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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 5 responses by rbschauman

rbschauman OP
137 posts
 
tablejockey/anyone
 
A local Hifi store is where that high output recommendation came from. I was told that my phono pre had very low gain settings. I'm now wondering why such a comment would have been made.
The manual for my phono pre states it's gains will cover a variety of cartridge types.

Would be nice if I could find a matrix that would show the gain required for each cartridge type (low/mid/high) from the phono stage and preamp (combined I'm guessing) for successfully mating. Ever see such a thing? Or is there a formula? Something else??

Also, generally speaking, what's the difference between low/mid/high output cartridges? If a setup can handle anyone of them what drives the choice? Do they each produce a different sound?

Thank you!

rbschauman OP
137 posts
 
Thanks everyone for the help! The calculators are just great, bookmarked!

One last question: If a system can accommodate both medium and high output versions of a cartridge, why choose medium (i.e., why choose a lower output version)? What do lower output cartridges do better than higher? Thinking that's the case...

Randy
rbschauman OP
137 posts
 
Al,

Thank you for the response and taking this into a deeper dive. 

Interesting and educational to me is how you relate hiss/or hum to the specs. That's what I'm looking for at the moment; concrete means to evaluate specs and to stay away from subjectivity. First things first...finding compatible cartridges from which to consider by having the basis to do so. After knowing what works, the fun will begin in seeking out the one that has the sound qualities I'm looking for!

Thank you yogiboy for providing a link to the matrix to check the arm/cartridge mass compatibility as well. Certainly want to be in the green there as well!

Thanks all,
Randy   
rbschauman OP
137 posts
 
jperry,

Thank you for that previous posting where you mentioned medium output. It's that (and a bit more) that got this thread going. 

Why? When I contacted a local dealer to get the medium output Benz priced I was advised to go to the high output. That then got me to thinking, how does one objectively evaluate/calculate what's compatible? What should I be looking for in specs when I browse around? 

So, just wanting to educate myself on how to use cartridge and equipment specs to determine what will/will not work (well anyway) with my setup.

Thank you!
Randy

 
rbschauman OP
137 posts
 
hdm,

Thank you for explaining the difference between low and higher output MC cartridges and what low may lead to. Been waiting for this...

Thanks,Randy
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