Low output from Pro-Ject Phono Box into Marantz SR4200

[JonnyG]

Me again, just thought of another Hi-Fi issue that's bothering me.

I have a Sound Labs DLP 12s deck connected to an original Pro-Ject Phono box (http://www.avland.co.uk/pro-ject/phonobox/phonoboxlrg.jpg) connected to a Marantz SR4200 AV amp. (Not the best set-up in the world I agree, but it's all I have to hand.)

AFAIK the jumpers in the phono box are set correctly for MM, all RCA/Ground connections are good, the phono box has power and speaker levels are set correctly in Marantz menu.

Yet, the output from the deck is significantly lower than from any of my other sources, meaning the volume has to be raised to around -20db to be at a comfortable level, whereas my CD player manages the same level at around -35db.

I'm out of ideas with what to check further... any input gratefully received.

Thanks

Jon.

 

[slipperybidness]

Me again, just thought of another Hi-Fi issue that's bothering me.

I have a Sound Labs DLP 12s deck connected to an original Pro-Ject Phono box (http://www.avland.co.uk/pro-ject/phonobox/phonoboxlrg.jpg) connected to a Marantz SR4200 AV amp. (Not the best set-up in the world I agree, but it's all I have to hand.)

AFAIK the jumpers in the phono box are set correctly for MM, all RCA/Ground connections are good, the phono box has power and speaker levels are set correctly in Marantz menu.

Yet, the output from the deck is significantly lower than from any of my other sources, meaning the volume has to be raised to around -20db to be at a comfortable level, whereas my CD player manages the same level at around -35db.

I'm out of ideas with what to check further... any input gratefully received.

Thanks

Jon.

Is there a particular problem here? Can you get the turntable volume to your preferred listening level or not?

Are you just saying that you have to turn the dial up more on the turntable than on other sources to get to the listening level that you want?

AFAIK, this sounds pretty normal to me. I can tell you that I have to turn the volume up higher on my Pio Elite with built in Phono-Pre for the TT than with any other source. The voltage signals produced by the moving magnet are very small, thus they require more amplification to get to the same final volume.

On a side note, when you run the output from the separate phono-pre, you then run that into a "normal" (cd, dvd, aux) input and NOT a phono input on your Marantz?

 

[JonnyG]

Yes, thats what I'm saying, in a much more concise and easy to understand way than what I wrote!

Yes, the phono-pre just runs into my VCR input on my Marantz. It doesn't have a dedicated phono input. My question comes really from hooking up another identical deck to my TEAC 300 (with internal phono-stage) and finding that the volume across all sources connected to that amp are much more uniform.

 

[slipperybidness]

Yes, thats what I'm saying, in a much more concise and easy to understand way than what I wrote!

Yes, the phono-pre just runs into my VCR input on my Marantz. It doesn't have a dedicated phono input. My question comes really from hooking up another identical deck to my TEAC 300 (with internal phono-stage) and finding that the volume across all sources connected to that amp are much more uniform.

Identical deck and identical cart? Cart could cause this too.

Sounds like you have it all hooked up right. I'm not seeing a huge reason for concern.

If you're lucky, TLS Guy will come along in a while and educate everyone (or send him a PM and report back with his response).

 

[JonnyG]

Identical decks both with Stanton 500 cart. I haven't tried swapping them over though... might give that a whirl and see, but I've got no reason so suspect one is better than the other. You never know though...