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Sonic Frontiers Phono One: Gain too high?

Hello,

I'm trying to help a fellow 'phile troubleshoot a problem with his Phono One. He claims that he cannot use anything except very low output cartridges with his Sonic Frontiers phono stage because he has the "high gain" version. Evidently there were three different versions of the SF Phono One: a low gain, normal, and high gain? I looked through the manual and on page eight it describes how to set the dip switches for various cartridges, even has two user defined positions (using add-on resistors and capacitors). No idea why he couldn't fiddle with these settings to dial in the step up.

So... can a "high gain" Phono One be set up to accomodate high output moving coil or moving magnet pickups???? Thanks much, Jeff
jeffloistarca

Showing 2 responses by aroc

aroc
760 posts
 
Why Kenny? If my math is correct wouldn't 0.6mv with 62dB gain only be 0.75v? Isn't line source 2.0v? Wouldn't a 1.5mv cart be 2.0v after 62dB of gain? It always seemed that phono stages needed more gain to me. Else don't you have to relay on your linestage to provide a bunch of gain?

dB gain = 20 * log (V1/V0)
10^(dB gain/20) = V1/V0

I have a Hagerman Bugle with 40dB gain and a dynavector 20x-h with 2.5mv output, and I'm considering changing the gain to 50 or 60dB with a resistor change.
aroc
760 posts
 
Well I guess I need a new linestage, amp, or speakers. Because I always seem to run out of gain when playing vinyl on my system. :-( I don't have that problem with CDs, but my DAC has 3.5V output. So that got me to thinking what increasing my phono output would be the ticket. Maybe I need more efficient and sensitive tube gear with more gain?
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