Advice Regarding Playing Vinyl on My System

[denn2209]

Hello, and thanks in advance for any advice:

I have a Rega Planar 3 turntable, with a Supex SMM/5 Cartridge and a NAD 2020i amplifier.

The amp is fine when playing cds - great volume and tone - but when I play vinyl, the volume seems very low and I really have to turn the amp up to
get any reasonable volume.

Is there something I'm missing - I didn't think that the deck needed a pre-amp with the NAD......is this correct?

Thanks

Dennis

[Macca]

It is pretty normal to have to use more volume when using the phono input of an integrated amp, compared to using the line level inputs for e.g CD. It is only an issue if you are still not getting enough volume with the control all the way up.

[dowser]

I guess you mean a 3020i? Can't remember if it is switchable between mm & mc? If no switch, it will be mm...and I guess your Supex is an mc?

[denn2209]

Yes it is a NAD 3020i - I don't know what mm and mc means - sorry.

[jostber]

It seems like you can switch between MM and MC:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/nad3120upgrade_e.html

[Macca]

There is no Moving Coil option on a 3020i and the Supex is an Moving Magnet cartridge in any case.

[aniki]

The amp is fine when playing cds - great volume and tone - but when I play vinyl, the volume seems very low and I really have to turn the amp up to
get any reasonable volume.


Your cart has a relatively low output for its type at 2.5mV (MM is Moving Magnet as opposed to MC - Moving Coil which typically have much lower output voltage) which explains the need for extra gain.
As Macca says, it should only be an issue if you are having to max the volume control. In which case you may want to consider a higher output cart or an external phono stage.

[denn2209]

Thanks for the replies - might look into getting a pre-amp.

[Macca]

Make sure that you get one with a reasonably high output, or you will still have the same issue.

[denn2209]

Thanks - as you may have gathered I don't know a lot about this - what output would you suggest I should be looking for?

Thanks again

[Macca]

Manufacturers don't tend to publish that spec so a figure wouldn't help, although as a guidline the standard for a CD player is 2 volts. Someone who has more experience with phono stages than me can probably help you there by recommending some with plenty of gain.. Will need a budget, though, and specify if it must be new or if you will go for a used one. There are literally hundreds to choose from.

[Kvaal]

Just check that the connectors from the turntable are plugged in on "phono" before you do anything else!

[struth]

www.electromod.co.uk/schiit-audio/schiit-accessories/mani/

These are good and inexpensive..have higher db settings if you need it too.

[jollyfix]

Dennis, go with Johna's advice first, check you are plugged into phono.

It is pretty normal to have to use more volume when using the phono input of an integrated amp, compared to using the line level inputs for e.g CD. It is only an issue if you are still not getting enough volume with the control all the way up.
i think Martin has hit the nail on the head here too. How much more are you turning the volume pot on vinyl compared to CD?
The amp I'm using at the 'mo', off is 6 o clock turn clockwise to 9.00 on CD, turn to 11/12.00 on vinyl to get the same volume as Cd through the speakers. All very normal, of course varies a wee bit with different amps.

[Jason P]

If you do get a separate phono stage, remember that this plugs in to one of the line level inputs on your amp NOT the phono one - you'll get a nasty wake-up if you do!

TBH the phono stages on the NADs aren't that bad - I'd be inclined to look for a higher output cart if you feel it's too low. But as others have stated, there is quite often a difference in volume - it's only a problem if it won't go loud enough without whacking the amp up full.

[blake]

As others have stated, having to turn up phono to achieve similar SPL's to CD or other line level inputs is quite normal.

The sensitivity spec on the NAD indicates phono gain of around 40 dB (which is healthy for a MM phono pre)-the cartridge might like a bit more gain, but probably only about 42 dB to be ideal so it is quite close and, in all likelihood, fine.

Unless the OP is literally maxing out the volume pot (which I doubt very much is the case) and not achieving reasonable SPL's he should just stick with what he has. If I was to make an educated guess I'd say he's probably running around 9-10 o'clock on the volume pot for line level/CD and maybe 12-1 for vinyl-if that's the case, this is perfectly normal and he can just relax and kick back. Even if he's running into the 2-4 o'clock area on the volume pot with vinyl this is not an issue if sound quality is good and necessary volume levels are being reached. Most volume pots sound better and are in fact more linear in the final half of their travel.