couple of tt questions

leftwinger57

I'm awaiting the arrival of the new Grado Black cartridge. Changing it out seems pretty straight forward but I have some issues w/ my tt. The first and I have no idea if this is normal or not. When playing the tt I have to turn up the volume to match any other source I have. In other words if my pre/amp is set at the 10 o'clock position I need to turn it to 12 to match volumes.
The next is when I use the lifter feature it is way off the starting spot and can even fall off the lp if lowered. If starting w/ only the start button it lands fine and all is well w/ the world.I have a Denon DP-11F tt and the cart set at gram and 1/2 per Grado w/ the GF-3 that's on now.I think the prudent thing to do if any answers are given to do any adjusting after the new cartridge is installed.

George Grand

The volume control mis-match is normal, as the output of a phono cartridge is much less than the output from a high-level source (cd, tuner). I wouldn't sweat the exactitude of the needle drop either, just nudge it a hair when using it in the manual mode if the auto-drop feature is working okay.

dromunds

I have a Denon DP7F that I'm getting ready to give to a friend and its had the same issue with the needle drop since I got it used. I started a thread and there's a response that included a service page describing how to adjust it if you wish. It was within the last week or so on the 2-channel forum I think. In the past, I always used the lift button and manually set the arm, but I'm probably going to try to adjust the auto drop before I move it on. Not sure if the adjustment would be the same for the DP11F or not, but you should be able to track down the appropriate info in not.

Loud & Clear

I also prefer my sources to have matched volumes. I bought a phono preamp with very flexible gain settings that allows for this. I like roughly as much gain as I can get before distortion gets introduced. A phono preamp with gradual and comprehensive gain steps is a useful tool. Too little sucks, because even when you crank it the sound seems a bit washed out and you're stressing the amp. Too much gain sucks because then you have audible distortion.

mhardy6647

some preamps (the venerable McIntosh C-28, to pick a random example) have trim pots to normalize levels between different source inputs. Modern "line level" sources (CD players & suchlike) seem typically to have much higher output levels than the "line level" standard... this, I think, puts a typical phono preamp at a disadvantage even if the output of one's phono cartridge is relatively high.

leftwinger57

Vey good, thanks guys. It seems volume drop is normal and that's a big relief and for the lifter problem I have to be at the tt anyway to do that function so push it over it is.I could really dig a C-28 but my Onkyo seems pretty versatile and till something falls out of the sky I'll stick with it.

mhardy6647

You'd like a C-28 until you actually had to listen to it... I'll try to be charitable... there are better sounding preamps out there.

(I have one gathering dust and spiderwebs in the basement)

pglbook

leftwinger, I just set up a tt and started spinning some vinyl myself about a year ago and the first thing I immediately noticed was the lower sound volume when I played a record as compared to a CD. Iposted on this forum about that issue, wondering if it was normal or if something was wrong with my tt. And I also did some online research. Bottom line is that it is totally normal and not
something to worry about at all. There is quite a bit of info online regarding why that is the case (overly compressed CDs, output of different sources, etc). I just turn up the volume knob when I play a record and all is good!

Loud & Clear, what phone pre amp did you get? I am in the market for a phone pre and have been researching them and would appreciate any recommendations. I am looking at the following: Clearaudio Nano, Musical Surroundings Phonomena II, Music Hall PA.

Thanks..

Loud & Clear

I went with the Phonomena II. I did so because I had a cartridge and integrated amp that refused to cooperate with any of the other phono preamps that I tried - jolida, NAD, and one or two others that I can't remember. In each instance I either had too little or two much gain. Then I got the Phonomena II after looking at its manual and feeling optimistic due to its flexibility. It was the right call. I set it up such that the volume from the TT is the same as it is from the other line sources on my integrated. I haven't used an spl meter or anything scientific, but I can't tell the difference. The music is loud, the background silent, and the detail, stage width and dynamics are excellent. It saved my vinyl experience and I owe it a debt of gratitude.

pglbook

Thanks, loud & clear. I have heard great things about the Phonomena II and was leaning toward that phono pre myself.
I just need to save up the money to get a new one as I have yet to find one anywhere on the used market.

jeremymarcinko

A high output phono cartridge helps a bunch. I recently replaced my music hall usb-1 turntable that had a grado black on it, with a new pro-ject debut carbon. The ortofon 2m red that came installed on the Pro-ject is almost as loud (depending on the record) as many of my cd's. The grado black sounds great but is relatively quiet, even when compared to the stock AT3600 conical that came on the music hall. The grado black is marketed at 5mv iirc but the spec sheet included with the cartridge has it listed at 4mv (I think). The ortofon is spec sheet shows 5.5mv and I believe thats probably close, due to its loudness.

hochpt21

All good info above.

When I got into vinyl about 5 years ago, I had the same exact question. I also now have a phono pre with multiple adjustable gains.