Accession MM + Elevator EXP + HOMC

Trying to do as little post processing as possible.

The reason I'm not enthusing about the Elevator EXP is the real possibility of it being used in an awkward situation (used with the wrong gear for audio).

Although it has been tested for EMC immunity (in South Korea by our agent there) and passed with flying colours, some of the ways high sensitivity products like this are used in so called high-end systems result in interference problems, which the Elevator EXP unfairly gets the blame for.

One of the worse interfering items "known to man" is the I-phone SE, which I intentionally use. With it sat on top of the Elevator EXP doing nothing, or calling a number, or receiving a call, there is no interference at all; yet at 1.5 miles of the Crystal Palace transmitter in London, a user reported constant loud interference, yet double that distance and it is absolutely silent.

Now, those who understand the square power law, will say that's not possible, and yes, they're correct, that there would still be some interference at twice the distance (or even further).

And that is the problem. There are those who know how to use a vinyl front end, and those who think they know. Several Elevator EXP's were demonstrated by The Cartridge man (RIP Len) within 3.5 miles of the Crystal Palace transmitter, and all were sold, but Len was absolutely experienced in vinyl front ends.

So, yes, provided it is used properly, then 0.5mV in gives 6.5mV out, and multiplied by the Accession MM gain, the output will be 773.5mV (or 0dBu).

But then there's bound to be the complaint that it hasn't got the "suggested load impedance" of 400 ohms, which must be magic, except that it has a greater than sign in front of the 400 ohms, which means more than 400 ohms, and there is an 840 ohms setting on the front of the Elevator EXP, which is more than 400 ohms.

So, yes it will work admirably, but not using a vinyl front end that has no screening continuity, or no screening continuity in other interconnects, or in knitted interconnects, or where the turntable has a "whip antenna" consisting of the cartridge wires emerging from the arm looping up to the sky and back down to the output socket enclosure, or if the arm is carbon fibre with no metallic shielding inside.

Basically, in this game, no ****** behaves, perhaps with the exception of me! 

Please don't take this the wrong way but I think Chris is right that post processing is the way to go in order to increase the volume of any recording you make. It literally takes less than 30 seconds for me to select a bunch of files in a folder and run them through the DSP functions of one program I have. I can make anything as loud as I want. Obviously I wouldn't want to make them too loud, or I'll run into clipping.

I agree that the Elevator is the wrong tool for this situation as Graham explained in technical detail.

Personally for your situation I would try to pick a cart with around 4-6mV of output which is pretty common for many high output cartridges. Then adjust the files if you need to afterwards. It's really not too difficult.