Radio Volume vs Phono Volume

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I know from experience that for many AM/FM/Phono stereos
and hi-fi's, that the output volume of the radio may be
quite a bit louder than the phono.

Is this due to the radio signals having a higher voltage
input to the amp than the phono cartridge ?

I never asked anyone that question.
Thanks !

[hermitcrab]

I have no idea , but I always assumed the radio has more amplification stages before going to the amplifier , compared to a .5 volt cartridge going into a single preamp...

[electra225]

In a Magnavox, the tuner and the phono have the same amplification. The exception is Concert Grand. The phono has its own amplifier. There is also a phono balance control. My experience has been, under general conditions, that the cartridge tends to age, so its output is not what it was when the instrument was new. I consider this a part of its personality.

[walyfd]

Cartridge has a lot to do with it. Moving coil is extremely low output. That RCA 6HF1 I had came with the ESL Concert MC cartridge standard and a transistorized preamp. Those cartridges are like hens teeth and cost a fortune so, when I put a Stanton magnetic in it, it was horrible... loud, distorted...

The Fishers have level sets to balance the phono with the radio. I have both set so that switching between functions, the volume is the same. When I went from a Pickering to a Shure cartridge on the 500B, I had to turn the controls down a touch.

I never used a ceramic cartridge.

[hermitcrab]

Cartridge has a lot to do with it. Moving coil is extremely low output. That RCA 6HF1 I had came with the ESL Concert MC cartridge standard and a transistorized preamp. Those cartridges are like hens teeth and cost a fortune so, when I put a Stanton magnetic in it, it was horrible... loud, distorted...

The Fishers have level sets to balance the phono with the radio. I have both set so that switching between functions, the volume is the same. When I went from a Pickering to a Shure cartridge on the 500B, I had to turn the controls down a touch.

I never used a ceramic cartridge.

You are correct cartridges do age and wear out... I just recently had to replace the original cart out of my astrosonic imperial ... they are made of unobtainium ... so I went with Gary@VM Tetrad kit replacement... I was astounded by the difference I was missing all these years... the separation and the increase in clarity was amazing .. also the bass is much more pronounced ...

[Firedome]

What type of carts did the better models of Magnificent tube and Astrosonic SS Magnavox use?
My '71 SS Maggie is missing everything except the recv'r chassis!

[electra225]

The tube Magnavoxes I have use an Electro-Voice model 26 cartridge, four each, one has a Euphonics U-1, one has an Electro-Voice 132. The EV 26 may arguably be the best stereo ceramic cartridge ever built. I'd put one up against some magnetics. The EV 132 is a direct descendent of the 26. I believe the early Astro-Sonics had the 132 as well, but I don't know how late it ran.