MC v MM Cartridges

Rosinante · 19th November 2010, 06:12 PM

Sorry for the idiotic questions, but it might take me a long time to find a thread where you guys DEFINE some of these terms. I have a turntable I bought new in the early 1980's with an Audio Technica cartridge. Nothing real special. Typical cartridge for the time. What is it? Is it "MC" or "MM"? Apparently, preamps are often specific to the cartridge type. I am looking at a Bellari.

toufu · 19th November 2010, 06:24 PM

99% sure it's MM.

bulgin · 19th November 2010, 06:52 PM

Hi

I agree with toufu. An MM (Moving magnet) cartrige has a replaceable stylus. An MC (moving coil) cartridge has a non-replaceable stylus. Give us a reference number - often found on top of the cartridge - for a definite say-so. If your AT cartridge is a moving magnet type, you will notice two tiny magnets arranged in a "V" just inside the stylus finger grip. AT does make moving coil cartridges, notably an OC9.

bulgin

sreten · 19th November 2010, 08:07 PM

Hi,

Probably all you need (and do for a typical used turntable) is :
Needle Doctor Phono Preamps, Phono Preamplifiers, and Stereo Phono Preamps 1-800-229-0644 AT-PEQ3 Phono Preamp

rgds, sreten.

19th November 2010, 06:12 PM	#1
Rosinante diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2010	MC v MM Cartridges Sorry for the idiotic questions, but it might take me a long time to find a thread where you guys DEFINE some of these terms. I have a turntable I bought new in the early 1980's with an Audio Technica cartridge. Nothing real special. Typical cartridge for the time. What is it? Is it "MC" or "MM"? Apparently, preamps are often specific to the cartridge type. I am looking at a Bellari.

19th November 2010, 08:07 PM	#4
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Hi, Probably all you need (and do for a typical used turntable) is : Needle Doctor Phono Preamps, Phono Preamplifiers, and Stereo Phono Preamps 1-800-229-0644 AT-PEQ3 Phono Preamp rgds, sreten. __________________ There is nothing so practical as a really good theory - Ludwig Boltzmann When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail - Abraham Maslow

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19th November 2010, 06:24 PM	#2
toufu diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Francisco	99% sure it's MM.

19th November 2010, 06:52 PM	#3
bulgin diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Hi I agree with toufu. An MM (Moving magnet) cartrige has a replaceable stylus. An MC (moving coil) cartridge has a non-replaceable stylus. Give us a reference number - often found on top of the cartridge - for a definite say-so. If your AT cartridge is a moving magnet type, you will notice two tiny magnets arranged in a "V" just inside the stylus finger grip. AT does make moving coil cartridges, notably an OC9. bulgin

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