Wow! You really need to look into the equipment being discussed. ALL of the Parasound preamps and the integrated amp have at least one impedance setting for MC as well as the one for MM. I have three cartridges- a Denon DL-110 high output MC, which I bought because I was using a Denon AVR with a MM phono input and I didn't want to look for too long to find a MM that I liked. Being familiar with Denon's cartridges, I bought one. However, that going into a MM input has the same problem- the output isn't as high as a MM, but it's about 8 times that of the average for MC. This causes two problems- the volume control has to be increased to achieve the same level as the other sources and it's too hot to use the MC section.

However, I wouldn't do this to a customer- I don't want angry calls about blown speakers or pissed off wives. My other Denon cartridge is a DL-103d, which I have had for a long time and when I bought the DL-110, it as because I assumed the 103 was worn, but so many stores have gotten rid of their microscopes, I couldn't verify this. Until about 1-1/2 months ago, when I bought my own microscope and I found that it's far from worn, so I'm using it. Its output is only .3mV and my third cartridge is an Audio Technica AT31e, which outputs .4mV and the Parasound P5 MC section isn't providing the gain I would like. I have contacted Dichar about this and he's in the process of replacing his DL-103d, which has a bent cantilever, to confirm the issue.

I'm an Ortofon dealer, but didn't sign on until after I got the Parasound and started using my turntable again. If I need an MM, I'll get one but I really like the cartridges I have.

Also, I have spent more than 40 years dealing with trying to determine what a customer needs WRT power, dynamic headroom and speakers. Thanks for the heads up, though.

Check out the amplifier's specs before telling someone that it will/won't be enough. The A23 is rated for 125W/ch, both channels into 8 Ohms, low distortion, 20Hz-whatever, max output of 45A. It's rated at 200W into 4 Ohms. Dynamic headroom is 1.5dB and at a comfortable level, some of the dynamic peaks are startling.

The puff into the mic- pretty cool, eh? I have some recordings that have breaking glass, impacts of various kinds and slaps on the top of an acoustic guitar- when it sounds like MY guitar being slapped, it can be a little disconcerting.

I see your point there, but looking into the equipment would not prepare anyone for this:


If you had expressed this before, I wouldn't have brought up the transformer. Your earlier post is just what a person would write if they had an MC coil connected to an MM input. All I could do was comment on what you wrote.


Yes, definitely. But it shows what the system can do!

The end of my previous post contained "...at which time it needs to be higher because I only use Moving Coil cartridges with typical output voltage (for that type). The one time I used a MM, the volume control position was about the same as when I use TV/Tuner/BD as the source."

You commented on what I wrote without knowing what the Parasound has for its phono input impedance settings. I must have assumed that you know something about Parasound or, if you don't, that you would look for some info.

(took about eight seconds to find this link)

[Link: parasound.com]

Be sure to match the input impedance spec'd for the cartridge. Too low and it will be lifeless and low level, too high and you'll have a too pepped-up sound because the cartridge is under damped. Some of those cartridges would like 100 Ohm load.

One of the reasons I wanted this preamp is for the choices of impedance- it's very dynamic but not artificially so. With a great cartridge and this system, my vinyl sounds far better than ever.

Here is what I have come up with so far.

I have spec'd the following equipment

(1) Orbit Turntable [Link: store.uturnaudio.com]

(2) Phase Tech Speakers [Link: phasetech.com]

(1)Yamaha amp [Link: usa.yamaha.com]

(1) Sonos Amp Connect


Turntable into the Yamaha phone input, Rec output into a local Sonos amp connect. The customer wants to see how it sounds without the sub.

Thoughts on this setup?

I'm not sure if Line2 and Line3 offer a tape monitor function. In any case this arrangement will be a little difficult to operate. And, one might be facing the Line-In latency of the Sonos.

NEZBO, that's phono input, not phone. Phone is short for headphone.

Buzz, I agree that Line 2 and line 3 don't look like they have a tape monitor function, but he's going to use the phono input. Why are line 2 and line 3 tape monitor of interest? It looks as though the preamplified phono signal should be present on both TAPE REC outs, which is all you need to feed the signal to another component or components. And yes, any Sonos latency will be a problem.

What about this will be difficult to operate? Again, just based on the pictures, it does not look difficult!

Don't set the switch on the rear to 4 Ohms- Audioholics has an article about that and it's only for making it pass UL by dropping the power supply rail voltage- the performance in that mode is piss poor. Denon's X4000 put out a whopping 43W/ch at clipping. Other brands performed badly, too.

Best to use an amp that can drive 4 Ohms without puking.

Ernie,

I'm all about easy to operate.

Here one must select Phono, maybe deal with the Yamaha Volume control, select Line-In on the Sonos, then deal with Group, and the Sonos Volume control. For us, it's not much of an effort, perhaps annoying after a while, but for the technically shy this is over the top.

Other than placing the record on The Turntable, Everything else will be automated with Total control. There are only 3 other rooms that will have Sonos. The kitchen, Master Bath, and Front Screened in Porch. These rooms are away from the Turntable and the latency should not be that much of an issue.


That was a typo on my part.

Is there an issue with The Yamaha Amp?

You mean, WRT the 4 Ohm switch? I don't remember any of the pieces doing well with 4 Ohms when the switch was in that position- it's only there so the equipment survives the test, which is more stressful than real life use. If the amp will be run at WOT into 4 Ohms, I would use an amp that's made for that application. I doubt this one will have a problem with it.

I looked at the Yamaha, Sony ES, Pioneer, Oinker, Eventage and other integrated amps earlier this year, when I was looking to pick up a 2 channel line and I just didn't find the features/inputs/performance I wanted in one package until I looked into Parasound. This one has a lot of what I wanted, bit not all. Before AVRs became the norm, everybody made integrated amps that had this stuff.

I chose this amp because it looks as though it is native on A and B Channels as 4 ohm.When Selecting the Switch. The Phase Tech Speakers are also Nominal 4ohm Speakers. So I was planning on using the Switch in the 4 Ohm Mode.
Am I looking at this wrong?

NEZBO,

What do you mean by "native on A and B Channels as 4 ohm"