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Pre amp for low output cartridge

I recently committed to buying Dynavector Demo cartridge at my audio dealer, and absolutely fell in love with the sound. For the past 15 years have been using Dynavector 10x4/5 which has out put of 2.5mv, high for a MC. My onboard phone section has 20-40 db of gain. I'm bringing the pre amp in tomorrow to adjust the gain and resistance. Did I make a mistake here, or is 40 db enough to add to the preamp gain?
tennisdoc40
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
How low is the output of the cartridge?
What is the preamp line section's gain?
Most of the time I hate carts <.25mV because they require SUT that may add another same amount to the purchased cartridge. For ones .25mV I have total gain in my set up 70 dB where 60dB is transformerless MC section +10dB of low-gain line section'n love it a lot!
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
There is a gain calculator on the KAB web site. It will tell you total system gain recommended; phono stage + line stage+ amp.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
40 db may or may not be enough gain, depending on how much gain your preamp and amp have as noted by Swampwalker.

Here is a link to the KAB Calculator
tennisdoc40 OP
28 posts
 
The cartridge has .28mv output. Spectral DMC 12 pre amp.
Spectral DMC 90's running in bridged mode. 180 wpc into 8ohm.
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