Phono preamp gain

Jamus · 4540

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Offline Jamus

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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!

Rega Planar3/Elys2 - Eros - BeePre - Kaiju - Klipsch Forte I's
Marantz CD5005
Crack w/Speedball - Senn HD650


Offline fullheadofnothing

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Reply #1 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.

Joshua Harris

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Offline Jamus

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Reply #2 on: December 02, 2016, 02:20:56 PM
Thanks Josh!

Rega Planar3/Elys2 - Eros - BeePre - Kaiju - Klipsch Forte I's
Marantz CD5005
Crack w/Speedball - Senn HD650


Offline Doc B.

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Reply #3 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.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
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Offline Adrian

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Reply #4 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.

Adrian C.

VPI Prime w/Ortofon Quintet Black MC/Rothwell MCL Lundahl SUT/EROS/Submissive (3 output mod)/Mainline/Crack - Speedball/S.E.X. 2.1 - C4S/S.E.X. 3.0 - C4S/Paramounts - Blumenstein 2.2 Mini-Max w/DOF mod -Senn HD600/Viso HP50/Focal Elear.


Offline Jamus

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Reply #5 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

Rega Planar3/Elys2 - Eros - BeePre - Kaiju - Klipsch Forte I's
Marantz CD5005
Crack w/Speedball - Senn HD650