Tube Phonostage help

Look into the Hagerman Coronet (I settled on the Trumpet and if you want to stretch your budget this is a good choice) or K&K audio phono stage (I use their step-up with my Trumpet) as well. I can't recall on the Hagerman or K&K, but Decware offers a 30 day trial period. I just went through an extended in house comparison of several phono stages so this is all pretty fresh in my mind.

My cartridge is a Benz M2 (0.8mV) so I can tell you from experience the EAR won't do it for you unless you go to a low output MC. I would not recommend using the MM setting on the EAR with a MC, only due to the fact that the load is set at 47k ohms (if I recall correctly). Most MC stages allow for multiple load settings, either via soldering, switches or plugs. That is why I did not choose the EAR, incompatibility gain setting with my cartridge in MC mode. You could use the MM setting on the EAR if you also go with a step-up transformer (EAR makes one, as do many others), which would allow you to set the load and gain to your cartridge. I found that 58db is a good setting for my 0.8mV (44db on the phono stage MM setting and 14db through the step-up transformer, cartridge load is 940 ohms).

Case04,

Feel free to email me if you like, but I'll outline a couple things here that may help you out. The Decware phono stages are a good value and Steve Deckert is exceptional to work with. While I chose the Hagerman Trumpet over the Decware it is only because I was in the right place at the right time and got an awesome deal on a pre-owned one. I may know of one available (not mine and not anyone close to me, something I heard of by word of mouth) and with the added cost of a step-up you may be able to purchase the combo for about $1500.

You may also want to check out the K&K Audio phonostage. Kevin Carter is another designer who is great to work with. While I have no direct experience with his phono stage, I know of others who have and like it a lot.

All three phono stages will give you load options on the MC side and will have sufficient gain for your cartridge. I can probably rattle off a few more but one of these should be your ticket.