2. analog
  3. 1288970636

Of Moving Magnets - Step ups - and phono stages

In the process of relocating I've sold off most of my equipment and now it's time to put it back together. My former system contained a C-J Premier 15 phono stage. I used it with a Thorens TD124/RB300 arm/Ortofon Kontrapunkt B and a Rege P3/Rega Exact/ Rb300 arm. Today I'm left with both table set ups and a Bottlehead Seduction phono stage. The b-Head works great with the Rega Exact cart. but doesen't offer enough kick for the Ortofon.
Which direction would you guys go with a budget of $2000.00
1) MC step up amp? The idea of another link in the chain kinda bugs me.
2) Buy a used phono stage that can handle both? These carts have a fair amount of mileage on them.
3) Upgrade to a really nice new MM cart? Please make suggestions.
The rest of the system at this time is a TAD-60 amp w/volume control and Oswalds Mill Mini speakers.
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
schiss

Showing 1 response by almarg

almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Heyraz, the Ortofon Kontrapunkt B is a low output moving coil cartridge, designed to work into a load impedance of 50 to 200 ohms, according to the listing for it at vinylengine.com. So a suitably chosen SUT would work fine with it.

Your Grado low output moving iron cartridge, on the other hand, wants to see a load impedance of 47K, so the low impedance that would be seen looking into the primary of a SUT would not be a proper load for it. The same would hold true for most low output moving magnet cartridges.

The Rega Exact is a moving magnet cartridge with a very high output (7.2mv according to the vinylengine.com listing). Therefore a SUT is obviously both unnecessary and unsuitable for use with it.

Best regards,
-- Al
More to discover