I have purchased and tried several set-ups:
1. pre-amp with built phono stage MM and MM/MC (tube and SS)
2. line stage (tube and SS) + MM/MC phono stage (SS)
3. line stage (tube and SS) + MM phono stage (SS) + pre pre-amp (SS)
I must say, I am most satisfied with my current set-up which consists of the following old stuff
:
Passive pre-amp w/ MM phono stage (tube) + step-up device
Why
You know me, I'm not the type to say subjective bla-bla-bla to other people. hehehehehe
The stuff:
Precision Fidelity C7A - Passive "Pre-Amp" with tube MM Phono Stage
Denon AU320 Step-Up Transformer
Technically, the C7A is a tube phono stage with variable pots to be used for the volume control. It has no active line stage. So you may say its a phono stage and not a pre-amp.
But it has inputs for AUX/ TUNER (2 line inputs). So its a pre-amp.
If you use this pre-amp just for a digital front-end, you will just end up using it as a passive devise.
During the 80s, some audiophiles hooked this "pre-amp" or "phono stage with variable pots" or whatever you want to call it,
in their pre-amps with active line stages. In effect, these audiophiles have taken a different route. They have made the C7A a dedicated phono stage. Sort of an upgrade to their existing pre-amps with built-in phono stages (during the 80s most pre-amps still included a phono stage). Soon, some of these audiophiles tried removing their pre-amps and left the C7A to stand alone. Some preferred this approached, while some preferred to have an additional active line stage.
Despite it having a passive line stage, I personally don't have problems in terms of gain. When I am using my MM cart, I bypass my Denon transformer and hook my turntable directly to the C7A. If I use my MC, I hook up my transformer in between the C7A and the turntable.
With MMs, my volume pot is normally set within 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock
With low-output MCs (with transformer), my volume pot is normally at 11 o'clock to 3 o'clock. With high-output MCs (with transformer), my volume pot is normally at 10 o'clock to 1 o'clock.
BTW, I using 86db or 87 db speakers.