Azur 640p /w Denon DL103 and Clearaudio Virtuoso?


Do the specs on the Cambridge Audio Azur 640p allow for safe usage with the Denon DL 103 and Clearaudio Virtuoso carts? (I own both carts). According to the 640p stats:

Sensitivity for nominal output: 3.35mV / 0.5mV

I assume that figure relates to the MM/MC inputs. The output on the Denon DL 103 is 0.3 mV, and the output for the Virtuoso is 3.6 mV.

Thanks
jwglista
Interesting. So a difference of 0.2 mV will make that big of a difference in the MC stage? The output and load impedance on the DL103 are both 100 ohms, which matches directly with the 640p specs.

According to the 640p manual:

"If your turntable uses a moving coil cartridge, connect outputs here
(0.5-1mV, with 100 ohm 220pF loading)."

So it does look like it requires an output of 0.5, but would it really sound bad with the an output of 0.3 mV from the DL103?
.3 mV is only 60% of the .5 mV minimum. That can be significant.

You might have to turn the volume up further than normal at best to get to normal listening volumes, or the volume might not ever get as loud as you like. If you have to turn the volume up close to max, you might get more noticeable background noise levels also.

If you do not listen at higher volumes, there is a better chance of it working OK. Try it and see. If it doesn't, then just be prepared to add a good step up device. This will probably cost at least a few hundred as well for a decent one so as to not degrade the sound, so be aware.
Good point. Well I think my preamp will have plenty of gain. When listening now, I never turn it up past 9 o clock...and that is at a blasting level. So I think I should be fine in that area.
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