Phono Stage

@audphile1 Maybe just a little aggressive there.  I didn’t actually say that.  The math is a little complicated, but the way an SNR calculation works for a system, at low gain, downstream noise (e .g., preamp noise) dominates and you get worse SNR.  At very high gain, noise essentially becomes independent of gain theoretically (as you hit the intrinsic limit of the phono stage).  Alas, no free lunch, as too much gain results in clipping, overhead compression, etc. That’s why you try for the sweet spot.

@signaforce 

The Aria is an outstanding phono stage, maybe the try one of the cartridges in Rega's extensive line which would be more appropriate for the Planar 8. Also think about fixing your room layout which would be more acceptable for stereo. Its not all about wife acceptance factor or having the sectional positioned for TV viewing but rather symmetry. Big audible improvement!

@faustuss Based upon the layout of my room, doors, windows, pool table, etc, my room listening position is going to be asymmetric. Through room acoustics, speaker positioning & rear speaker port adjustments, I was able to achieve excellent REW results. But you are correct, could be better. 

I am actually surprised you are the 1st to say positive things about the Aria. It is a good phono stage,,,  it is a somewhat weak link in my system, however, not that weak. My vinyl side sounds great. But we are always chasing something better. 

Rega carts are not held in high regard by my local dealer that I respect. Their TTs yes, but not their carts. I have actually never heard one, but avoided them based upon their experience. Thanks

@signaforce 

Rega carts are not held in high regard by my local dealer that I respect. Their TTs yes, but not their carts.

There is the dig. I have only had two Rega carts: the Exacta II (MM cart) and now the Ania. Both came with the table, which minimized the cost of the cart. I was really impressed with the Exacta which at the time was Rega's best MM offering. Loading was easy and fine tuning was a cinch - I knew I had too much gain when the cart gave off too much surface noise. Every other cart I had, I would get to that point and then I would dial it back a setting, which was how I knew I was at the sweet spot. It's easy to know (sound says so!) when you have too much gain, harder to tell if you do not have enough. Fine tuning requires both ends to exceed one another which is how one tunes/meets the sound in the middle. 

Rega recommends 69.5 gain for the Ania. At 65db on my Musical Surroundings Nova III I am maxed out on gain, and there is scant surface noise. In fact, it was a bit hard for me to fathom when I first heard it because I hear ZERO surface noise. One might claim victory at that, but it is clear that I may not be able to optimize the cart without a new preamp. It is questionable that I have accomplished the fine tuning aspect of installation successfully. The sound I am left with is slightly dark- although to be fair- I am using a battery pack with the Nova III so it has always had a blacker background than any other previous preamp I have had. Still, I feel like I am at an impasse. As others have said about not having enough gain, is what I am hearing, there should be more headroom and air. I should hear the needle sliding through the grooves to some extent, but unfortunately, it's too quiet. Missing some top end, I am afraid.

So I need a new cart or a new phone preamp. Kind of the same situation you are in; hence my interest in your thread. Only my needs are likely going to bend towards an Aria phono preamp, and yours may be more slanted towards a Nova III??

Like you, I listen to my analog rig maybe 10% of the time. In the last year or so, I have been exclusively listening to digital. I love the MS Nova III, but with the battery pack, it takes up more rack space than I would prefer. I need a one chassis solution and my Ania needs 69.5 gain. 

If you are willing to try it out, I would send you the Nova III if you would be willing to send out the Aria? You can DM me, if interested. 

@goodlistening64 i would keep in mind the Rega recommendation for gain is most likely a product of their design with an all Rega system as a whole for synergy. 
I wouldn’t obsess over that 69.5db gain setting that doesn’t exist outside of Rega phono stages. Just my $0.02