Akiva or Titan

You have a darn good system, particularly the Audio Research amplification. So I hate to even suggest this, but if you have a volume problem, my first thought is that it's not the cartrige itself. Rather, it's the interaction between the cartridge and the pre-amp. Specifically, the pre-amp isn't amplifying the output of the low-output MC cartridge to a sufficient degree. So the volume is low. The solutions would be (1) a cartridge with a higher output, (2) a step-up transformer between the turtable and the pre-amp, (3) adjusting the cartridge settings in the existing pre-amp, or (4) getting a new pre-amp with settings more appropriate for low output MC cartridges. I'm not familiar with the Lyra Titan, but if it's output is similar to the Arkiv, I would expect the volume problem to continue.

The Arkiv B has an output voltage of .4mV and the Titan has an output voltage of .5mV.

If you still have the ARC Ref Phono, the ARC database says it has adjustable gain of 48dB or 69dB. If your unit is set at 48dB, try switching it to the higher gain - rear panel switch(?). The higher setting will yield plenty of gain for the Titan; try it with the Arkiv B and see how it sounds.

Gain on the Ref3 linestage varies by 6dB based on whether you're using balanced (higher gain) or single-ended cables to your amp. If you're currently single-ended, see if you can borrow a set of balanced cables to hear if the increase in gain brings satisfaction.

If your Ref Phono is set at the lower gain and you're using single-ended cables off the Ref3, then I can see where you'd *really* have to crank it. :-)

Good luck,
Tim

You have to use the high gain 69dB and set the load at 100 Ohm, using the supplied resistors combination colors suggested by the user manual.
I am using Akiva with the Ref Phono and Ref2 mk2 with no problem at all.

Kinsekd,

I thoughly enjoy my Lp12 with an Ittok LVII arm and Akiva cartridge. I'm giving it 62db gain from a Aesthetix Rhea and it sounds beautiful. Sorry but I have not compared the Titan in the same deck. My only impression between the two is that the Titan wasn't as quiet for surface noise but, the decks and arms were differant, so I can't say for sure. The Akiva is a low output cartridge with recommended 50ohm loading as opposed to your old Arkiv B with 100ohm loading and the Titan is 47ohm. What is the gain available from your Audio Research Reference Phono stage? I would believe it would offer enough. If Jtimothya has the AR numbers right you should be fine.

Is your math right? If I'm not mistaken Linn will give you 1100.00USD for your Arkiv B as long as it still has a cantilever attached. Not to mention the trade on the Akiva some day. That would bring down the price to roughly that of a Lyra Helicon (and Lyra offers zero trade in value). Happy Listening!