BadAudioAdvice
Active Member
I've been reading the phono amp reviews and I am hoping that more experienced members can help me make sense of a few things. (I'll edit this if I have made any mistakes or wrong statements)
1. If the input level is fixed at 5mV (for MM) and 0.5mV (for MC) - which makes sense to standardise on, my basic understanding is that:
- The 1000Hz sine wave Scope chart tells us the Vrms (when calculated from peak-to-peak values) and thus the gain.
- The FFT data is the information used to generate the THD+N Ratio and SINAD. (Which is everything left over after the 1Khz peak has been removed)
Questions:
- I've often heard hiss when turning the volume up when on the Phono input with nothing playing. To compare phono amps in this regard, e.g. the York to the Mani 2, what should I be looking for?
- If all phono amps are tested at the fixed input level, then the resulting Vrms output and Gain when compared between phono amps, could tell us how much you would need to turn up your amplifier to get similar output levels
- How does Gain factor into SINAD? For example, the Mani 2 has a gain of ~44dB and the York a gain of ~40dB, yet the Mani 2 has a better SINAD, and the Mani 2 FFT waveform starts at a level of -100, and the York at -80. So does that mean that if you matched the Gain between the 2, the York's performance would be worse?
- If CD player outputs are spec'd for 2 Vrms, and these phono amps are outputting 500-800Vrms, is that why I always need to inrease the volume on my amplifier to get a similar listening level?
2. Headroom and Pops and Ticks
My understanding is that as the stylus is moving through the groove, and hits some dirt, it will cause it to move beyond what would normally be encountered even from a maximum amplitude encoded signal in the wall - thus leading to a significantly higher output.
The part that I am struggling with is that from looking at the THFD+N Ratio and Generator Level chart, I see the sudden increase at the point that it would said to be clipping.
But why would that mean the pops and ticks will be exaggerated?
(When I think of clipping, I'm imagining a clean sine wave that starts to look more like a square wave - it sounds distorted and bad - I'm just not sure how that would relate to a piece of dirt being hit, which obviously is going to sound bad, where one phono amp has lots of headroom and the other doesn't).
Thank you in advance for any clarifications!!
1. If the input level is fixed at 5mV (for MM) and 0.5mV (for MC) - which makes sense to standardise on, my basic understanding is that:
- The 1000Hz sine wave Scope chart tells us the Vrms (when calculated from peak-to-peak values) and thus the gain.
- The FFT data is the information used to generate the THD+N Ratio and SINAD. (Which is everything left over after the 1Khz peak has been removed)
Questions:
- I've often heard hiss when turning the volume up when on the Phono input with nothing playing. To compare phono amps in this regard, e.g. the York to the Mani 2, what should I be looking for?
- If all phono amps are tested at the fixed input level, then the resulting Vrms output and Gain when compared between phono amps, could tell us how much you would need to turn up your amplifier to get similar output levels
- How does Gain factor into SINAD? For example, the Mani 2 has a gain of ~44dB and the York a gain of ~40dB, yet the Mani 2 has a better SINAD, and the Mani 2 FFT waveform starts at a level of -100, and the York at -80. So does that mean that if you matched the Gain between the 2, the York's performance would be worse?
- If CD player outputs are spec'd for 2 Vrms, and these phono amps are outputting 500-800Vrms, is that why I always need to inrease the volume on my amplifier to get a similar listening level?
2. Headroom and Pops and Ticks
My understanding is that as the stylus is moving through the groove, and hits some dirt, it will cause it to move beyond what would normally be encountered even from a maximum amplitude encoded signal in the wall - thus leading to a significantly higher output.
The part that I am struggling with is that from looking at the THFD+N Ratio and Generator Level chart, I see the sudden increase at the point that it would said to be clipping.
But why would that mean the pops and ticks will be exaggerated?
(When I think of clipping, I'm imagining a clean sine wave that starts to look more like a square wave - it sounds distorted and bad - I'm just not sure how that would relate to a piece of dirt being hit, which obviously is going to sound bad, where one phono amp has lots of headroom and the other doesn't).
Thank you in advance for any clarifications!!
