adjustable gain phono preamp

Yes.

There are plenty adjustable phono-stages.

What deck are you using? Cartridge? MM? MC?

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

Adam Zielinski posted:

Yes.

There are plenty adjustable phono-stages.

What deck are you using? Cartridge? MM? MC?

 

ortofon red thanks

Huge posted:

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

Why?

It's an MM cartridge. I'm aware of a variable gain MM phono-stage. 

Cadenza, quintet or the 2m?

2m

thanks

Hi,

are you thinking about are pre with adjustable gain for MM cartridges or one that is switchable between MM and MC?

 I can think of only a few ones with different gain for MM and these are quite expensive = not the 2M red price range. For a switchable one, both the Leema Elements and Essentials are nice.

Adam Zielinski posted:

It's an MM cartridge. I'm aware of a variable gain MM phono-stage. 

Correction to my reply: should read: I'm NOT aware of a variable gain MM phono-stage.

However if you require a phono-stage that can handle both MC and MM, Rega Aria is one of them.

My own 2 cents worth on the topic and responses so far;

1) yes, there are adjustable gain MM phono amps available,

2) the notion of avoiding adjustable gain may have to do with optimization, but folks have differing opinions on (for example) separates vs integrateds, dedicated HP amps vs built-ins, etc., and the value of optimization vs convenience. Folks that enjoy dabbling with a variety of carts may like the versatility offered by adjustable gain on a phono stage,

3) the need for adjustable gain on a MM stage may be more an issue for a system with marginal amplifier headroom combined with low cartridge output, where you feel the configuration is struggling at higher volumes,

4) in the case at hand, the Ortofon 2M Red at 5.5 mV output combined with the 200's 70-watts ought to drive the S-400s well, unless in an exceptionally large room at excessive volume,

5) if you are content with the 2M Red, then any standard, non-adjustable gain MM phono stage ought to suit your needs. If you are considering experimenting with HOMC carts in the 1.5 mV range (for example), then an adjustable gain stage may have merit.

Graham Slee Accession, it will cost you a grand mind and it's MM only. The gain adjustment in this case is a volume control.

thanks

I'm trying to work out a better option than using the built in phono stage of an audio technica lp atl5 = this seems to give out a rather weak output. I thought a

phonostage with variable/increased gain might help?

I think you will find that external phono-stages will generally sound better than in-built ones.

What deck are you using?

sjw,

Looking at your profile a Stageline N (s/h circa $350) would fit smartly into your system powered either directly from your 202 or maybe better powered via your FC2 (with additional cable). You'll get the "true" Naim sound from this combo and there's plenty of positive testimony here from Ortofon/Stageline users on Naim gear.

Variable gain MM? 

Easy -- spend 70 quid on the Rega thing (has a-d convertors and USB output too). Cracking value for money, works very very well. 

Judge posted:

Huge posted:

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

Why?

Because it inevitably involves a potentiometer or switches that have a direct negative impact on sound quality and also these components cost money that could have otherwise been used to increase sound quality.

Huge posted:

Judge posted:

Huge posted:

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

Why?

Because it inevitably involves a potentiometer or switches that have a direct negative impact on sound quality and also these components cost money that could have otherwise been used to increase sound quality.

And naim would never have done that with top end products like the input boards in the 52... oh wait...

jon honeyball posted:

Huge posted:

Judge posted:

Huge posted:

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

Why?

Because it inevitably involves a potentiometer or switches that have a direct negative impact on sound quality and also these components cost money that could have otherwise been used to increase sound quality.

And naim would never have done that with top end products like the input boards in the 52... oh wait...

Especially as the 52 was such a cheap product and had to be produced down to a tightly controlled price point stopping the engineers from working around the compromises... oh, wait...

(I also though that the 52 used the Naim system of interchangeable phono boards to suit cartridges of different output rather, than having one board with user variable gain on board; but I may be wrong.)

Huge posted:

Judge posted:

Huge posted:

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

Why?

Because it inevitably involves a potentiometer or switches that have a direct negative impact on sound quality and also these components cost money that could have otherwise been used to increase sound quality.

Okay, perhaps I am confusing variable gain with matching the characteristics of the cartridge, load and capacitance I think are the other variables.  However you would have to be able to switch between MM and MC?  Unless you want to reinvest in a phono stage when you change your cartridge, wouldn't the option for some matching be a good idea?  I'm sure that involves some micro-switches, but once set these don't have to be moved very often.

Huge posted:

jon honeyball posted:

Huge posted:

Judge posted:

Huge posted:

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

Why?

Because it inevitably involves a potentiometer or switches that have a direct negative impact on sound quality and also these components cost money that could have otherwise been used to increase sound quality.

And naim would never have done that with top end products like the input boards in the 52... oh wait...

Especially as the 52 was such a cheap product and had to be produced down to a tightly controlled price point stopping the engineers from working around the compromises... oh, wait...

(I also though that the 52 used the Naim system of interchangeable phono boards to suit cartridges of different output rather, than having one board with user variable gain on board; but I may be wrong.)

None of the Phono boards had variable gain on them.  You had to specify the gain on the board which was fixed for best performance - high gain = NA523S or NA523K, Medium gain = NA523E or NA523R, low gain = NA522. 

The phono boards allowed you to upgrade in steps without having to change any boxes; you would start out with perhaps NA522 boards for a MM cart.  Then you might upgrade to NA523 boards for an MC.  Then you would move to the Prefix (the NAC52 came prepared for the Prefix by virtue of the powered AUX2) for best performance - although not before you have moved to an Armageddon or similar off board power supply on the turntable.

The only boards that had variable gain were the NA528s, which were an attempt to attenuate and condition the signal from early CD players.  They did help a bit but as soon as Naim released their own CDS they were rendered redundant.

Huge posted:

jon honeyball posted:

Huge posted:

Judge posted:

Huge posted:

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

Why?

Because it inevitably involves a potentiometer or switches that have a direct negative impact on sound quality and also these components cost money that could have otherwise been used to increase sound quality.

And naim would never have done that with top end products like the input boards in the 52... oh wait...

Especially as the 52 was such a cheap product and had to be produced down to a tightly controlled price point stopping the engineers from working around the compromises... oh, wait...

(I also though that the 52 used the Naim system of interchangeable phono boards to suit cartridges of different output rather, than having one board with user variable gain on board; but I may be wrong.)

Didn't the 72 (and possibly the 32 and 62 as well) have a board with a variable gain function (328?), perhaps for use on the CD input, or is my memory also playing me false? 

Yes, the NA328 boards were similar to the NA528s, but for use with the shoe-box pre-amps.

Huge posted:

Better to avoid adjustable gain if you can.

I very much agree with this. At least some of these stages use different amounts of feedback to set the gain. This leads to a different sonic character for each gain level. One of these levels usually gives the best sound, no matter how high the cartridges output. Most likely not true in every instance, but with some of the dedicated MC stages I have owned or tried.

Would you put a MC cartridge on that deck?, I'd just get a decent MM phono stage, without a built in ADC, like the Rega fono MM or maybe a used Stageline N if you wan't to keep it Naim. Use the TTs internal ADC if you wan't a digital output for some reason.

Arcam rPhono