phono pre loading and gain question

I never used a T-3000, so I have no personal experience with it. I have heard it is a very nice unit. Make sure it has the gain you want, and the loading selections you want.

Another choice that is good, is the EAR MC3 step up transformer.

You'll be about 15-20db short on gain for a Shelter, with that setup. The loading choices are an entirely different matter than the gain amounts. The loadings are to properly provide the cartridge with the correct characteristics that it is meant to drive. The gain settings are to increase the output of the cartridge to a useable level for the preamp to accept. Both are important to get the best from the cartridge.

Step up devices are not inherently noisy, but some cheaper head amps might be. Transformers may have some rolloffs or bass problems if you don't get a good one. The key is to buy a quality one of whatever type you choose.

With a step up transformer, the phono section would be loaded at the 47k ohm setting, and the load for the cartridge would be set at the input of the transformer, at an amount about 1/2 what is suggested as the normal load for going direct in to the phono stage, unless there is some specific directions by the manufacturer of the cartridge that it should be loaded at "X" for direct input, and "Y" for transformer. Some cartridge spec sheets will specify the loadings for both direct input and transformer.

I use a Shelter 501 with a step up transformer, and find that it works very well at a transformer loading of 40 ohms.

Marty, I have the Shelter and I use a Cotter step-up with 20db gain, a phono stage with 46db gain, and a line stage with 20db gain. That adds up to 86db gain, prior to entering the amplifier. I think that I am running a little "hot" and could drop back to about 80db without compromising anything. But I think that cartridge really needs about 80+db total gain in the front end before going to the amp.

You can do with less, but then you have to crank the volume, and raise the noise floor with it. I have also found that when you try to run the Shelter with too little phono gain, it suffers dynamically and sounds lifeless. I tried going direct into the phono stage and eliminating the 20db gain of the Cotter, and found it totally unsuitable with only 66db total gain in the front end. It was "dead" sounding that way. I put the Cotter back inline, and it was great. No contest.

To add to Plato's point, I have 100db speakers and my amp only requires three-tenths of a volt input to reach max output.

Well, my amp is very low power, maybe I don't have alot of gain there, so I need to get it earlier in the system. I don't have a gain spec on my amp. Heck, all I know is that is what it takes to sound good in my system.