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gcph phono stage gain settings

i just bought a ps audio gcph and i'm using it with an mm cartridge that is rated at 3.3mV (clearaudio virtuoso). i have to have the input gain on the back panel turned all the way up to 66, the highest setting, to get decent volume, and even then i have to have the output gain knob on the front of the unit turned to 1 o'clock. this goes against what the manual says, namely that for mm cartridges the input gain on the back should be at the lowest setting.

i'm concerned that if i ever get an mc cartridge with 1/10 the output of my current cartridge, the gcph will not be able to handle it.

does anyone with a gcph and an mm cartridge need to turn the input gain to the highest setting? what are your experiences?

thanks in advance!
tanglewood
tanglewood OP
29 posts
 
thanks for the responses. yes, i have the impedance set at 47.
someone at ps audio initially said not to turn the front gain knob past 1 o'clock, but i don't get much sound if i do.

also, i get essentially no sound until the front knob is at 12. seems like a silly design to not start getting sound until the knob is half way around.
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Tanglewood:
I think in fairness to PS Audio, you also can connect the unit straight to a power amp. I have done that too, but preferred going true my Levinson 326S after all.
If you connect it straight to a power amp, it will start to make sense why it works that way. It's a good attenuator from 0 all the way up, and 1:00 will be about where it is at elevated room spl -- depending on your cart of course. Going into a pre-amp it's 3:00pm and not 1:00pm, at least in my experience... :-)
A.
tanglewood OP
29 posts
 
thanks axel.

and i did not mean to be critical of the gcph in general--i thought that perhaps my particular unit has a defect (it is b-stock). but it seems from your response that it is working as intended.

j
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Hi,
y.s.: >> (it is b-stock) <<
What makes it b-stock? I only know the answer to such in the shoe industry and there it'd mean some blemish/mark with the finish. You’d still get 2 soles and 2 laces, upper, insoles etc. :-)
So it maybe a scratch or such?
A.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Not to be redundant, but you say that you have the impedance set at "47" which is incorrect. It should be 47,000.
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