Phono Preamp Gain Question

You have a fairly low output cartridge and your line stage isn't on the higher end of gain options. While there is the variable of amp sensitivity and speaker efficiency, Salectric's speakers being very efficient so he needs less gain, I think with average sensitivity and efficiency even a gain of 60 is low for you. Bear in mind less will work, but noise becomes an issue.

My cartridge is .35, my line stage is 18db and my phono stage is 68db. But, my speakers are only 88db efficient. I may have a little more gain than I need from my phono stage, but I've gotten addicted to a dead silent background. You have a lower output cartridge and 6db less gain from your pre amp. Absent something on the amp/speaker end to reduce your gain needs, you need at least 65db.

I really like my Parasound JC3.

Tee shot: Your question is difficult as there is no specific answer without taking into all of your components from cartridge to speakers. I have a cartridge that has .28 db of gain. My phono stage high gain is 60 db but that is not nearly enough to drive my Soundlabs to acceptable levels (75-80 db levels). My preamp 15 db, amps 20 db,and speaker 86 db? ). Require the volume to be turned up where the noise level is unacceptable. I lowered the gain on my phono stage and added 14 db with a step up which brings my gain to 68 db. I now have a very quiet background that also requires a lower volume on the control dial. So, I would recommend a phono stage that would allow adjustable gain or purchase a step up transformer and experiment with several different brands.

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.

Just remember that there are at least two different test conditions that are used to determine cart output. ZYX LOMCs are specified at 0.25 or 0.28 but the test conditions make that equivalent to almost 50% higher output when equated to more typical test conditions.

Well the KAB calculator is based on the 5cm/s output (CBS standard). If your cartridge's output was measured on the JVC standard (3.54 cm/s), you will have to multiply your cartridge output by 5/3.54 = 1.41 to translate it to the CBS standard to input into the KAB calculator.

In other words, if your 0.28 is measured at 5cm/s, you can just plug it in, if it was measured at 3.54 cm/s, you will need to plug it in as a .39 mV (0.28 X 1.41).

I don't know how accurate that calculator is though. I have an identical cartridge output as you, 0.28 mV. KAB recommends an 'optimum' gain of 61 db, my phono stage has 60 db of gain, and that is MORE than enough. I never turn the volume knob past 10 o'clock. Granted, maybe you listen louder than I do, but I think KAB's measurements are overall preamp gain, including line stage.