Conversion of mV to dB

John and Jeff, I believe that BOTH of your statements are correct, but there are several factors that muddle the issue.

5 cm/s lateral velocity corresponds to 3.54 cm/s at 45 degrees, meaning 3.54 cm/s in each channel, as Jeff indicated. Also, however, 5 cm/s peak in a given direction corresponds to 3.54 cm/s RMS in that same direction.

See the photos of the labels of CBS and JVC test records near the end of this thread, and also see some of the preceding posts. The 1 kHz test tones on the CBS record are clearly indicated on the label as being at 3.54 cm/s RMS at 45 degrees, which corresponds to 5 cm/s peak at 45 degrees. The JVC record is also marked as 3.54 cm/s at 45 degrees, but with no indication as to whether that is RMS or peak. Measurements cited in the thread indicate that figure is peak, implying only 2.5 cm/s RMS, which is 3 db less than on the CBS record.

So comparing apples to apples, and using peak figures at 45 degrees, John is correct that CBS is 5 cm/s and JVC is 3.54 cm/s. Which leaves open the question, however, of what a cartridge specification is referring to if it refers to "3.54 cm/s." I have no particular knowledge of that, but it wouldn't surprise me if some manufacturers are referring to 3.54 cm/s RMS per the CBS record, corresponding to 5 cm/s peak, while others are referring to 3.54 cm/s as marked on the JVC record, which is peak and therefore only 2.5 cm/s RMS.

Fortunately, though, the difference is only 3 db.

Best regards,
-- Al

Thanks for chiming in here Al, I was waiting for you to help us out. I don't really understand it that much myself, but Mehran, of Sorasound, who distributes ZYX cartridges which are rated at 3.54 cm/s is the one who explained to me about the output voltage conversion to 5 cm/s rating. It seemed to make sense to me....but I'm not an EE, though I did stay at a Holiday Inn Expres last night. :)

This is a bit of an old topic but I just bought the same phono pre, the RCM Sensor Prelude. My cart is a Lyra Dorian.

Output voltage : 0.6mV (5.0cm/sec., zero to peak, 45 degrees)

Right now I have set the RCM to 0.6mV. Is this correct?

Mordante, you'll probably do better with a less sensitive gain setting (i.e., a higher number of mV, such as 1.4 mV). As indicated earlier in the thread, since the mV settings on this phono stage are the input levels corresponding to an unusually high 2 volt output, if you use the 0.6 mV setting with a 0.6 mV cartridge it is likely (depending on the gains and sensitivities of the rest of your components) that you would find yourself having to set the volume control too far down in its range to be optimal. Degradation of distortion performance and/or overloading might even occur in line stage circuitry that is "ahead" of the volume control.

It might be worthwhile to also try the 0.9 and 2.5 mV settings, as well as 1.4 mV, and see which setting gives you the best sonics, the lowest background hiss, and the most preferable range of volume control positions.

Regards,
-- Al

@Almarg,

Thank you I will try this out.