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Cartridge loading

Presently I am using a ZU/Denon DL103 mc cartridge with ZU Audio's highest tolerances.  I had this cartridge mounted on my VPI Prime and after going through all the various loading combinations, I settled on 200 ohms.  I was always satisfied with my choice of setting.  I no longer have the Prime and now use the Technics SL1200G turntable.  After having the same cartridge mounted and aligned by the dealer, I inserted it into my system and enjoyed the sound immensely, never touching the 200 ohm setting.

Yesterday I was listening to vinyl most of the day and for some reason I found the sound to be better than ever, mostly in the treble area.  The highs had shimmer when needed and I had played the same records many times before on the Prime and they never sounded as good as they did yesterday.  Just for the heck of it, I checked the cartridge loading and found it was now set at 1000 ohms.  As I said, when I put the Technics into the system, I never bothered changing the loading which was at 200 ohms as it was the same cartridge, just a different turntable.

I believe I know what happened, when I last used the tone controls on my McIntosh preamp, (you have to shuffle through a menu) I must have inadvertently put the cartridge loading at 1000 ohms.  It truly sounds fantastic, better than I ever thought possible.  The Bass is still very deep and taut, midrange is the same but the treble, oh my, so much better.  Now the million dollar question is why should it now sound better at 1000 ohms, when it sounded great before at 200 ohms?  Can the tonearm on the Technics have an effect on cartridge loading?  I always thought it was all dependent on the preamp, amp and speakers.  What am I missing here?  I am very curious to know.  The specs for my cartridge say greater than 50 ohms for loading.

Thanks
stereo5

Showing 4 responses by cleeds

cleeds
6,070 posts
 
atmasphere

... if you understand that a cartridge is a generator, maybe this idea is easier to understand in that a conventional generator which is spun to make electricity, the generator shaft becomes progressively harder to spin the more the generator is loaded. A cartridge **has** to have a similar behavior!
That's a great analogy! Thanks for sharing, Ralph!
cleeds
6,070 posts
 
rauliruegas
Dear @cleeds : " I think Ralph has been very patient with you...""

Patience?, I have years wating for his numbers about and he only showed and shows : empty words
We are off-topic. Briefly, no matter how impatient or unhappy you are, your accusations against Ralph - in particular, that he has lied in the forum - are unwarranted. The two of you seem to disagree, which is not unusual here. Yet you continue to prosecute your case with insult.

As I mentioned before, I think some of the problem here may be a language barrier. Please consider that.
cleeds
6,070 posts
 
rauliruegas
Of course you have nothing about. So what you still post is false and a lie. Period.
I think Ralph has been very patient with you and perhaps part of the problem here has been a language barrier. That's why I'm telling you this: Accusing someone of lying is an insult bigtime, and your accusation may reveal more about you than you intended.
cleeds
6,070 posts
 
rauliruegas
I read all your posts and after several years you never posted true evidence/facts ... You can do it very simple: take 2-3 LP tracks and give us as examples of your posts ... bla, bla, bla, etc is not enough with out true foundation in your statements. Why don't give us those LP examples? easy to do it ... that's why insist that you bring here those facts. Please no more bla, bla but facts that we can corroborate it.
 No one here is obligated to conduct any tests on your behalf. Please feel free to conduct your own tests, though, and share your results with the group.
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