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"head" amps??

The gain on my CAT Ultimate's phono stage is borderline for the Koetsu Rosewood Std (0.6mV) that I'm using. I know the cartridge can be more dynamic and open than it's sounding; I have to crank it to 3 o'clock on some recordings to get good sound. Years ago there used to be pre-preamps or head amps for adapting low output MC's to MM stages. Do any neutral modern day ones exist?
PS. For various reasons I don't want a separate full function phono stage.

Ken
kleech
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Both Quicksilver and Ear make excellent transformers for the step-up of low output cartriges. There are a number of sound technical reasons why a passive transformer is superior to an active head amp, however, as with all things audio, execution is final determinant and active devices can sound as good as transformers.
g_m_c
443 posts
 
dynavector has a well respected one, i think i saw it for sale here recently.
tjbearman
40 posts
 
I use both passive (Mitch Cotter MKII "pickup transformer")
and active (Sota "head amplifier") and much pefer
the transformer. I'm using a 0.4mV Benz Micro Gold MC.
There are numerous used active and passive devices out there and it's worth it to try a few to get the best sound
to suit your system/room.
You can always sell the ones that didn't suit you.

You might also check out the excellent discussion and
recommendations at:
http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Step-ups.html
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