Reddit mentions of Music Hall Mini MM Phono Pre-Amplifier

Start with a stylus and phono stage/preamp upgrade:

Stylus upgrade from a conical AT91 to an elliptical needle:

• ATN3600 Type Elliptical Upgrade Stylus - our Needle 211-DE $31.
  
• LP Gear CFN3600LE upgrade for Audio-Techica ATN91 stylus $30.
  
  Phono stage/preamp instead of the basic one in the Sherwood: Connect to aux or tape in, not phono in.
  
  
• Schitt Mani $129.
  
• Music Hall Mini $59 free shipping (open box audition) or $79 new. Or a Fluance PA10 $79.
  
  Speaker stands if you don't have them: Dayton Audio SSMB24, Monoprice Glass or Monolith by Monoprice and Audio Advisor where most are also available at Amazon.
  
  Speaker Positioning: Speaker Placement for Stereo Music Listening • How to position your speakers for great sound
  
  Subwoofer for lower bass if you are not in an apartment:
  
  
• 10" Infinity SUB R10 Reference Series $399 $140 flash sale ends in 2 days.
  
  Speaker upgrade to 6.5" Reference Premiere instead of 5.25" Reference if not ever getting a subwoofer:
  
  
• Klipsch RP-160M $340. Reference Premiere, is an upgrade from the entry level Reference line.
  
• Towers: JBL Studio 270 $260 pair, or Boston A250 $225 pair bogo.
  
• Or many other options, or DIY build your own from a kit, reply for more.

The lowest one is probably best. It will depend on your amp though. The settings are 30, 42, 48, & 60dB. Read this article to help figure out what will work best. Just know, calculations are only that. Use the setting which sound best to your ears. The OM10 outputs 4mV. Most affordable receivers/amplifiers have an input sensitivity of 250mV. With these figures the calculated setting should be about 36dB. So, you are dead smack in the middle of the two lowest setting. Honestly IMO the Mani is a poor match for most receivers with the the OM10. You may want to look at the Music Hall Mini that has a preset of 35dB instead. You can purchase it from Amazon, so, you can compare them and see which will work better. Schiit will charge you a 10% restocking fee and they won't pay shipping, but Amazon will take it back and pay shipping. So there isn't much risk in trying out the Music Hall.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/taking-the-guesswork-out-of-phonostage-gain-1/

Music Hall Mini

glad to hear you got it figured out. if your receiver doesn't have a phono stage and there isnt one built in to the turntable, then yes, you would indeed need a phono pre-amp.

take a look on the back of your receiver for "phono" and if there is one, plug your RCAs from the turntable in to the phono RCA plugs on the receiver. i use this one.

• here's a site you can use to help find equipment reviews for some pre-amps as well.
  
• a budget friendly option here.
  
  you need to be sure you get one thats specific to the type of stylus you are using as well. a lot of popular styli are moving magnet, which by the looks of it, i would bet your table uses. good luck!

I am going to upgrade my Fluance RT81 internal preamp to an external preamp. I have an $100 Amazon gift card. What would you recommend?

I am have been considering:

• ART DJPREII
  
• Uturn Pluto
  
• Music Hall Mini

I'm getting a lot of static coming from my speakers. Too much to enjoy any music.

It's only happening when my preamp (Music Hall Mini) is plugged in (and turned on).

I'm using a U-Turn Orbit Plus as my record player.

Does anyone have any suggestion for how to eliminate the static?

I tried plugging in an Aux>RCA cable in to a ground loop isolator that I have, but the only thing it did was reduce the gain/maximum volume level. It did not help reduce the static.

The basic setup I'm working with is Turntable>RCA/RCA>Preamp>RCA/RCA>Speakers

I have no idea what I'm doing so any suggestions would be much appreciated - thanks!!