Tweakers' Asylum

High Quality Step Down?

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SoundMann

I am looking for a way to step down phono cartridges in the 5 to 10mv range to around 2mv without too much sonic degradation.

Is there a reasonable and affordable way to accomplish this?

Follow Ups:

RE: High Quality Step Down? - Tre' 19:20:03 10/15/24 (5)
Why? Do you think the "5 to 10mv" is over driving the first stage of your phono pre?

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
- RE: High Quality Step Down? - SoundMann 04:48:50 10/16/24 (4)
  The gain of my phonostage is around 55dB. My headphone amp has trouble regulating the volume to a comfortable listening level on my loudest records when using my 2.7mV cartridge.
  I have decided to use 2 high quality mono pots at the output of the phonostage.
  
  Edits: 10/16/24
  - RE: High Quality Step Down? - Tre' 09:12:19 10/16/24 (3)
    does your headphone amp have a volume control?
    
    Tre'
    Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
    "Still Working the Problem"
    - RE: High Quality Step Down? - SoundMann 09:59:58 10/16/24 (2)
      My headphone amp does have a volume control.
      - RE: High Quality Step Down? - SoundMann 10:09:09 10/16/24 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: High Quality Step Down? posted by SoundMann on October 16, 2024 at 09:59:58
        
        I forgot to mention that my headphones have a sensitivity of 106 dB @ 1mW!
        
        OK, I'm starting to get the picture now. nt - Tre' 15:12:39 10/16/24 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: High Quality Step Down? posted by SoundMann on October 16, 2024 at 10:09:09
        
        .
        Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
        "Still Working the Problem"
RE: High Quality Step Down? - 6bq5 11:06:53 10/14/24 (2)
The Music Reference RM-5 (including the MK I, II, etc.) has adjustable gain
It might take me a minute to find the old table for the Dip switch settings etc, but it could be an answer -
The Beveridge RM 1/2 would also work, but a different beast...
Happy Listening
- RE: High Quality Step Down? - SoundMann 13:46:10 10/14/24 (1)
  I am not looking for another phonostage. I am quite happy with my so-called EAR 834p clone.
  
  I can reduce the output after the phonostage, but I may want to make a combined unit that controls the output, capacitance and impedance of the cartridges.
  - RE: High Quality Step Down? - Lew 13:52:40 10/25/24 (0)
    How much do you want to reduce the voltage output? By a factor of 2? 5? or what? I think it's possible to find a SUT with a turns ratio of 1:5. Then just run it backwards. But in my opinion, that takes you down a bit too far in gain.
RE: High Quality Step Down? - Dynamite Ham 10:46:06 10/14/24 (0)
My cartridge outputs 5V and I went through five different phono preamps to find one with appropriate gain.

I finally settled on an Ifi iPhono 2 @ 48db gain which sounds great in my setup.

The iPhono 2 can also provide 36db gain which seems like an easier solution to your problem than trying to step down the cartridge output.

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