Phono Preamp Gain Question

The KAB calculator is very helpful in getting a broad handle on the gain necessary to lift a low output cartridge. It can be found here:

http://www.kabusa.com/pregain.htm

Scroll down the page a bit and you will find it.

KABs calculator is based on phono preamp gain, it says it right there. Why I said that it helps to get a broad handle on gain is because the gain of the line stage will be unknown. Many modern line stages have very low gain, from unity to 8db. Tube line stages that do not use feedback can easily run to 20db of gain.

Where one sets the volume control has nothing at all to do with the gain of a preamp. I have a cartridge that outputs .3mv at 5cm/sec and a combined gain (transformer and phono stage) of 63db and that is about optimal in my system as far as noise archituecture goes, with 20db gain in my line stage, it's a bit excessive in terms of gain.

To answer the OPs question, however, I would not go below 54db gain in the phono stage, and 60db would be better still.

John, well put. I see your excellent point. Perhaps I find the KAB calculator more useful as a broad indicator, as I said.

I understand that you think that it may actually be counter productuctive, particularly in certain setups that do not cleave to the average line stage gain that the KAB phono gain recommendations are based on, such as yours and mine.