How to pick a COMPATIBLE phono cartridge


As follow-up to my recent post titled "Da Benz", I'm trying to better educate myself on how to pick a phono cartridge. There are many to choose from but I don't know which "type(s)" (i.e., output, etc.) will work well with my setup. Not considering price or characteristics at this point, but simply compatibility . Once I know that I can research options to make a selection. Looking through some past forums I see this can get complicated, so I'll provide some info on my setup:

Conrad Johnson EF-1 Phono Stage
    Gain: 40, 46, 52 db
    Phono Overload: 70 mV (40 db gain setting)
    Hum and Noise: 88 db below 10mV input

Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS Pre Amp
    Gain: 25 db
    Maximum input: 15 vrms
    Output impedance: under 700 ohms
    Hum and noise: 96 db below 1.0 mV

Conrad Johnson Premier 12 mono block Amps
    140 watts per channel
    Input Sensitivity: 0.90 volts to full power
    Input Impedance: 100k ohms

SME IV Arm
    Cartridge weight range: 5 - 16 grams
    Weight: 700 grams

And my leading cartridge candidate is the Benz Micro Wood (available in low, medium, and high versions), specs as follows:
    Output voltage: 0.4 (Low) 0.8 (Medium) 2.5 (High)
    Internal ohms: 12 (Low) 24 (Medium) 90 (High)
    Loading Range: >100 (Low) >1000 (Medium) 47k (High) 
    Weight: 9 grams
    Compliance: 15 (Low) 14 (Medium) 14 (High)
    Tracking 1.6 - 1.9 grams

The high output has been suggested. 

However, what cartridge specs should I be looking at for compatibility sake with my equipment and why? I have no idea!!!!   

Thank you to anyone who's willing to take the time to read and respond to a posting like this! :-)

Randy


rbschauman

Showing 1 response by 2channel8

I don't think 0.4mV is all that low to begin with. It's the same output as a Denon DL-301 and people hook them up to all sorts of phono stages with impunity.

Why let your phono stage hamstring your cartridge choice? Get something like a Musical Surroundings Phonomena which has gain settings up to 60 dB and use any cartridge you want. I got a used Phonomena II (there is a newer version, the II+ available) for less than $300. That won't bite into your cartridge budget too much. Or as was suggested a step up transformer (look at Rothwell for information). SUTs have enthusiastic fans, as well as an equally vocal opposition. I've never heard one, so I feel very strongly both ways.  ;^)

You could always buy the Benz low and if you don't like the sound you've got those two options to turn to. You might even ask to audition the Benz low with several phono stage candidates at the dealer.

JimBob