you are cranking up your preamp volume to compensate and get an acceptable listening level. If the phonostage has too much gain for the cart then the phonostage becomes susceptible to distorting during peaks.
more gain = more dynamics or less?
I have read some in depth threads on gain and loading of sut and preamps, and I grasp parts but certainly not the whole. And I gather for every ten people who think they understand it, only a couple actually do... as evidenced when one of you heavy hitters weighs in and blows up all the misconceptions!
So without going into all the details, is it possible to generalize whether more phono gain creates more dynamic headroom, less dynamic headroom, or the same dynamic headroom? Designers seem to seek the minimum amount of gain necessary in the phono chain... but I am not sure if this is only to minimize noise? Or does it have other benefits?
Thanks.
So without going into all the details, is it possible to generalize whether more phono gain creates more dynamic headroom, less dynamic headroom, or the same dynamic headroom? Designers seem to seek the minimum amount of gain necessary in the phono chain... but I am not sure if this is only to minimize noise? Or does it have other benefits?
Thanks.