Tee shot: Your question is difficult as there is no specific answer without taking into all of your components from cartridge to speakers. I have a cartridge that has .28 db of gain. My phono stage high gain is 60 db but that is not nearly enough to drive my Soundlabs to acceptable levels (75-80 db levels). My preamp 15 db, amps 20 db,and speaker 86 db? ). Require the volume to be turned up where the noise level is unacceptable. I lowered the gain on my phono stage and added 14 db with a step up which brings my gain to 68 db. I now have a very quiet background that also requires a lower volume on the control dial. So, I would recommend a phono stage that would allow adjustable gain or purchase a step up transformer and experiment with several different brands.
Phono Preamp Gain Question
I am looking to upgrade my phono preamp as I have just acquired a much better cartridge. The cartridge has an output of .28mv; my tube preamp has gain of 12db. What is the lowest gain that a moving coil stage of a phono preamp should have for me to listen without excessive noise? I listen at realistic levels--medium to loud. I have read that some of the newer phono preamps without transformers--ARC PH6 or CJ TEA2se to name two, will not have enough gain for my application. Thanks in advance for your help.