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Removable headshells

Requesting input about headshell weight. My project is a 1983 Linn LP12. The tonearm will be a Jelco SA-250S. The cartridge will be a Sumiko Moonstone. The Moonstone compliance is 12x10-6 cm/dyn, which is at the lower end of the medium range. The Moonstone weight is 6.5 gm. This is my first go round with a removable headshell tonearm. My question is, how concerned do I need to be about the weight of the headshell? If I am understanding all of this stuff correctly, it seems that I should pick a slightly heavier headshell. Correct? Of course all suggestions are welcome.

mwh777

Showing 1 response by mulveling

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,223 posts
 

I wouldn’t count the Moonstone as a low-compliance cartridge. It’s made in Japan, and thus spec’d at 100Hz rather than 10Hz (Euro). Its compliance is really more akin to 18 - 22 (@ 10Hz), which is into high-medium compliance territory. I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way adding a massy headshell here.

Also in general - it’s unlikely any MM cartridge would have compliance as low as 12 @ 10Hz. It’s MC cartidges that have a much stiffer suspension and robust damper because of how they work.

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