I think you are also running into an impedance mis-match there. The MM phono section probably wants a 47K Ohm load (which the 20 XH has), and the 20 XL is only 30 (NOT K!) ohms. Makes quite a difference in response & dynamics. Probably accentuates the noise floor as well as damping the dynamics.
Swap the cartridge if you can, or pick up an MC phono section & run it into a line-level input.
Good luck!
Ed
Swap the cartridge if you can, or pick up an MC phono section & run it into a line-level input.
Good luck!
Ed