high versus low output


I have been getting back into vinyl the last few months after getting rid of my turntable and records about 28 years ago. I currently have a Rega P5 with a Dynavector 10x5 high output cartridge. I use a Simaudio LP3 phono stage. A friend of mine just upgraded from a Benz Micro Glider L2 low output cartridge to something else. He said I could try the Glider with my P5 if I wanted.
What are the differences between a low output and high output cartridge? What are the advantages and disadvantages of one or the other in terms of sound and phono preamp usage?
I attempted to search the Audiogon discussions but wasn't able to find a thread that gave me a clear answer.
valinar

Showing 1 response by rauliruegas

Dear Valinar: Tobias said: " This is just theory..... " +++++

I agree with him, Mark, Doug and everyone here about because in theory is right but in an imperfect analog world ( recording, Lp's pressing, cartridge quality, tonearm matching, whole set-up, load impedance, capacitance, etc, etc ) like the one where we live not always the theory even what really happen when we put the cartridge stylus on the running Lp.

It is all system dependent, your/self knowledge dependent, your choice of trade-offs and your music sound priorities.

Over the time and in my cartridge experiences I really can't say for sure if a low output cartridge ( say 0.22mv ) can/could sound better than a medium one ( say 0.45mv ) due just to its output level difference, things are not so easy as a fact it is really complex and a subject for other thread.

Due of what you own IMHO I think that you could be better " served " by a MM cartridge design, you can take a look about here: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1200430667

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.