Hiss on Phono

[Peter van der Laarse]

Try these settings:

1. The Ebony L uses a machined and vented African Ebony wood body. It features a nude, Fritz Geiger S line-contact diamond, mirror polished and bonded to a 5.5mm solid boron cantilever. With an output of only 0.26mV at 3.54cm per second, the Ebony L is the second lowest output Ebony Series cartridge that Benz offers (the lowest being the Ebony TR @0.1mV). Internal impedance is a very low 3.5 ohms and the cartridge weighs 9.6 grams. My personal estimate is that loads ranging from 50 to 600 ohms will serve the Ebony L best.

After experimenting with different gain and load settings on the battery-powered Nova Phonomena, I found that a load of 243 ohms worked very well, along with 57 dB of gain. But realize that the load setting is listener dependent, while the gain setting is system dependent. Many systems will require 60 or more decibels of gain to attain adequate listening levels. As it turned out, I achieved the best tracking at about 2.2 grams, which is at the high end of the recommended range and can vary as the cartridge breaks in.
On the fly trying indeed.

2. Another point of attention is the Vertical Tracking Angle. Try different settings to reduce noise.

3. Third install audacity and measure the silence via usb on the Devialet Phone entrance after the suggested settings. Ca. -80dB without noise and -66 dB must be possible at ease. Try different sub filters via the Devialet untill its quit. (pre out at 12Hz 24/oct for example). In this way you can "measure" your silence until it's done.

Succes!