Thanks for the kind words, everyone.
RisingSun; yes, no worries at all about overloading the ZROCK with a 5 mV cartridge. You don't say what phono preamp you have, or the gain setting, but it should be fine even w/ 48 dB gain.
As for the pop on lowering the arm, two albums are a small sample size, but that initial pop is not rare for some older records. You will likely have better luck with new or well cared for used records.
Edit -
Stupid me. RisingSun, I forgot it was you with the original post! It seems that you are in fact looking for a new phono preamp. So, to reiterate; even 48 dB of gain from a phono stage should not cause trouble for the ZR2, but 40-42 dB should be plenty for a 5 mV cartridge, adequate for a prospective 3 mV cart.
Quote:Worse yet are those sorts of specs that only take you part way there as the famous 20-20k response of said product with no mention of range for the spec, such as +/- 3db added.
4krow, I hear you! You mean like Omega speakers, which do that very thing? Within which line-up are the SAM models I am very likely getting myself, insufficient info be damned! Ha. I've been zoned in on the full range driver approach for a while, now, and am going to have a pretty decent subwoofer in any case, so not adamant/concerned about the LF particulars overly much.