Best approach to more volume

Playing a CD, I get all the volume I want at the 9:00 position on the knob. Playing an LP, I'm still a little short on volume with the knob at high noon. What's your opinion as to the best approach to more volume? A different cartridge? phono preamp? main preamp? turntable? Just crank it up more? The cartridge is almost definitely on its way it out. I borrowed it from another turntable as a placeholder until I figure out what I want. The phono preamp was mostly intended as a placeholder, too...same reason. The Adcom preamp is pretty noisy at high positions on the volume knob.

The components involved...

Amp: Adcom GFA-545 II
Preamp: Adcom GFP-565
CD: Adcom GCD-600
Turntable: Music Hall MMF-5
Cartridge: Shure M97XE
Phono preamp: ancient PS Audio phono preamp

My guess would be a phono preamp with more gain.

That's sort of what I've been thinking. But I hate to make my selection of a phono preamp based solely on gain.

markw - any thoughts to offer on that Goldring 1042 cartridge?

other phonostage with higher gain, or cartridge with higher output...

or the cheapest option (free...), and the best, if you like the sound, turn up the darn volume...

there's nothing wrong with turning up the volume a little more...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

I agree with Basite. There is absolutely nothing sacred about a volume knob at the 12:00 position. I run mine at about 2:00 for serious listening with most material. There are some CDs and LPs that require more or less. As long as you reach the volume you desire you should be fine.

I suppose I should have explained...The preamp is noisy at the 12:00 position. It's nice and clean at less. That's why a new preamp is an option under consideration.

The preamp is noisy in what regard? Is this the static type of noise one would associate with a dirty potentiometer? Noisy as in the distortion of an overdriven circuit? Hum or buzz? If you can get more specific about the noise it would be helpful.

It's nothing as bad as those things...just a steady sound, like tape hiss. I rarely notice it while the music is playing. I notice it mostly when the volume is up but I've lifted the arm off the record. The phono section of the Adcom is where it's clearly the worst, but it's not too bad on the tuner inputs, which is where I have the phono preamp connected.

Phono stages for moving magnet cartridges have more gain (i.e., higher amplification) than tuner, tape or CD input circuits. Moving coil cartridges need even a bit more gain than that.

If you are hearing hiss (white noise) as you increase your volume knob past high noon, then it sounds like you may need a better quality phono preamp.

Just an update... I have now replaced the Shure M97XE with a Goldring 2200. The higher output of the Goldring has increased the volume to just about right where I hoped it would be. The hunt for a phono preamp will now continue without restricting my options to those with the higher gain numbers.

Glad you nipped in the ol' bud. I was gonna suggest buying a new pot that went to eleven....

A pair of these will solve your volume problem, I guarantee it!:biggrin5:

http://www.parasound.com/halo/jc1.php

Well, yeah, if you wanna be crude....(said the jealous oilman to the sheik).