Do I Have the Wrong Cartridge?

I can't think of many reasons to prefer HOMC to a good MM. The purpose of the MC design is to reduce moving mass on the cantilever, which increases responsiveness and dynamics. To achieve this, LOMC's have minimal coils (and thus minimal output). To achieve higher output levels from the same design, the HOMC version of a cartridge typically doubles or even quadruples the coil windings. This of course undermines the original concept. HOMCs arguably bring you the worst of both designs, often at higher cost than an MM.

My main cartridge is an $8,500 LOMC, however I own a couple of sub-$200 MMs that sound amazingly good for their cost. Again, check out Raul's MM vs. MC thread for valuable suggestions and experiences.

Just my $.02...

Lowrider57,

The optimum output cartridge depends on the gain structure of the entire system, particularly the phono stage but also the line stage, amp and speaker sensitivity. I'll defer to Al on just what range of cartridge outputs would be optimal in your system. He's far more qualified than I am in anything having to do with hot and cold running electrons!

We have a winner! (Nick's last post)

Zavato, I set VTF on my Axis with a ruler and it is horizontal to platter; I was told this is correct position.

VTF = Vertical Tracking Force (aka, downforce): the vertical force applied by the stylus to the record suface. It is measured with a balance or a scale, the same way you measure your body weight. One doesn't measure stylus downforce with a ruler, nor body weight with a yardstick.

Adjusting VTF by making the tonearm or cartridge horizontal to the platter could result in downforce that's much higher or lower than the internal suspension of the cartridge was designed for. Whoever gave you this advice was wrong (or you misunderstood it).

One makes the tonearm or cartridge horizontal to the platter by adjusting the mounting height of the tonearm at its base. One adjusts downforce (VTF) by moving the counterweights on the arm stub and/or adjusting the VTF dial (if the arm has one). These adjustments are separate, although their effects are interactive.

***

FWIW... I have no personal experience with Rega cartridges but I've seen umpteen posts like Diggory's over the years. I've never seen anyone rave about how much better an Elys sounds than whatever it replaced, but I've seen many posts raving about improvements when an Elys was replaced with something else.

Ebm's post also makes sense to me. The fact that rock recordings sound okay means little. Rock music is *supposed* to sound distorted. Guitar amplifiers have adjustable distortion built in and more is often added during mixing and mastering. No one but the sound engineers actually know what any particular rock record should sound like.

OTOH, classical and other acoustic music provide some sort of absolute standard (depending on one's hearing of course). Anyone who attends live performances has some idea of what violins actually sound like. Distortions introduced during playback are a departure from one's internalized ideal and are more readily audible as "wrong" than the same distortions in music which is *meant* to sound distorted.

Try a different cartridge and have it set up properly (or, better yet, learn to do it yourself). The suggestions on Raul's lengthy MM vs. MC thread may be helpful.

Nick_sr,

I don't doubt your experience. I'd prefer a Benz Glider to an Ortofon 2m Blue myself. (Personally, no Ortofon below the A90 has ever sounded very good in my system.) However, one example doesn't prove that HOMCs necessarily outplay MMs. That simply isn't so IME. Some MMs give some HOMCs a viable challenge (system and listener dependent, as always).

It's certainly true that, "HOMCs provide a good value by eliminating the need for a SUT or high gain phono stage". So do MM's, and at much lower cost.

Your Glider retails for $2K, your 2m Blue for $225. At MM price points one can easily try a half dozen until you find one you like and still be hundreds of dollars ahead of buying an HOMC. Further, re-tipping costs are often negligible, since many MMs have user-replaceable styli.

You've found an HOMC you love, by all means enjoy it! But for a newbie on a tight budget, starting down the MC path without experience of many different cartridges would be a leap of faith with a pretty high financial entry point.