PF SETTING FOR MC CARTRIDGE WITH SUT

Mofi and T_bone: your post states that pF is generally relevant for MM but not MC cartridges. Would you consider MI (moving iron) cartridges to be in the same category as MM?? My cartridge, a VPI Zephyr, is a MI.

The Zephyr is hooked up to my phono pre with custom cables that have a capacitance rating of 16pF per foot, times 6 foot length, say 100pF. The problem is that the Xephyr seems to ask for no more than 200 pF downstream, but my phono pre alone has an input capacitance of 200pF. Thus, I am about 100 pF over the recommended level.

Any thoughts??? Thanks

Hi Al: Thanks again for the cartridge lesson on impedance, capacitance and inductance. I've tried to apply your advice, both that which you and I shared privately and here on A'gon. I think my phono stage sounds all the better because of your help. Now, I also read Jonathan Carr's post. In particular, Jonathan wrote the following:

"PS. The possible frequency range occupied by the high-frequency resonant spike also includes the frequency range encompassed by LP pops and ticks, and these can likewise be of quite large magnitude (larger than any music signal inside the groove). Just as with the high-frequency resonant spike, controlling pop and tick energy is the task of the phono stage (although it is a big help if the cartridge has a low-mass moving assembly). The phono stage and cartridge can have an immense influence on how "noisy" your LPs appear to be."

Al, I think I understand what Jonathan is saying about LP noise (hiss and pops), but could you put a little more "flesh on the bones."

FWIW, after applying your advice, it came to my attention that normally occurring record noise (hiss and pops)decreased by a significant amount. I thought it was because the stylus of my new cartridge (VPI Zephyr) was shaped a little differently than whatever I used before. As a result, perhaps it was tracking the grooves in a less worn spot, thus reducing noise (hiss and pops).

Instead, it may be that this improvement has an electronic rather than a mechanical explanation. Very interesting. As an aside, while I enjoy the hobby for the music and relation asspects, I find the technical side to be fascinating. Maybe I'm a just frustrated "EE" who wound up in the wrong profession????

Cheers!

Hey Al, I guess that's what synergy is all about, i.e., the interaction of a number of factors that combine to effect a better outcome.

In the present case, the factors being: (A) electrical ("higher load capacitance will, under typical circumstances, increase the amplitude of that frequency response peak (resonance), and lower the frequency at which it occurs" and vice versa); and (B) mechanical ("stylus of my new cartridge . . . shaped a little differently than whatever I used before. As a result, perhaps it [is] tracking the grooves in a less worn spot, thus reducing noise).

Regardless of the reasons, my LP playback sounds almost as quiet as my CDP, but better for all the reasons that vinyl sounds better than "redbook" CD. I wish someone could figure out how to use a remote clicker to change tracks and automatically flip the record. Oh well, maybe Harry Weisfeld can figure that problem out by the time he releases the 60th anniversary version of the Classic.

Regards,

Bruce