pnort43 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Contemplating buying an MC cartridge with 0.4 mV output. My preamp, on MC, has a sensitivity of 6.8 mV. Is this a mismatch? Would I need a more sensitive preamp for this cartridge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Depends on a lot of other things. What is the gain of the phono preamp, gain of the linestage, and sens. of the speakers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 @pnort43 What Shakeydeal said is good advice like usual from him! When I changed over I did the preamp/cartridge together to match up better. Used the opportunity to put tubes into my SS rig and experiencing that changed my perspective involving music reproduction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madman1 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 I just made this change in my system. You just need a sut, step up transformer they can be had for $200-$2000. I have a nice functioning Denon 302 I might consider selling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bacek Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 9 hours ago, pnort43 said: My preamp, on MC, has a sensitivity of 6.8 mV Are you sure? I looks more like MM sensitivity not an MC. For most vintage MM stages it's usually around 2.5mV. Do you have gain parameter for this pre? What pre is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnort43 Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 The MC cartridge I am/was considering is a Hana Blue. https://www.hanacartridges.com/products/hana-umami-blue Stylus Microline Cantilever Boron Magnetic Circuitry Pure Iron/Cryo Treatment Coil Wire High Purity Copper Output Level 0.4 mv Output Balance 0.5/1kHz Trackability 70 µm/2g Channel Separation 30dB/1kHz Frequency Response 15-50,000Hz Coil Impedance 8Ω/1kHz Suggested Load Impedance > 80Ω Magnet Alnico Vertical Tracking Force 2g Cartridge Weight 10.8g Body Material Duralumin (A7075) Body Finish Melamine Thermosetting Process (MTP) I have a Vincent Pho 701 preamp. https://www.vincent-tac.de/en/product-types/phono-preamplifier/pho-701.html Technical Specifications Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 20 kHz Harmonic Distortion: < 0.05 % (20 Hz - 20 kHz) Input Sensitivity: MM: 58 mV, MC: 6.8 mV Signal-Noise Ratio: MM: > 81 dB, MC: > 69 dB Input Impedance: MM: 47 kOhm, MC: 99 - 1000 Ohm (adjustable) Input Capacity: MM: 15 pF - 350 pF (adjustable), MC: 15 pF Output Impedance: 250 Ohm Amplification Factor: MM: 40 dB, MC: 60 dB Max. Power Consumption: 15 Watt Inputs: 1 x Stereo RCA Outputs: 1 x Stereo RCA, USB (24 Bit / 192 kHz) Tubes: 1 x 12AU7 My amp is an Elekit 8600S. https://www.elekit.co.jp/en/product/TU-8600S SPECIFICATIONS ●Tubes ： 300Bx2, 12AX7x1, 12AU7x2 * Tubes are not included ●Rated output ： 9.2W+9.2W ( THD 10% ) ●Rated input ： 270mV ●Rsidual noise ： 36μV（IHF-A） ●Frequency response ： 15Hz-40kHz（-3dB） ●Input impedance ： 50kΩ ●Output impedance : 4-6.3Ω, 8-16Ω (Select by the SW on the rear) ●Input terminal ： LINE x 1 ●Output terminal ： Speaker output terminal：Gold-plated screw terminal (Banana plug usable) Headphone terminal ：6.3mm headphone jack ●Power voltage ： AC115/230V 50/60Hz (3P inlet) ●Power consumption ： 90W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Looks like you might not need a step up tranny. 60 db should be enough for the Hana. What is your line stage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnort43 Posted March 30 Author Share Posted March 30 sorry Shakey, I'm afraid I don't ko now what "line stage" refers to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 The internal portion of an integrated amp or an old receiver that lets you hook the turntable up to it and use it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82 Cornwalls Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 1 hour ago, pnort43 said: now what "line stage" refers to. Normally a preamp with gain and multiple inputs, but no phono stage. In your system I assume you are using the Vincent PHO-701 directly into the Elekit 300B which is an amplifier with an input level control. Looks like it should work, only one way to know for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 With the 270 mv input sensitivity of the integrated amp I would say there is a good chance it will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SME10 Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 You’ve got 60 DB of gain and you’ve got input loading between 99 and 1000 ohms. Recommended loading for that cartridge is 80 ohms so you’re at 100 so you should be fine. And remember that’s a recommendation it might sound better in your system at 300 ohms you just have to try and see. My Soundsmith recommends 475 ohms and to me it sounds better at around 375 ohms in my set up. The only thing I would be leery about is the gain. I’m currently using a Soundsmith Mimic Star Cart with an output of .4 mv and they recommend 63 db of gain. You might want to look at SoundSmith cartridges, they have an excellent re-tipping program. The mimic is a $2000 cartridge but to re-tip it is only $350. Same with his more expensive carts as well. He just re-tipped my Dynavector 17D3 and it sounds phenomenal. Even when you call Soundsmith Peter Ledermann will pick up the phone. He returns phone calls and emails. He’s a pleasure to work with, and he makes some of the best cartridges in the world. I have a Hanna ML moving coil, It’s a fabulous cartridge. I love Hannas but when they wear out, you’re going to pay more to re-tip or replace it. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck and enjoy your music https://www.sound-smith.com/index Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 +1 on Soundsmith. I bought one of his modded Denons a few years ago and it was great. Later on I bought a Carmen II and it’s even better. Peter is a great resource and makes some fine cartridges. My Hana sits on the shelf unused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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