What loading with Pass Xono / Helikon SL?


I will be setting up the Helikon SL on the Pass Xono. I wonder what range of load settings should I use? I read from some forum that it is about 850 ohm? Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks.
shsohis

Showing 3 responses by buscis2

http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/phoncart.htm

Above is a great little tool for cartridge evaluation.

Scroll down the page to: "OUTPUT LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS"

You can then use the "PHONO PREAMP PARAMETER CALCULATOR" to dial in your load settings. This little calculator is as accurate as it gets.

Best of luck, Ed.
Your Helikon has an output of 0.23mV. An optimum gain range would be 60-65db. The range is to allow for tonearm wiring characteristics.

Your Pass Xono provides 71dB @ 1kHz (MC) single-ended, 76dB @ 1kHz (MC) balanced. I'm assuming you're running SE?

Below is an excerpt from the same website. It is probably the most pertinent information on the whole website:

"A phono cartridge has an electrical circuit which consists of coils of wire. These coils have electrical resistance and inductance, parameters which make them sensitive to the resistive and capacitive loading created by the tonearm wiring, interconnects and internal circuitry of your preamp. Manufacturer's specify the proper load resistance and capacitance with each cartridge. The cartridge will present the flattest frequency response when the manufacturer's recommended load is observed. Improperly loaded cartridges exhibit frequency response dips and peaks and often emphasize surface noise.
To know all the pieces of this puzzle, you will need to know:

1. The capacitance per foot of your interconnects
2. The capacitance of the internal tone arm wiring
3. The load components inside your preamp

Often this information is specified but you may find that it is not optimum for your cartridge. Many designers put way too much capacitance in their preamps forgetting, it would seem, that the tonearm wiring contributes to this quantity."

Hope this helps, Ed
"but loading is such a personal thing, i don't think there is a correct formula for it and you have to talk to people who have exactly the same equipment and preference, otherwise it's all just talk"

EXACTLY! That is the EXACT reason I put that excerpt above. There is no value that can be determined until the above information is considered. The Pass provides tremendous loading variance. The optimum loading value will be dialed in after the cumulative total above impedance, capacitance and inductance levels create the loading requirements.