Calculating total capacitance

With higher output moving magnets it is possible to use a capacitor to load them, but IME you get a more open sound if you use a resistance instead, since the cap will have the effect of rolling off the highs.

The issue here is that the cartridge rings, which is a form of harmonic distortion. The cap rolls off the highs, and so absorbs a lot of the ringing distortion. But if you load with a resistance of the right value, the highs are not rolled off, but you are able to electrically damp the coils in the cartridge so they don't ring. Most of the moving magnets I have tried like higher values- 20,000 ohms or more (usually the stock value in the preamp is 47,000 ohms) but I have seen a few that loaded quite well around 8,000 ohms.

The advantage of this technique is you can get the loading to really work right without tradeoffs that often accompany the capacitive method.

You will need some sort of variable resistance that can be operated across the input connection of the phono preamp (I've used stereo volume controls from Radio Shack, wired as reostats). However since you have a certain amount of capacitance in the interconnect cable, the result is actually a combination of the two.

Yes, I think you will find it easier to hit that 'sweet spot'. Please report back on your findings :)

Lacee, 200 ohms would be **way** too low! I would start with something much higher, perhaps 20,000 ohms. Certainly you should not experience a drop in volume! If that occurs, you need a higher value. Note that this only applies to moving magnet cartridges.