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Phono stage for 0.2mv cartridge?

  I am looking for a quality phono stage with at least 72db of gain.  During this last year I obtained a Canary MC10 which sounds beautiful but I am somewhat volume limited and listen at such high volume control settings that tube rush has become an issue.  At 69.5db of gain I hoped that the Canary would work out but...
  Most of the popular stages like the Herron and the Manlely Steelhead seem to run in the 66-70db gain range.  Reviewers seem to routinely report on these phono stages using cartridges with low outputs but that runs contrary to my experience so far.  Any suggestions appreciated.

Bill
wbs

Showing 6 responses by tooblue

tooblue
1,889 posts
 
FWIW, I have three tube phone stages, an Aural Thrills Audio Serenade rated at 60db of gain, an Allnic HE1500se II rated @ 66db of gain and a Wall Audio Opus 120 rated @ 70db of gain and in the same system with no changes other than the phone stages the system plays louder at the same settings in the opposite order as you would think from the output rating by the manufacturers. No way I can explain that, will leave that for those that can, but there seems to be more at play here than that rating in output db by the builders. Enjoy the music
tooblue
1,889 posts
 
@tkr, the Wall is the only one of the three that has adjustable loading and it was set @ 100 ohms, which is recommended by the manufacturer (ZYX Universe). Enjoy the music
tooblue
1,889 posts
 
The Wall Audio is going no where, the ATA Serenade will be listed for sale on U.S. Audio Mart next week, along with 7 other pieces of gear. Love audio, hate selling it. Enjoy the music
tooblue
1,889 posts
 
@uberwaltz, really surprised me as I started trying all three phone stages to decide on the one to cull/sell, as you might remember I was a bit leary of the Wall Audio @ 70db of gain as I had no issues with enough gain to begin with. Even used the same albums and monitored with a hand held SPL meter. Enjoy the music
tooblue
1,889 posts
 
@almarg , thank you so much for coming in on this conversation, I was hoping you would. I did not get the owners manual but have requested for one to be sought out for me from a friend of a friend living in Germany so that should be forth coming. The dealer I bought the Wall from is listed as the only U.S. distributor, Highend Audio in California, and he seems to be dropping the line, this was his floor demo, which I bought for a song. He stated the mm @ 45db gain, and the mc @ 64 and 70 db of gain.
tooblue
1,889 posts
 
@uberwaltz, yes I have and the 100 ohm was most to my liking. I am the one that needs to apologize for the hijack. Sorry OP.
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