Does it improve the sound of a MM or MI cartridge by playing it through a phono stage?

Dear @lewm  :  I have on hand the different Acutex models operation manuals that you can read from these links and where you can see the 400 series is not MM design ( normally top MM designs manufacturer specs states the cartridge loading capacitance..... Been an IM design Acutex cartridges are way less sensible to capacitance change values and that's why they just does not states about. ):


https://www.vinylengine.com/library/acutex/m412.shtml

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/acutex/m315.shtml


Btw, about the 100k loading I will post on it in the thread where for the very first time in this forum we brought that cartridge loading figure many years ago. Seems to me that could exist a " little " misunderstood on that important issue:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/who-needs-a-mm-cartridge-type-when-we-have-mc


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Dear @wolfie62 :  ""  The Acutex carts are just unauthorized copies of run-of-the-Mill AT carts. Instead of V magnets, it has mumetal “Mickey Mouse” ears. It uses the identical cantilever suspension as used on AT carts .""

"  Cheaper just to buy an AT cart. They sound and perform the same ."


Perhaps what you posted could be that way and at the end I don't care to much about because the quality level performance of AT vintage cartridges ( I own or owned all top models as the Acutex models too. ) against Acutex is certainly different and certainly does not sounds the same as you stateted. No way my friend.

Next and " old " Acutex cartridge review compared against top vintage cartridges including top AT:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-acutex-lpm-315-iii-str-cartridge

Anyway, if for you sounds the same fine with me.

R.

@sokogear : The Plinius impedance is set/default at 47k and you can't change it. What you can change is the Plinius phono gain.
Due that you used the VDH cartridge then that Plinius si already setted at high gain ( 0.7mv. ) that is to high for the Acutex 3.5mv output and could overload the Plinius and if this happens you will have higher distortions. 
So, if you want to use the Plinius you need to set up its gain to 1.5 low gain.

"  Would the Sutherland at 47K ohms sound any better than the Plinius' phono stage? Does it matter if it is a MC or MM/MI cartridge? "

No one but you can answer the first question after test it both units with the Acutex cartridge.
 Not only Plinius and Sutherland are different electronic designs but to use the Sutherland you need too additional IC cables that means not only additional cables/wires where the cartridge must travel and where exist some kind of degradation but exist additional input/output RCA connectors and solder joints that make degradation to the signal too.

To the second question: its matters only for the gain and loading need it for either kind of cartridge.


""   Will the Sutherland's 47K ohm setting sound similar?  ""

No, both units are different electronics designs and with different builded active/passive parts and even circuit boards material.


"""  I was thinking with a standard output MM cartridge, it wouldn't matter what phono stage you used as long as it operated or had a setting at 47K ohms. """

It would matters. Again different electronic designs tend to sounds different. Your way of thinking makes no sense at all.

Btw, your 412 is an induced magnet design not a MM one.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.