Passive preamp buzzing?

[Bigman80]

No problem. It's not a disaster if that's where you end up using the dials, but the Goldpoint's been designed to sound best, used with them turned down more (to achieve the same loudness level), as at that point there are less shunt resistors in the signal path.

You have both shunt and series resistors in the Goldpoint. The Z-Foils I mentioned earlier are the series resistors, and there are only two (one for each channel, left and right).

Essentially, the more you turn up the volume (increase each 'step' on the dual-mono attenuators), the more shunt resistors are 'in circuit', so the potential for sonic degradation increases with every 'click'. It's just the way it's been designed.

You can see all the (surface mounted) shunt resistors employed, with each attenuator 'step' (the little square numbered things), on this link: http://www.goldpt.com/big.html

So you want to minimise the amount of steps you need to use, in order to achieve the desired volume.

The only way you'll be able to do that yourself, is to alter the current 'gain structure' in your system, either by using a source component with a higher output voltage, or a more sensitive power amp (or a combo of both), and then you won't need to turn the Goldpoint up as much.

You could also alter the value of the series resistors, to achieve a similar effect, but that's a more technical thing and involves some soldering. Hope that all makes sense!

This is also a useful link, explaining the differences (pros and cons) between series, ladder and shunt-type stepped attenuators, used in passive preamps: http://www.goldpt.com/attenuator_types.html The Goldpoint you're using is a series-type.

Marco.

Cheers Marco!

It's never as easy as just plug and play lol. I'll give that a read and up my knowledge intake a bit haha.

I'll get some time with it tomorrow and Tuesday so hopefully I can get the dials down to a lower level. It's probably user error so I'll get the Jolida manual out and check everything is right.

O

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[farflungstar]

The jolidas can be temperamental.

[Bigman80]

The jolidas can be temperamental.

Could you elaborate? Not had an issue since plumbing it in other than with the Goldpoint which was a plug not making good enough contact. Not surprising considering they're both mainly plastic. WBT & MS Audio.

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[farflungstar]

The jolidas tend to have very high gain and can be tricky to integrate with certain carts, passives etc. I tried it with one a long long time ago but just couldn't make it work well. You have a different system so might have a totally different experience.

[Bigman80]

The jolidas tend to have very high gain and can be tricky to integrate with certain carts, passives etc. I tried it with one a long long time ago but just couldn't make it work well. You have a different system so might have a totally different experience.

Ah, No. I completely see what you're saying. It does have high gain figures which weren't an issue until I put a "better" preamp in. It is indeed now a bit of a challenge to integrate it smoothly. A good point well made.

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[Open Door]

The jolidas tend to have very high gain and can be tricky to integrate with certain carts, passives etc. I tried it with one a long long time ago but just couldn't make it work well. You have a different system so might have a totally different experience.

Just for info, the low and high outputs on the back of the Jolida are not for cartridge matching. It is a feature more for the American markets where some home theatre preamps have massive gain. The low outputs have a resistor in the lineout to lower the gain so best to use the high outputs every time.

If gain is an issue then that can be resolved by dropping in 5751 tubes as a straight swap - lower gain and lower noise so an upgrade at the same time.
Another top option is 5755's with adaptors which are stellar tubes and lower gain.

[Open Door]

If you can get NOS black plate triple meca 5751's - you'll be smiling ��

[Bigman80]

If you can get NOS black plate triple meca 5751's - you'll be smiling ��

Ah, I knew I heard a difference. Yes, after some digging I've seen people remove the low output. I'll see if I can source some valves. I would be incredibly reluctant to let the Jolida go. I really like it. Also, I could just put the other preamp in lol

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[Marco]

Yes, but isn't Oliver's issue, in terms of getting the best out of the Goldpoint passive he's borrowed, one of LOW gain, not high gain, which is why he's got the dials turned up to 2 o'clock, in order to achieve the required volume?

Therefore, he needs to INCREASE the current gain structure of his system, in order to be able to TURN DOWN the Goldpoint and achieve the same required listening level.

Marco.

[Firebottle]

If gain is an issue then that can be resolved by dropping in 5751 tubes as a straight swap -

This is just plain wrong. The valve stage is an SRPP stage with resistive feedback that sets the level of gain. You may get a very marginal change to the stage gain between differing valves but it is always going to be about x5.

@ Oliver, the gain that can be achieved from MC input to high level output is 50 dB with no gain switch on, 56,71 or 80 dB for the individual switches selected in turn, or a maximum of 82.6 dB with all switches on.