Phono Stage Overload (Clipping) Calculator

Matching a cartridge to a preamp is about more than just “Moving Magnet vs. Moving Coil.” It’s about headroom. Some high‑output cartridges can push a budget phono stage into distortion if the input stage doesn’t have enough overload margin.

Pick a cartridge and a phono preamp below. The tool will try to estimate headroom using published output voltage and any listed max input / input sensitivity. If a spec isn’t available, you can enter it manually in “Advanced”.

Cartridge

Select a cartridge to see its rated output voltage.

Phono preamp

Select a preamp to see any published max input / sensitivity.

Select a cartridge + preamp to calculate headroom.

Select a cartridge + preamp
Advanced: manual inputs & assumptions

Published “output voltage” is typically measured at 1 kHz with a standardized groove velocity (often 5 cm/s). Real records can have peaks above that, so this tool includes an optional peak factor to stress‑test headroom.

2× ≈ +6 dB (a “loud record” sanity check).
Used only when a preamp lists input sensitivity but not max input.
Example: 7.0
Example: 3.5
If you know the true overload spec, use this.
Some preamps publish overload/sensitivity per input type.
Data sources & reference links

Links to the public product pages/manuals used to compile the reference database. If a model has no link, I couldn’t find a stable primary source at the time.

Cartridges

    Phono preamps

      How phono stage overload happens (and how to avoid it)

      “Overload” (or input clipping) is the moment a phono preamp’s first gain stage runs out of room. When that happens, peaks get flattened and you’ll hear it as harshness, grain, splashy cymbals, or a kind of “strained” sound that shows up most on loud cuts and hotly mastered records. Unlike mistracking, overload can still sound clean-ish at low levels—then suddenly ugly on peaks.

      Why it surprises people: cartridge output specs are usually quoted at a standardized 1 kHz test tone and a specific groove velocity. Real music isn’t a steady test tone, and real records can have short bursts that are meaningfully higher than the published number. That’s why two setups that look “fine on paper” can behave very differently with the same phono stage.

      This calculator estimates headroom by comparing your cartridge’s published output voltage to your phono preamp’s published max input or input sensitivity (when available), and it reports an overload margin. More margin generally means more freedom from clipping on transients. Less margin means you’re closer to the red line—especially if your records include hot cuts, loud orchestral peaks, or modern high-level pressings.

      If you’re troubleshooting distortion, a quick sanity check is: does the distortion change when you reduce the input gain (or switch the phono stage to a lower gain setting)? If yes, overload is a strong candidate. If distortion remains the same, look next at cartridge alignment, tracking force, worn stylus, or a loading mismatch. Overload can also be “selective”: one record might be fine while another (with higher peak velocity) triggers clipping.

      Practical targets: as a rule of thumb, many listeners aim for roughly 10–20 dB of overload margin for comfort. That’s not a hard law—some phono stages have generous internal headroom and some cartridges have conservative published output— but it’s a useful way to think about risk. If you’re consistently under that, consider using a lower-gain setting, a phono stage with a higher max input spec, or (for MC) adjusting step-up ratio/active gain so the first stage isn’t being hammered.

      About the built‑in cartridge & preamp database

      The dropdowns are powered by an embedded reference database of cartridges and phono preamps compiled from public sources (product pages, manuals, and spec sheets). Each entry stores the brand/model and any published values related to output, sensitivity, gain, and overload. When a preamp doesn’t publish a direct max input value, the tool may derive a rough sensitivity from gain using a nominal output assumption, and it labels that basis in the UI.

      Tip: treat the database as a starting point. Specs can vary by production run, loading, gain setting, and measurement method. If you have a manual that lists a different value, use the Advanced manual inputs to override the defaults.

      Browse the full database (searchable table)
      Open this panel to load the full list.
      Cartridge brand Model Type Rated output Source
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      Preamp brand Model Supports Sensitivity (MM / MC) Max input (MM / MC) Source
      Open the panel to load the preamp list…