Phono hook-up for Atma-Sphere MP-1?

Denis, I'm not an expert on this and Ralph is certainly the best person to advise, but here are some thoughts. I don't see any reason why the phono output could not go into the tape monitor loop other than the possibility of the tape monitor loop not providing an adequate buffer to the load of the phono stage. If this is a problem, you'll hear it in the frequency response curve and the dynamics. (Ralph can advise best here.) Trust your ears on this: if you don't hear a problem, there is no problem. If you don't hear the frequency extension you're used to hearing with CD, then consider this a potential culprit.

As to the RCA-to-XLR adaptors, the major issue is the addition of another set of connectors/contacts, plus the quality of the adaptors themselves. I've heard that the BAT adaptors are of good quality, but I don't have any firsthand experience. The Walker Audio Extreme SST contact enhancer will help ameliorate the issue of the additional set of contacts, but obviously can't eliminate it.
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Denis, some would say that the low voltages that the phono cable (tonearm to phono stage) has to deliver requires a different type of cable, particularly as regards shielding. I've never given that much credence, but have not experienced difficulty in my system that others may have had to deal with. As to the cable from the phono stage outputs to line level input on the linestage, at this point you are dealing with line level voltage just as with the output from a DAC, so there are no additional low voltage signal issues. I use Omega Mikro Ebony cables (available as single-ended only) for my phono cable and those cables have about the least amount of shielding of any cable one might consider. So, my thought always is to buy the most neutral and transparent interconnect one can manage irrespective of phono or high level source application. I've heard good things about the EAR phono stage - Enjoy!
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