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Phono Stage Amp

I have a mid-level to low end turntable. (Music Hall 11.1) and a low end decent Phono Stage Music Fidelity M1. Good tonearm and good cartridge. 

I listen to JAZZ so volume isn't too much of an issue, but sometimes I just want it loud. I have Cary Audio slp-05 tube pre and the Cary Audio mono block main tube amps as drivers

I crank the volume up just past half way and there tends to be distortion. Below half way the sound is incredible. The records sound better than the corresponding CD or, of course, DAC streaming.

Would upgrading my phono-stage to one with greater boost help me? Or is that half (my whole phono system) of my system as good as it could get?  

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Showing 2 responses by clearthinker

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

@ditusa and Jason have nailed it.  Nothing to do with cart or phono stage.  Or acoustic feedback.  Or TT isolation!!

15w of Cary fleapower won't drive the the 87dB grossly inefficient Totems.  So it sounds fine when underdriven but is probably bleeding out 5% distortion when you up the volume.

Only three solutions:

1.   If you like the sound, don't up the volume.

2.   Ditch the fleapower Cary if you like the Totems and get an amp giving 200w or so with a decent power supply section.

3.   If you like the Cary, get speakers with around 100dB sensitivity.  You'll be limited to horns, just like all the other fleapower users.

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

Good proposal to connect 200wpc.  If this solves problem, it exonerates the TT and front end.

@whyduhitme   Starting again here.  You don't get the fuzz on other inputs than phono.  So try a different phono amp as I note the MA252 has no MC input.  I don't see why changing the phono amp prevents you plugging into the line level inputs on the MA252 as you do now.   I assume you get equal fuzz in both channels?  Check the settings on the Mofo are suitable for the cart.

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