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Do I need a sut?

I purchased an Ortofon MC2000 cart from a fellow A'Goner, it is very low output .05mV, my phono pre is a Herron VTPH-2 which has 69db of gain and my pre is a Herron VTSP-3a(r02) 14db gain.
The cart sounds wonderful, but with such a low gain I have to turn up the volume by quite a lot. If I had, another source at that volume, I wouldn't be able to stand it. With the volume turned up so high I get a fair amount of noise between tracks. 
Should I be looking at an sut or just live with it the way it is? I found an Ortofon at a decent price, it has 24db of gain. Would that be ok to go into the mc input on the VTPH-2? The mm gain is 48db, if I plugged it in there I would only gain 3db(if I'm doing my math correctly) I will also be contacting Keith, but I thought I would ask here too.
Thanks
Jeff
jdodmead
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
@jdodmead : Btw, MC2000 has response from 5hz to 90khz and in laboratory measured over 100khz. Very special design and SUT must be at least at the same level.
 The best electronics for the MC2000 is an active high gain SS phonolinepreamp but are really expensive one of this high quality level/caliber.

R.
chakster's avatar
chakster
2,482 posts
 
After a brief listening session with my Ortofon MC-2000 i can say that iPhono2 with 72db gain is not the best choice for such a low output cartridge :(

In fact i have much better result with my Luxman 8030 Silver SUT (1:32 / 30db) from the 80s. The SUT is connected to my JLTi phono stage.  

More about Luxman SUT: 
http://www.thevintageknob.org/luxman-AD8000.html


jdodmead OP
241 posts
 
Raul,
I have no desire to spend another $1000-$1800 for a T-2000. That makes this cart really, really expensive.  I'll keep looking and maybe eventually something will come up at a more reasonable price, in the meantime I'll live with it the way it is, the cart sounds great, just bothersome when there's no music.
analogluvr
800 posts
 
In my experience once you get to cartridge out puts this low it's pretty much impossible not to use an SUT.    Maybe I just haven't tried the right active device. 
jdodmead OP
241 posts
 
Lesson learned :)
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