How important is ext. adj. for cartridge loading


Hello Folks,

A New Phono Preamplifier will soon be introduced - MSRP around $1750 - $2000

A small "focus group" questionnaire - On a Phono Preamplifier how important is it to you that MC cartridge loading is adjustable from the front panel of the amplifier? How often do you "fiddle" around with loading ? Enough to warrant the cost increase, probably about $200 for the additional switches faceplate machining etc. pricing the preamp towards the higher end of projected price?

Same goes for MM/MC switching Would external selection be preferable to a internal Jumper setting ?

Is a MUTE function desirable on the front panel as well?

MC loading is at 100, 220, 330, 500 Ohms and 47K Ohms, do you think these are OK or would you like other values?

We have designed the unit so it can be used as a fully differential unit as well with one balanced input and one balanced output, you'd need two of them for stereo, do you find this desirable? Would you prefer this mode of operation to be selectable from the outside (switch on back) or would internal jumper selection be enough?

Thanks in advance for your thought on these questions

Peter
pbnaudio

Showing 1 response by elizabeth

The SOUND is everything. What something has or does not have is totally back seat to the sound.
Thus my collection of Phono boxes
Audio Research PH-2 balanced through and through. NO external adjustments. Change resistors inside. change capacitors too. only one input balanced and one output, balanced, bought used, cheap, rare. cool.
Audio Research Sp-15. switch for impedance on front of preamp. only one input,bought used, cheap, high quality. interesting two box preamp
Bryston 1.5 phono. no adjustment for impedance, switch on front for MM MC. internal gain adjustment by jumper, one input.(my current favorite) expensive! 20 yr warranty
And I WOULD buy a Fosgate... actually planning on it.
Nothing else on the market interests me at this time.
So go figure.