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What gain should I have?

What gain should I have?
Have an Audio Technica AT150, the Riaa step is a Primare R32 and the amplifier is Audio Research Vsi60. If you lift the cover to the Riaa amplifier you can change the gain either 41.5 db or 46.5 db. How to think about this?
What are the pros and cons of respective gain?
titus1
5 responses Add your response
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rauliruegas
13,050 posts
 
Dear @titus1: As you said under tests conditions you can evaluate.

Now, for you the critical subject is the overload spec in the Primare that can be overloaded ( generating distortions. ) or not by the output level of the cartridge. Differences in those Primare gain settings can be generated by how good the AR V60 handle each gain.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
titus1 OP
18 posts
 
Many thanks for your opinions and knowledge.
Have samples listened to both gain options today and your suggestions on 41.5 match the impressions of my listening
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
Tom...thanks for doing the math. I was still in a Turkey coma :-)

Here's the link:

https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_database_tools.php#VoltageGainCalculator
tketcham
291 posts
 

Hi, titus1,

As mofimadness says, the 41.5dB of gain should work well with your setup.

If you want some numbers to see why:

4mV output of AT150 into 41.5dB of gain in R32 gives you approximately 475mV output.

Using 46.5dB gain setting in R32 would give you 845mV output.

Input sensitivity of the Vsi60 is 470mV so you shouldn't need additional gain.

Regards,

Tom

PS: Gain calculations based on this website:

mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
The 41.5db setting should be fine.  The AT150 has a pretty decent output.

If you have too much gain, you increase noise and the chance of overloading.

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