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Phonostage/preamp recommendations. Parasound JC3 Jr.?

Hello all. After searching for hours and not quite understanding if I’m processing the information right, I figured I would sign up ask the question directly with my specific information. Obviously new to home audio so please go easy. I bought a "new to me" Sota Sapphire with a Sumiko Premier FT-3 tonearm and Dynavector DV-10X5 cart. I leveled it out and set up the arm. Hooked it up to my Denon DRA-800H receiver (which says it has a phono input) paired up with Polk RTI A3 bookshelves. Everything "works" fine. Highs are clean and crisp. No funky sounds or anything like that so overall success. My issue comes with the overall loudness of the playback (having to almost max the volume at 70 before achieving listenable levels) and the lack of bass and overall dimension in the music. Not having a sub and understanding they are only bookshelves I don’t expect the world of them but I was thinking it should sound better than my bluetooth Bose Soundlink? Being an MC cart the person a bought the turntable from suggested I could benefit from running a dedicated phonostage before the Denon. The Parasound Jr. looks good giving the option to switch from MM to MC and seems to have a good fanbase.  Am I on the right track to a decent starter system? Any recommendations? looking for something I won’t have to upgrade for a while, but not looking to sell my bike either. Please help school me on this rabbit hole I’ve ventured into! Also not opposed to tubes, but I’m sure that’s a whole other world I shouldn’t be exploring quite yet. Thanks in advance.

Recap on what I have:
Sota Sapphire
Sumiko Premier FT-3
Dynavector DV-10X5
Denon DRA-800h
Polk RTI A3
tommyd902688

Showing 5 responses by mofimadness

mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,936 posts
 
Unless I missed something, (which is probably the case), the OP has a high output MC, (Dyna 10X5, 2.5mv). No need for a SUT, it would over-load it.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,936 posts
 
I owned a GoldNote PH-10 for quite awhile.  Excellent unit, top notch...until I tried the JC3 Junior.

The Junior had an absolute black background, (NO noise at all) and the music just exploded from it.  Dynamic with a finesse that's hard to beat.  I have a lot of different tables and carts and tried quite a few.  

Needless to say, I sold the PH-10 and kept the Junior.  Couldn't be happier.

IMHO, both are excellent units.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,936 posts
 
They are both excellent units.  The other poster had a JC3+, not a Junior.  The JC3+ should have been even better?

I had an original JC3 years ago and it was the closest I have ever come to my favorite phono stage ever...the Vendetta Research, (same designer, John Curl).  I would assume the JC3+ is better, but I couldn't afford it, so I opted for the Junior.

I don't have any LPs that would benefit from the different RIAA curves, so that wasn't an issue.

Once you initially set up the Junior, you won't need to change the settings, so that shouldn't be an issue either.

Again, you couldn't go wrong buying either one...
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,936 posts
 
That's the right input on the receiver.  Now hook up the turntable to the MM input on the Parasound Zphono.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,936 posts
 
Usually, high output moving coils are designed to run into a MM section, not a MC section. Your overloading it.

Also, did you hook up your new phono stage to the phono input, or any other high level input, (i.e. Aux, tape, CD, etc)?  That's where it should be, (high level input, NOT phono).
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