Bottlehead Forum

Other Gear => Phono => Topic started by: Jamus on December 02, 2016, 01:09:02 PM

Title: Phono preamp gain
Post by: Jamus on December 02, 2016, 01:09:02 PM
I just added a turntable to my stereo setup and noticed a huge drop off in gain compared to using CDs.
Here's my setup... Rega P3 - uturn Pluto phono pre (36 dB gain) - beepre - kaiju- energy RC 10 speakers.
When using CD player I only would turn volume knob up 10-20% on beepre, now with turntable I'm at 100% to get similar volume level.
Is that to be expected with vinyl or is the phono preamp causing issues? I do plan to upgrade to the Eros soon but just wondering if this is normal.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Phono preamp gain
Post by: fullheadofnothing on December 02, 2016, 02:09:30 PM
Sounds pretty normal, but you could have a particularly hot output from your CD, or notably low output from your cartridge. Or both. Any of these would increase the discrepancy, but most systems have this exact difference. A higher gain phonostage would make them closer, but not necessarily the same. Hard to calculate without knowing what the actual components are.
Title: Re: Phono preamp gain
Post by: Jamus on December 02, 2016, 02:20:56 PM
Thanks Josh!
Title: Re: Phono preamp gain
Post by: Doc B. on December 02, 2016, 04:30:49 PM
36 dB gain (which is also what the stock Reduction has) is on the low side for a phono stage. Your phono will undoubtedly sound more quiet than most CD player outputs. Eros is 14dB hotter.
Title: Re: Phono preamp gain
Post by: Adrian on December 03, 2016, 03:05:32 AM
For comparison, I have a Cambridge Audio Topaz CD10 player and an EROS Phono Stage using an Ortofon 2M Black and I have a slightly higher perceived volume output using my phone stage over the CD player. About 90% of my listening is vinyl vice CD.
Every component in the signal chain has some effect on your perceived volume at you listening position.
Perhaps a hotter cartridge or phono stage will help.
I don't have a BeePre and Kaiju combo.  I have a passive preamp (volume control only) feeding Paramounts and I have been contemplating adding a preamp to raise the overall gain into my system.  Fo your system, the BeePre/Kaiju seems too sweet a setup to add an additional preamp.  However, I think I have seen on the forum where others have added an additional preamp to their existing components for additional overall gain.
Title: Re: Phono preamp gain
Post by: Jamus on December 04, 2016, 03:46:02 AM
Thanks all. It sounds like the Eros would make a big difference. This U-Turn preamp is merely a stopgap until I buy an Eros. It sounds like that will make a big difference in more than just the gain. I'm also planning on upgrading my speakers to something with higher sensitivity, perhaps these soon-to-be released Bottlehead speakers will round out the all-Bottlehead set-up nicely  ;D