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Audio Research State of the Art Audio Reproduction |
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#1
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Gain setting question for Ref Phono 2, Ref 3, Clearaudio Concerto cartridge
Just bought a ARC Ref Phono 2 from a fellow audiophile/addict on AudiogoN to replace my ARC PH7. My pre-amp is a ARC Ref 3, amp Ref 110, turntable VPI Scoutmaster, speakers Vandersteen 5a. My phono cartridge is a Clearaudio Concerto with an output voltage of 0.8mV. My Ref Phono 2 has the following output choices:
Balanced High Gain: 74 Balanced Low Gain: 51 Single End High Gain: 68 Single End Low Gain: 45 Using Bob Harley’s formula from his book, the optimum gain would be 62db. Currently I’m running it at the balanced High Gain setting of 74 and things sound really great. I don’t think I’m overloading my ARC Ref 3 pre-amp, at least not that I can hear. I’m currently listening at a comfortable level with the pre-amp at the 21 volume level for vocals. I’ve been up as high as 50 for quiet symphonic passages. There is plenty of volume adjustability at low volume levels meaning that 1 on the Ref 3 volume scale doesn’t blow me out of the room. With the above facts, please consider the following options and offer some advice: 1) Do nothing. Sound is great, no reason to screw around. 2) Have my local ARC approved tech adjust the Ref Phono 2 gain down from 74 to something lower (is this possible, advisable, reversible?) 3) Run single-end instead of balanced which would lower gain to 68 from 74. Don’t I really want to run balanced though? 4) Replace my cartridge with a lower output cartridge? Thanks - Stuart |
#2
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Stuart....Welcome to AA!! I'm sure others will chime in with some suggestions. This place is a wealth of information. Stick around.
Scott
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Florida Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD Preamp Dan D'Agostino Momentum Phono Preamp Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV x 3 Dan D'Agostino Momentum S250 dCS Vivaldi Apex DAC dCS Vivaldi Upsampler dCS Vivaldi Clock Wilson Audio Alexia 2, Yvette & Mezzo REL No.32 x 2 REL Carbon Special x 2 AVID Acutus Ref SP, Roon Nucleus+ McIntosh MX151, MVP881 HRS SXR Signature Audio Stand Transparent Gen5Ref throughout! New York Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD Preamp Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV x 2 dCS Rossini Dac dCS Rossini Clock Wilson Audio Alexia 2 REL No.25 x 2 Roon Nucleus+ Transparent Gen5Ref throughout! |
#3
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1. Simply enjoy the benefit of a medium output Mc cart driving a fully balanced high gain phono stage.
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#4
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#5
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Welcome, Stuart! I'm no vinyl guru, by any means, but if it's sounding "really great," then I wouldn't touch a thing...I'd just enjoy it. I would stay with the balanced inputs since you have that option.
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When I grow up, I want to be a little boy. - Joseph Heller Aural pleasures courtesy of SME, Dynavector, Audio Research, Simaudio, Wireworld, & Wilson |
#6
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#7
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Adopt option one while you're enjoying the sound. Being an audiophile, you will begin to have doubts, to stick your head through the sonic fence to hear if the sound is better on the other side. Then start tinkering and probably return to what you are enjoying now. The music is the thing.
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#8
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Is your phono cable balanced? Most are not and are rca terminated. howie |
#9
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I wonder what is the gain when someone uses a XLR cable on one end, on the XLR output of the ARC REF 2, and unbalanced at the other end of the cable, into RCA inputs of a line preamp. ???
Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado
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There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats Albert Schweitzer |
#10
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If I had fully balanced system I would use rca and xlr connection. Depending on cartridge you could have 4 different gain settings. To the op. I would try the balanced low gain setting and see if that sounds more pure and you have enough gain -all things being equal, it should sound better as it has one less gain stage. Then try comparable rca cable at the 68 db gain. Then keep which one sounds better. Cheers Last edited by turntable; 12-11-2012 at 07:08 AM. |
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