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Electret transducer cartridges vs MM and MC. What are your experiences?

Hi all,

Through the years of following the MM thread here I collected a small selection of good ones, many of them NOS: Signet TK-7LCa, Empire 4000D/III, Astatic MF-100 (sold), Sonus Gold Blue, Shure V15 Type III with VN35MR stylus, ADC XLM Mk II Improved, and Stanton 681-EEE-S.

I also discovered the Micro-Acoustics Electret line. First the 2002e, then the 530mp, and later the 3002. All have beryllium cantilevers, with thinner and lower-mass "Micro-Fine" beryllium cantilevers as you move up the line. The 2002e has an elliptical stylus, the 530mp a "Micro-point", and the 3002 a "Micro-point II" stylus. According to MA, the electret transducer design is completely immune to capacitance and resistance of associated cabling/phono stage loads, making it very unique in the cartridge world.

My MA exemplars deliver ultra-fast, open, dynamic, and tonally balanced sound. While I recognize and appreciate the strengths of each cartridge in my small MM stable, I prefer the MA 3002 to all of them for listening excitement and satisfaction. I must confess that I find my Transfiguration Orpheus L to be in another league in refinement, yet I still enjoy the MA electrets on various tables/arms in my vintage system.

I would like to hear from anyone that has experience with electret transducer cartridges of any type, is just curious, or has technical expertise (J. Carr?) on this special type of sound-making device.

There are some errors in this link re: stylus specs for some models, etc. but I think it is a good introduction:
http://roger-russell.com/sonopg/micropg.htm

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best to you all,
Dave
128x128dlcockrum

Showing 2 responses by rauliruegas

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rauliruegas
12,842 posts
 
Dear @dlcockrum : I own almost all the top MA electret cartridge design but the 830 that already gone.

I still have the next to the top 630 that I posted years ago about but maybe posted in a " bad time " when all the Agoners were busy with the month " cartridge deal ".

All what we need of design and technical information is in the links you posted.

I think that everyone deserves to listen a top Micro-Acoustic cartridge. My today 630 is my third 630 cartridge. I bougth the first one more than 15-20 years ago ( I can't remember for sure. ). I sold two of them but I always have in well respect this MA cartridges, really top performer that I almost never talked again in the MM thread on it because as I said there were no interest as was with other very good performers as the B&O ones.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
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rauliruegas
12,842 posts
 
Dear @noromance : Strain Gauge is diferent design than electrect even needs a dedicated phono stage, you can use it in your phono stage and that dedicated phono stage does not works with normal catridges.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
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