Threshold FET 10/e cartridge amp questions

My FET 10 had adjustments for load resistance and capacitance. There are four small slider switches (I used a toothpick to move them) for each in one red block for each channel. More than four settings are available by multiple combinations of the switches. The owner's manual covers this. I cannot imagine Threshold discontinued this in the "/e".

I found the FET 10 to be a great phono stage and was very satisfied with the sonics. My reason for selling it was wanting to more easily accommodate different cartridges and those adjustment blocks are internal, not on the back for ready access. And if I remember correctly the top has 12 screws! :^(

I must admit I'm surprised by the report the Shelter 501 II is a MM, I remembered it as a MC. If so, the lowest capacitance setting as Jperry suggested should be all that is needed.

Pryso, You (and I) were correct the first time. Jperry confirmed that the 501 is indeed an MC type. Other than that, your advice as an owner should help the OP most. Yes, not much need to worry about capacitance with an MC. The OP needs to be sure he is using the hi-gain setting, and then to check the load R adjustment. Possibly he is loading down the Shelter too much; that is to say that the selectable load R is too low in value. This would result in an apparent lack of gain (because energy is being lost to ground) and reduced treble, bloated bass.

Etnier, you may want to remove the cover of your unit and look for the adjusters that Pryso described. Then make certain that the load Resistance is no lower than 125 ohms, as Jperry uses for his 901. If you're not happy with that, increase load R progressively until you get better tonal balance and more apparent output from the Threshold. Or, more scientifically, find out the internal resistance of the 501 from the spec sheet. Start then with a load resistance that is at least 5X the internal resistance, and go up from there.

Here is a note to show the switch levels inside a Threshold FET 10pc Setting up the FET-10/PC:
As for setting up the impedance and capacitance loading - with the top open and the front of the preamplifier facing you, locate the two red 8 position dip switches on the far left side. If a dip switch is set to the left, it is ON. If it switched to the right, it is OFF.

Resistance Loading:
#1 - 22 ohms
#2 - 47 ohms
#3 - 100 ohms
#4 - 1,000 ohms

1-4 OFF = 47k ohms (ie, MM cartridge)

Capacitance Loading:
#5 - 1,000 picofards
#6 - 250 picofarads
#7 - 150 picofarads
#8 - 100 picofarads

5-8 OFF = 50 picofarads


To set the gain, locate the two jumper sliders on the middle left of the board. These are colored blue and each cover two pins of a three gold plated prong.

For highest gain, each jumper slide is positioned towards the center of the preamplifer. In this case the exposed pins are those nearest to the front and back of the preamplifier.

For 20dB less gain, the jumpers are located away from each other and toward the back and front of the preamplifier. The exposed pins will be nearest to the center of the preamplifier.