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Need some help picking my first MC Cartridge

I have recently purchased an Icon PS1 Mk II tube Phono Preamp. and was thinking of purchasing a seperate MC cartridge and head to interchange with my Nagoaka MP 300 MM cartridge, which I am very happy with. This is my first MC Cartridge so this is more of a chance to compare MC versus MM Cartridges. Some suggestions have been Denon 103 or the Hana Red, The Icon Preamp has a fixed MC load setting of 100 ohms. The Sansui SR 525 Direct Drive Turntable that I will be using has an interchangeable cartridge head, so VTA height, tracking weight, anti-skating adjustments may be required for each cartridge but should not take more than 20 minutes to adjust. I have read that some low output cartridges may be preferable to high output, but I am not sure how this matches up with the Icon Preamp. I am a little in the weeds here with the technical information when it comes to cartridges so be gentle.

My listening preference is more to the musical / warm vinyl side. Gear: Tube preamp, Class "A" amp , alternating with a tube Integrated, Wilson Benesch Square 2 Speakers, Rel Subs (x2). I split my listening about 50/50 Vinyl/Digital.

My Budget is up to $1500.00

pooch2

Showing 1 response by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,770 posts
 

reviewing the unit’s specs, I see:

MC sensitivity 0.5mv

MC transformer X Factor: one choice: 10x

MC impedance: one choice: 100 ohms

MC gain 69db

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I see three options:

a. high output MC, use MM Input

b. Low Output MC: fairly strong 0.5mv output: find a cartridge that works with the above specs and is happy with 100 ohms impedance

c. Get a SUT with several optional x factors and optional impedance settings, then feed that into unit’s MM input. That gives much more flexibility now and in the future.

 

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