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Melos MA220 tube phono stage

Hi I bought this dedicated Melos MA220 Phono Stage and now need advise what would be a good turntable to match is up with? Budget $500 to $1000 Used. Not sure if I should have spent so much on the preamp before I have a turntable. Just getting back into Analog since the rest of my system is close to were I want it.

I can't find info on it. It has one set of inputs (MM/MC?) and 2 sets of outputs.
ronald_p
frogman
4,637 posts
 
The Melos 220 is a stand alone phono stage; it is essentially the phono stage from the 222C full function preamp that I have owned for many years. It is a very good phono stage with a very full sound with powerful bass and tonality on the dark side of neutral. West German Siemens 6922's sound great in this phono stage and "turn the lights up" a little; a good thing here.
It benefits from placing it on hard cone-type footers instead of the squishy stuff and weight on top. I am confused by your comments about the "two outputs". Are they labeled as such? I believe that the RCA connections are two INPUTS (MM/MC) and one set of outputs. Are you sure you are connecting it properly?
ronald_p OP
6 posts
 
The Load Input adjustment markings, which has independent knobs for Left and Right are marked 47k 23k 1k 510 390 270 180 91 47 22 10 and last 5 (not 1)ohms. It does have 2 outputs which are the same and I did test these to 2 line stage inputs of my preamp. It came with the cone spike feet which are in use! I read I should look into upgrading to "superior coupling capacitors" which I may look into since the unit is quit old. I'm also very interested in trying out the GOLDRING EROICA L MOVING COIL MC LOW OUTPUT CARTRIDGE as my Turn table came with the Goldring Eroica-H High Output Moving Coil Cartridge. I think I should be able to do this without the addition of a cartridge preamp before my phono stage preamp.
can
2 posts
 
Could anyone help me with the DIP switch settings of my Melos 222C phono stage please? I use Koetsu Rosewood with the Melos 222 and the sound output seems low. I wonder if the gain setting is at its max yet.
frogman
4,637 posts
 
Can, there is one DIP switch for each channel. There are two pairs of switches situated toward the rear of the circuit board. Of those four switches, the phono gain switches are the two situated closer to the front of the circuit board (not the lone pair at the very front of the unit, those are low frequency cut-off switches)

1,2 ON 3,4 OFF = high gain (57db)
3,4 ON 1,2 OFF = med gain (48db)
1,2,3,4 OFF = low gain (42db)
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