Fun with MM cartridge
Greetings,
I haven’t listened to a MM cartridge in over 35 years. Since I bought my first MC cartridge there was no need for me to listen to MM cartridges any longer. They just extract more music from records.
I have 3 turntables in my system, all with different MC cartridges. A few weeks ago I thought it would be fun to pull out one of my MM cartridges from my toy box and give it a listen. I installed a Grado XTZ on the TT. Gave it a listen, it sounded dull and lifeless. It’s a hard cartridge to drive, has a low output. I even move it to my MC input on my phono drive to get more gain. Same outcome. I was disappointed with the sound, since it has very few hours on it. Went to my toy box and installed a Grace F9E cartridge. Put on an album and gave it a listen. It put a big smile on my face. What a nice sounding cartridge. It had a good sound stage, bass was good, had good width, depth and height. Played a few more records, it is a fun cartridge to listen too.
I still prefer my MC cartridges but the F9E will stay on my TT for right now. Every once in a while I’ll listen to it, just to have fun.
Joe Nies
Greetings, @lewm Thanks for the correction on the Grado cartridge being a MI. I thought it might be a MI. I might re-install it and let it re-brake in. I bought it in 1989, maybe listened for a few hours and packed it up, since I was move up to Alaska. It got some good reviews when it came out. My F9E might be a ruby? I’ll re-look it over and try to find my paperwork. It’s fun to listen to. Joe Nies |
@lewm thanks for the input. I’ll most likely give the Grado another shot, it has very few hours on it. That’s why I tried the Grado before the Grace, I thought it was the better choice. It did get some very good reviews. It was an expensive cartridge for me back in 1989. It listed for $750. |
@elliottbnewcombjr Thank you for the information. I will look into SS reworking the cartridge. I’m still looking in my toy boxes for the F9E-Ruby. I thought I purchased one? The sapphire cantilever rings a bell with me also. Joe |
@elliottbnewcombjr I thought the stylus was removable. I recall buying the Ruby, but have not located it, yet. It was 40 years ago, maybe my memory is incorrect. Joe |
@rauliruegas Thanks for the info on the Grado. I’ll give it another try in the next couple of weeks. I’m going to enjoy the F9E awhile longer. Joe |
Hello @mofimadness In my OP, I used the term “hard cartridge to drive, has low output “. Should’ve stated “has low output for the MI or MM I have used. I relocated a Grado Model 8 cartridge I had stored away, its output is 3.5mV. The F9E is 3.5mV also. To me 1.5mV seems low compared to. Sorry for the confusion. My phono amp has gain of 46db for MM . I guess I’ll have to push my preamp harder for the 1.5mV. Joe |
