MM Cartridges?

[Confused]

Thanks - I absolutely get hiss, starts about -20 on the volume control. Interestingly if I pretend to have a higher output MC (i.e. dial up the max output of the cartridge on the RAM screen, I can hear the hiss start to drop) - so I wondered if a Hana or a Lyra which are 0.5mV might be better

The wild card would be to switch to a Ortofon 2m Black and try to sell my cartridge, but I have an attachment to MC for sentimental reasons.....

I think the bigger amps (D1000 + O d'A) seem to suffer much less from hiss, perhaps the phono is different there

I think you have almost answered your own question here?  With RAM you can indeed try any cartridge gain setting you like and test what the hiss level is like at whatever your normal listening level is.  You don't even need a cartridge connected.  If the hiss is inaudible or unobtrusive at your normal listening level for a particular gain setting, than that should tell you all you need to know.

That said, before buying my Cadenza Bronze last year, I did find myself wondering about trying the Ortofon 2m Black, not because I am bothered by the hiss, but I have heard that the MM Black is rather good in it's own right.....