Step Up Stages
A moving magnet (MM) phono cartridge has a lower output level than a "line level" music source (like hi-fi streamer or DAC) and a moving coil (MC) phono cartridge has an even lower output level. These wonderful "step-up stages" allow you to use a lower output MC cartridge with a phono stage that only has an input for an MM cartridge. In other words, it amplifies and equalises the difference between an MC and MM cartridge. This function is very important as the delicate low level audio signal from an MC cartridge is very fragile, so a good quality step up stage will pay dividends in excellent sound quality.