Post by sub on Apr 26, 2017 19:06:27 GMT 12
hi all. Until funds are sorted to enable purchase of a new phono stage, I will be using my Linn Pretek as a phono stage feeding into the aux input of the Plinius 2100i.
i recall reading that when doing this you need to turn the volume of one of the devices up to full, and use the volume control on the other to control volume.
trouble is, I cannot remember which one is turned up to full and which volume control is used. Logic suggests it is the pre turned up, and the integrated controls used for setting volume.
can someone confirm, please?
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 26, 2017 19:35:48 GMT 12
Hi sub - (I'll chip in a bit here) - essentially what you are doing is feeding a preamp (with phono + line pre-amp), into an integrated amp's line level input. So, you are doubling up line preamp stages (10-20dB ea) & doubling up volume controls. Therefore, one would expect that you'll have too much gain & will have to turn down one or both. To start with, I would turn both vol controls down a bit - it's always good to run vol controls at no more than 12 - 1 o'clock or less (leaving plenty of power headroom in reserve, at least 20dB) & also always good not to run vol controls down too low (because pots often have poor channel balance near minimum). (From what I can see, the Pretek does not have high gain, only around 67dB(?) MC-in to line-out, so you may not have too much surplus gain/volume level. What is your cartridge source?
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Post by sub on Apr 26, 2017 20:04:32 GMT 12
(From what I can see, the Pretek does not have high gain, only around 67dB(?) MC-in to line-out, so you may not have too much surplus gain/volume level. What is your cartridge source? Thanks Owen, until my Denon 103R arrives, I will be using the Shure M75B MM cart currently fitted.
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 26, 2017 20:45:59 GMT 12
Theoretically, you could have the integrated amp vol control at maximum - this would mean that the signal would pass through only a minimum of the volume potentiometer's 'track' & thus have less effect on signal fidelity, ie shortest signal path. Try these options, see what your ears tell you. 
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Post by sub on Apr 26, 2017 22:24:50 GMT 12
Try these options, see what your ears tell you. Listening interrupted by TV - now have LP playing - Leonard Cohen Greatest Hits, the 180gram vinyl reissue. Tried both suggestions, Owen. What seems to work best is the Linn pre volume at 12 o'clock and the Plinius around 10 o'clock. Sounds great, has that underpinning "weight" that holds everything together. i remember I had a similar set up on my very first "real" system & TT, a Linn Basic with Akito arm, and I used a Linn LK1 pre into a Sonic Frontiers SL1 pre aux (that fed my Plinius SA50). my Mission 753 speakers I still use are the only survivors from that system. Fantastic speakers, auditioned many speakers over the years thinking I should replace them, but they always won out. Except for a pair of KEF LS 50 I also own, which in several respects are slightly better, but their look does not impress my housemate. hoping to set up a second system one day, so am hanging on to them!
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Post by michaelw on Apr 26, 2017 23:01:16 GMT 12
why are you faffing about with 2 volume controls ?
use the rec out from the linn - fixed level.
job done.
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Post by sub on Apr 26, 2017 23:19:19 GMT 12
why are you faffing about with 2 volume controls ? use the rec out from the linn - fixed level. job done. That idea was floating around in my mind. I vaguely recall now that is how I did it with the LK1 into SFL1 many moons ago!
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 27, 2017 9:35:20 GMT 12
Yes definitely an option - the Tape Out is attenuated a bit usually, ie. goes through only a resistor, so should be a good comparison. Interested in whether gain is still fairly high.
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Post by michaelw on Apr 27, 2017 10:38:26 GMT 12
should get good levels from a line source.
vinyl will depend on gain and sensitivity of the phono stage.
back in the late 80s it was all the rage in the usa to run preamps in hotrod mode - feeding the tape out straight into a suitable power amp.
iirc this was preferred by harry pearson et al even for superior preamps like the arc sp11.
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Post by sub on May 3, 2017 13:24:51 GMT 12
should get good levels from a line source. vinyl will depend on gain and sensitivity of the phono stage. back in the late 80s it was all the rage in the usa to run preamps in hotrod mode - feeding the tape out straight into a suitable power amp. iirc this was preferred by harry pearson et al even for superior preamps like the arc sp11. Been too busy until now, but unable to do chores outside today despite lovely fine weather (a bit crook) so swapped cables around - tape out from Linn Pretek now straight to Aux on Plinius 2100i. Played two LPs through it, Cohen's greatest hits, lovely mellow sounds and can hear his voice coming from his chest, turned up volume on Plinius to 12o'clock, pitch black silences between notes, great; now listening to Previn and Du Prez on Beethoven's "Ghost" trio, had to turn volume down to just over 10 o'clock, string tone and piano perfect. The Linn certainly has a nice MM phono stage. Still waiting for the Dynavector P75/3 to arrive via courier, the Denon DL 103R has arrived but waiting for a new Jelco HS-25 headshell from Ultimate Audio, which was posted yesterday. Looking forward to trying everything out!
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Post by michaelw on May 3, 2017 14:18:40 GMT 12
great to read that what is the 103r replacing ? i'm in the poor house so may have to refocus my budget.
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Post by sub on May 3, 2017 14:44:48 GMT 12
great to read that what is the 103r replacing ? i'm in the poor house so may have to refocus my budget. Shure M75B MM, comes with a spare brand new Jico replacement stylus N75ED/2. Not particularly high end, but it does make music. Was thinking of keeping for a spare.
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