"Dave W." wrote ...
Adrian wrote:
This past weekend I copied three albums. The signal is
clean but not strong. I have the gain on the USB Phono
turned to the max.

If, as you say, the signal is clean, then as long as you have
it digitised there is no problem.

Lets review the bidding....

* Low-output MC cartridge feeding an inexpensive RIAA
phono preamp designed for MC.
* Gain on the preamp "turned to the max".
* Signal is "clean but not strong"

Therefore, by definition, the captured signal is NOT
"clean" after amplifying it (plus the noise) to the
nominal level.

Of course, Adrian could decide that it is good enough
for his purposes, and that is fine. But conventional
wisdom would suggest that the solution might be...
1) Use a conventional MM cartridge
2) Use a step-up transformer or pre-pre-amp for MC
3) Use a preamp designed for MC.