You have to crank the volume because you're running a MC cartridge into a MM phono input and you don't have enough gain! Get a MC phono stage, borrow one if you have to, and see how much better it sounds. Beyond that it's likely that cd's will sound a bit louder even with a proper phono stage because the output is typically higher than vinyl. So go get that phono pre, until you do you won't have anything approaching good sound.
Trying to get back into Lps, I seem to be throwing
I would appreciate some advice on what I can do to improve my record listening pleasure. I have rescently purchased the Project perspective turntable and have installed the Sumiko blackbird MC cartridge as well. So far I am very disappointed in the sound quality from top to bottom. At this point I seem to be throwing money right down the tubes. My equiptment consists of a McIntosh C37 preamp with the standard MM output and 2 McIntosh 7200 amps with Aerial 9 speakers. I also have an ESound E5 cd player which has been upgraded by Joseph Chow (early 70s Kenwwood fame).