Vinyl way too quiet through headphones


I have a Music Hall MMF-7 turntable (with high output MC cartridge), connected to the pre-section of a Plinius 8200 mkII integrated (with phono gain setting set to the low gain MM setting, since it's a high output MC I'm using). From there I go line out to a Perreaux SXH-1 headphone amp, and out to a pair of Etymotic ER4S's.

The volume is too low. I set the volume on the Perreaux almost to max, and only then does it become a reasonable volume. By this point, however, the amp really struggles (clicks, distorts), understandably because it's at max power.

Any ideas how to fix? CD's sound terrific, but the volume from the line out of the Plinius is too low for vinyl. I also have to turn up the volume pretty loud when listening to vinyl through my speakers, but the Plinius set to about 12o clock position works just fine. I have been told setting the Plinius to the high gain phono setting would be a bad idea, and amplify the volume of my high output cartridge way too much.
matt8268
High gain of Plinius is for high or medium output MC.
Low gain of Plinius is for very high output MM.
Jeez, Liz,

Why the shrieking, what with the double punctuation and the all caps, and the many exclamantion points, and all? Matt did something reasonable -- use the mid gain for the not-a-regular-MC-but-not-an-MM-either setting -- especially when he had bad advice that entailed he do that.

Anyway, I bet Elizabeth is right. Turn it up a nitch (I hate that expression) and it'll sound great. But Matt was right to ask first.

Enjoy!

RNM
Post removed