I'm sure i can buy quiter tubes and have done that by purchasing some Mullards. VTL checked the unit out and put new tubes in just before i put it in storage free of charge in fact they upgraded the phono section for me. I think I need to go with a higher ohm cartridge.
Best MM for the money or?
Are there any MM cartridges out there that rival the elite MC cartridges? I have in storage a VTL Ultimate with a MC stage but with my Monster Genesis 2000 cartridge(.02mv) I can only take the volume up to 12 o'clock before the back round noise is noticable. Should i go to maybe a .o4mv cartridge,would that solve the problem? Or should I just go to a MM cartridge and be happy with that. The VTL is magical with the CD stage which is why I never sold it and it meshes well with the Manley Tube amps I have in storage too.