MC and MM Resistor and Capacitor Loading

[andyr]

Originally Posted by AMV8

Hi
If you add a second phono socket in parallel to the input phono socket you can add the loading by inserting a loaded plug into the second socket. The main advantage of this method is that you can accomodate most any cartridge and also "fine tune" to get the result you are after.
Don

Agree, Don - that's the way I do it. In fact, for a MM phono stage, I would suggest 2 parallel pairs of RCAs ... so you can adjust 'C' as well as 'R' load.

The issue with using switches at such low signal levels is that they always degrade the SQ, compared to if the switches weren't there.


Regards,

Andy

[The Space Egg Corp]

Why would a switch in parallel with the cart...
...de-grade sound-quality...
...any more than a plug & socket ?

Neither are 'hard-wired'...
...so what's the difference ?

Just part of the load resistance, surely ?...
...about 0.002 milli Ohms, for most 'decent' switches.

Si.

[The Space Egg Corp]

In actual fact...
...a plug & socket is 'in theory'...
TWICE as bad.
As it has 2 contacts...
...as opposed to a switch...
...which can have just 1.

Si.

[andyr]

Let me give you a couple of examples:

1. I modified a phono stage which I had bought from a local dealer (who designed it); I added a simple switch to connect the R & L signals together, to make it mono. (It's nice to be able to have mono when you're setting up your system, sometimes.) This switch substantially degraded the sound stage, compared to before ... so I removed it!

2. This same dealer has a Doge 8 preamp (which he loves). The Doge 8 comes with a switch for MM/MC - Mike told me that the MM circuit sounded substantially better after he had disabled the switch (he has the top Grado MM, the 4mV Reference Reference1, so he doesn't use the MC section).

Regards,

Andy

[vdi_nenna]

Space Egg, I'm receiving the DL-110 on Dec 3rd. Do you like it? I have a heavily modded 103R now.

One site described using a large 1 meg + resistor in parallel always and figure for other parallel values.
Using a DIP switch one can call up many values with less resistors.

Phono Cartridge Loading

I think adjusting the load is a bit different than using a tone control.

[The Space Egg Corp]

Of course with any scheme using 'fixed-values'...
...you may just miss 'the sweet-spot' by a country-mile !!!

Saw this on the WWW somewhere.

Simples !

The guy made 2 precision 'calibrated pots'...dialed in the values...
BOOM !
Job done !
Can always replace the pots with a fixed value if you're worried about them.

BINGO ! 'sweet-spot' found for ANY cartridge.

Smart dude...
...lateral-thinking !


Si.

[The Space Egg Corp]

Hi Vince

You might be able to tell me if YOU like it first...
...cos I don't have one yet !
My friend is importing 2 from the USA for us both.
( considerably cheaper, than in 'rip-off Britain' ! )

Anyhow...
...seems like just about every living / hearing being on the planet since it was born in 1982 !...
...recs. it's A WINNER !

Very FLAT...
...what more could you ask for ?
Mega-detail...
...& way less surface-noise reproduced.

None of this 'rising-response' tosh...
...like some 'audiophile' carts either.

The Japs know how to listen...
...& they like things FLAT !!!!!

Cheers.

Si.

wot u think of the pot box ?

[vdi_nenna]

Great price for such good reviews. Think they were used in broadcasting in Japan.

The box is very cool. Always wanted one but for crossover design. They exist.

[The Space Egg Corp]

Hey Vince

Did you build a Zen 9 ?

That's the Nelson amp with the resistor bias, right ?

Love to know what you think, if you did...
...looks FAB to me.

Si.

[vdi_nenna]

Yes, built the zen 9. Very nice amp. Its uses the aleph CCS, with special attention to load line, from what I understand. Zen 8 uses resistor load, I think. Very nice amp but the 2sk82 CCS SIT amp edges it out. The detail from the SIT is amazing, but its only 5w. The zen 9 beats the SIT in pure force only. Building the choke SIT next at 10-12 w output.