MC Cartridge Opinions

[duderduderini]

Highish R

Hi Ec
I red yoor othur post re spellink and grammer and promis two trie hardur... I can undertsand what you are frustrated by. It seems that the english langauge is spoken better by those who have it as a second language.
I will mod my ortofon this weekend... Can you remember the R value for loading? Is it correct to assume that increasing R will make the cartridge brighter (as in treble peak?). What would you suggest for Capacitance loading.. I have tried 100pF with no audible difference.
Thanks
Nick

 

[EC8010]

I doubt if 100pF will have any effect on a source impedance of <10 Ohms; 1nF might do something. Do bear in mind that playing with electrical loading has more effect on a generator with significant resistance and inductance (moving magnet cartridge) than a moving coil. I've always found that mechanical changes are more effective. I once had a Decca Gold that was a bit spitty, but it turned out to be more the fault of the arm and damping the arm tube with a little insulating tape tamed the problem. Likewise, heatshrink sleeving on fingerlifts can be useful.

You are absolutely right; people speaking English as a second language were taught the rules of grammar and spik it bettre than what we do.

 

[audio-kraut]

people speaking English as a second language were taught the rules of grammar

didn't know there were any..

When it comes to loading: I had converted a stanton 310B with a 50 kohm pot (stepped) so I could easily change the preloading for MC cartidges. Measured resistance for each step and made a table.

Except for changing levels of output I could not hear any quality difference of the sonics. Below 100ohm there was big distortion, the best setting - output at max - was about 150 ohms.

 

[Panicos K]

duderduderini try for the sake of experience removing all input capacitance from your phono stage,you might not want to put it back again.It is said that MC's are not so sensitive to capacitance as mm's.Personally I've removed input caps from the phono stage I was using then.The result was a less compressed and hard hf sound.One of the cartridges I was using at that time was ortofon MC20supermkII.You have nothing to loose.Input load was around 100 ohms.

 

[audiobomber]

Re: HI Ec

I have noted a harshness in the mc20 in trumpets, upper register vocals etc... no matter what i try it wont go away.

The ortofon i have is old and i was looking to get something else anyways.

As soon as I read your description of the sound, I suspected your cartridge might be getting old. If the stylus is still OK, then I suspect the suspension has dried out.

ps got any ideas about the value of loading and or capacitance i should try?
Thanks

I don't believe in playing around with different loadings. The manufacturer specs an optimum load for his cartridge. Why second guess the manufacturer? If the cartridge doesn't sound right, I say leave the loading alone and look elsewhere (alignment, VTA, cartridge wear, etc).

 

[duderduderini]

Thanks Panikos and dan

I suspect you might be right re the age of the cartridge.... i had a good look at the cantilever and it does seem to sit to one side wrt to the long axis of the cartridge body.....
Panikos.. when you say remove all capacitance from the input stage you mean all capacitance in parallel (to ground)?
Thanks to all for help
Regards
Nick

 

[Panicos K]

duderduderini,yes remove the input caps(signal to ground and give it a listen.It may at first sound a bit strange,or diferent than you are used to,so be patient.In the end I think you will appreciate the lack of compression and hardness.Besides,if it is for a little capacitance we are after,all modern arm cables offer it.To my opinion,a moving coil cartridge is much more sensitive to load impedance than capacitance.And for the ortofon you may go lower than 100 ohms(try around 50-60 ohms if you can).Try one thing at a time so that you come to more accurate conclusions.
Regards