Need help finding a new phono stage.


I just purchased the Marantz tt-15s1.
It has a dynavector 10x5 installed on it.
I have a Cambridge audio cp1, and it sounds great. Which I'm not fully understanding because I thought that stage was for mm only? Can someone help explain this?
My amp is set 3/4 the way up for the volume level I like.. but even at full tilt it doesnt sound distorted or anything!
I guess my main question, and my next step is what is a good phono stage to upgrade to??
For now though I am happy. 
Thanks in advance.
128x128kevdubbya

Showing 2 responses by dramatictenor

Hi I own the Parasound Halo JC3 Jr. I looked hard at the Gold Note PH10. I liked the variable EQ curves of the GN and its aesthetics more. I found the Halo to be the best of the dozen phono amps I tried at limiting rfi (we live near a tower) and in the real world is extremely quiet. 

In the end, I don’t have a ton of records using the older Decca curves, etc. so the advantage of rhe GN in that regard didn't matter to me. While specs are not everything, i find Halo’s to be very honest and kore granular. I have included rhe GN also. I don’t think you could go wrong with either. 


Parasound JC3 Jr specs:

Frequency Response: 
20-20Khz, +/- 0.2dB

Total Harmonic Distortion 
< 0.02% at 1 kHz

Signal to Noise Ratio, 40 dB Setting 
>85dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted 
>80dB, input shorted, unweighted

Signal to Noise Ratio, 50 dB Setting 
>89dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted 
>84dB, input shorted unweighted

Signal to Noise Ratio, 60 dB Setting 
> 94dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted 
> 91dB, input shorted, unweighted

Inter-channel Crosstalk 
>80 dB at 1 kHz

Input Impedance 
MM or MI: 47k Ω 
MC Variable: 50- 550 Ω

Output Impedance 
Unbalanced: < 100 Ω 
Balanced: < 100 Ω per leg

Input Capacitance 
150 pF

Input Sensitivity at 1 kHz, 4mV Input 
40 dB: 4 mV for 450mV output 
50 dB: 4 mV for 1.4 Volts output 
60 dB: 4 mV for 4.25 Volts output

Input Sensitivity at 1 kHz, 1V Output 
40 dB: 9 mV for 1.0 Volt output 
50 dB: 3 mV for 1.0 Volt output 
60 dB: 0.9 mV for 1.0 Volt output

Total Gain 
40 dB / 50 dB / 60 dB (unbalanced output) 
46 dB / 56 dB / 66 dB (balanced output)


Gold Note Ph 10 specs

Subsonic filter: 10Hz/36dB octave
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20KHz
[Enhanced 20Hz – 50KHz] @ +/- 0.3dB
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): <0.05% MAX
Signal to noise ratio: -89dB
Dynamic response: 105dB
Output impedance: 50Ω


AUDIO INPUTS

Input sensitivity: from 0.1mV MC to 7.0mV MM
Input impedance: 9 selectable options [10Ω, 22Ω, 47Ω, 100Ω, 220Ω, 470Ω, 1000Ω, 22KΩ, 47KΩ]
Input capacitance MM: 220pF
Gain: 65dB MC - 45dB MM with 4 options [-3dB, 0dB, +3dB, +6dB]