settings for Rega Exact II / Simaudio Moon LP3 ?


I just bought a Rega turntable with Exact II cartridge here on Audiogon, and elsewhere bought a Simaudio Moon LP3 phono preamp. I found an online manual for the LP3, and the manual informs me that I can set the impedance loading to 100 or 47k Ohms; I can set the capacitance loading to 0 or 100pF.

I haven't found any detailed instructions to tell me which settings are best for the Rega Exact II cartridge. Can anyone fill me in?

By default, the LP3 has internal jumpers set for 100 pF and 47k Ohm. Is this the best bet for my cartridge?

Thanks in advance!
rach_fan

Showing 1 response by bmckenney

C loading depends on what the cartridge spec calls for and then you have to account up the C in your arm cable, and then add in whatever extra you can on the phono stage to make it equal to what the cartridge spec is. Since you probably don't know what the C of your cable is and Rega doesn't publish a spec for the recommended C, your best approach is to try both 100 and 0 pF. See if 100pF sounds unbearably bright compared to 0. Or maybe 0 pF sounds dull compared to 100 pF. Or maybe you won't hear a difference. Impedance at 47K is probably best.

BTW, I dont think there is such thing as an Exact 2, only the Exact, even though you see references to the 2 on sites like Raskin's. Personally, I'd get anything but a Rega MM cartridge. I'd wager if you looked up all of the users experience posts with rega pickups from all the boards you'd find the consensus is they are not very good performers or value for money.