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Impedance loading low-output MC cartridges...

Hello,

Does anyone know if there is a general "rule of thumb" regarding impedance loading of low-output MC cartridges? Most manufacturers do provide some guidlines as to a range of impedance settings that will work well with a particular cartidge, and I have fiddled around with this a bit.

Since it takes at least a few minutes to power down my system, reconfigure some DIP switches in my phono preamplifier, and then power up the system, it is not easy to do a reasonable A/B comparison.

My setup is Basis 1400 / Basis RB300 / Benz Micro ACE (low-output version) / MS Phonomena.

Please fill in the blanks. As impedance increases the sound should _______, and as the impedance decreases the sound should _______.
gthrush1

Showing 1 response by bob_bundus

bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
I recently bought a phono stage with variable impedance-loading options, and found the instructions to be in agreement with my previously experiment-based findings: that is...
"Loading should be set for about 2 to 3 times the rated impedance of the cartridge". I feel that this is basically correct because during my experimenting, I didn't even bother to initially check my cartridge's impedance rating, I just started plugging away with different values & ended up with 110 ohm load on a 30 ohm cartridge (OK that's close) which sounded good to my uneducated ear. Nice to know that at least sometimes, a subjective result can even approximate the objective ideal.
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