Sony PS-X50 - MC cartridge advice please (and general MC cartridge advice)


I have a Sony PS-X50 turntable. I have the itch to try a MC cartridge due to much talk about MC being superior to MM cartridges. Unfortunately, I know very little about matching/pairing a cartridge to a turntable.

Found Sony PS-X50 spec's on "turntable needles.com" 

I may be able to get a used (under 50 hours) "Audio-Technica AT-OC9XML Dual Moving Coil Cartridge with Microlinear Stylus". Would this be a decent upgrade from my "ADC - QLM 36 mkIII" MM cartridge.

My Parasound New Classic200 pre does have a MM or MC phono stage option.

Thanks greatly in advance for any advice.

Audio-Technica AT-OC9XML specs (found on "turntable needles.com")

Type Dual Moving Coil
Body Material Aluminum
Frequency Response 20-47,000 Hz
Channel Separation 27 dB (1 kHz)
Vertical Tracking Angle 20°
Vertical Tracking Force 1.8-2.2 g (2.0 g standard)
Recommended Load Impedance Min. 100 ohms (when head amplifier is connected)
Coil Impedance 12 ohms (1 kHz)
DC Resistance 12 ohms
Coil Inductance 25 mH (1 kHz)
Output 0.4 mV (at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
Channel Balance 1.0 dB (1 kHz)
Stylus Shape Microlinear
Stylus Type Nude square shank
Stylus Curvature Radius 2.2 x 0.12 mil
Cantilever 0.28 mm diameter nude boron
Static Compliance 20 x 10-6 cm/dyne
Dynamic Compliance 16 x 10-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
Wire Used for Coil PCOCC
Terminal Pins Brass
Mount Half-inch
Weight 7.6 g (0.3 oz)
Dimensions 17.3 mm (0.68") H × 16.8 mm (0.66") W × 25.7 mm (1.01") D
Accessories Included Non-magnetic screwdriver; 2 washers; cartridge installation screws (5 mm × 2, 8 mm × 2, 10 mm x 2, 12 mm x 2); plastic protector; brush

 

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Showing 5 responses by jasonbourne52

An AT MC will work fine in that Sony tone arm. Nothing to worry about! So will Denons and other low compliance MCs. Also.weight can be added to the headshell to lower the resonant frequency to the desirable 8 hz frequency if after using a test LP it is found to be above 10/12 hz. 

No MM cartridge can compare to a MC! The reason: too high inductance in the windings of the fixed coils. This inductance acts as a filter slowing transient response. Grados - while considered MI (moving iron) are still fixed coils. Grados solve the transient speed problem by using coils with fewer turns, so inductance is typically 1/10 of Shures, Stantons, Goldrings, ATs ... 50 millihenries vs. 500 millihenries. This low inductance of Grado coils lets them have the transient speed, snap and sparkle typical of MC types. I will take a Grado any day over a Shure, Stanton, AT ...

The AT - OC9XML will be a significant upgrade over the ADC - QLM. Superior transient response and lower noise floor!

I have been using MCs since 1978 when I bought a GAS Sleeping Beauty along with a Verion (Cotter) step-up transformer (SUT). TT was the Ariston RD11S - the Linn Sondek's Scottish cousin - arms were the SME 3009, JH Formula 4, Lustre GST-1. That Ariston is still in use - now with a Grace 707 and a Denon 103.