Amp power need after switching TT from MM to MI?
I recently upgraded from a MM TT set-up (Ortofon 2M blue on POS TT) to built-in phono stage of a Rotel RA 1572 integrated amp, to a VPI SuperPrimeScout with Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC* cartridge (0.4 mV) to a Vincent PHO 701 phono stage with 60 db gain for MC setting to aux input of amp (and a Telefunken ribbed plate 12AU7; prefer that a bit over the Brimar CV4003). For speaker listening (B&W CM6s), I now have to turn volume up from level 35 to about 45-50 for same sound level.
- Was the Vincent PHO 701 a bad choice because of too low gain for the cartridge?
- Should I look at a more powerful amp so that I am staying in the lower 30% linear range of the amp with plenty of head room?
- Or am I staying in 30% linear range of amp because of low signal input into the amp, so no concerns re turning the volume knob higher?
- Or should I be concerned about noise floor with higher volume setting on amp? (have not noticed it).
- Or is everything just fine? It's easy go get paranoid with this pass-time ;-)
Rotel 1572 - PearlAcoustics Sibelius SG - REL T9/I & arrow wireless | VPI Super Prime Scout, ADS - Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC*/Ortofon 2M black - E.A.T. E-glo petite | Marantz CD player | HoloAudio May DAC L2 | MacPro 2013 Roon server | TEAC V7000 | Tisbury passive preamp | Woo WA6 SE w/13EM7 & WE422- Grado RS2e, Dan Clark Ether 2 | iPhone 10 w/Flacbox - Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt - Etymotics ER4SR ER4XR