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The Arm/Cartridge Matching Myth

When I began my journey in high-end audio 36 years ago….no-one ever wrote about arm and cartridge matching nor tonearm resonant frequency…?
Over the last 10 years or so…this topic has become not only ubiquitous, but has mutated beyond its definition, to THE guiding principle of matching cartridge to tonearm….❓❗️😵
The Resonant Frequency can be calculated using a complex formula relating Tonearm Effective Mass to the cartridge’s Compliance….or it can be simply measured using a Test record of various frequency sweeps.
The RECOMMENDED Resonant Frequency of any tonearm/cartridge combination is between 8-12Hz.
But WHY is this the recommended frequency and WHAT does it really mean…?

The raison d’etre of this Resonant Frequency…is to avoid WARPED records inducing ‘resonance’ into the tonearm…..
Say what…❓😵
WARPED records….❓❗️
Yes…..ONLY warped records❗️😎
But doesn’t it have any meaning for NORMAL records…❓
None whatsoever…..😊👍
Let me explain….🎼

A badly warped record induces the tonearm to rise and fall rapidly on the ‘sprung’ cantilever of the cartridge.
Depending on the severity and frequency of this warping…..a subsonic frequency between 2-5Hz is induced so if your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency dips into this frequency range….it will begin resonating and thus miss-track and/or induce hum through your system.🎤
Keeping the lower limits of your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency to 8Hz simply insures against this possibility.🎶

So what about the 12Hz upper limit…❓
This simply insures against the possibility of any ultra low-level frequency information which MAY be on the record, also inducing this same miss-tracking or hum. For instance if your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency was 18Hz and you had an organ record or one containing synthesised bass going down to 16Hz…..your tonearm may miss-track or you MAY develop a hum❓😢

So how many badly WARPED record do you possess…❓
I have three out of a thousand or so……and have NEVER experienced miss-tracking or hum even on these three…❗️😍

Yet these days….everyone (without exception it seems)…even tonearm and cartridge designers….happily follow the dictum of this Arm/Cartridge MATCH as if it affected sound quality…..❓
This Resonant Frequency has ZERO affect on the sound quality of a particular tonearm/cartridge combination and I have proved it hundreds of times with a dozen different arms and over 40 cartridges.

The best match for ANY cartridge ever made….is simply the very best tonearm you can afford…whatever its Effective Mass…😘
halcro

Showing 4 responses by ct0517

ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
@thom_at_galibier_design 

thom at galibier design
Have you ever played with tonearms which have multiple counterweights that can be used in different combinations? The resonant frequency shift from using different combinations (maintaining the same tracking force) it typically much less than 1 Hz, but the effect is salutary.

When I perform a setup for a customer with an arm having this capability (Kuzma 4Point, Tri-Planar & Moerch being three examples), there’s an optimum combination, for any particular cartridge.

I agree having experienced the same. There’s an optimum combination, for any particular cartridge .....and tonearm.

The tonearm/cart relationship is an intimate one. There are tonearms that benefit from increased vertical inertia. This getting produced with the minimum number of weights - furthest from the bearing.

There is so much that can be explored in refining ones setup, with just one good effective contact cartridge, and one good tonearm that as a former coach used to say......has capabilities.

Too many rabbit holes and too little time.

ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
@halcro 

Now I'm off for our regular Thursday 'Lunch With The Boys' where we sit around for three hours devouring bowls of Laksas and an entire bottle of the finest blended Scotch between the three of us 🥃

Halcro (Henry)
Maybe you should send some of that good scotch to Mijostyn. The stuff he is drinking has put him in some bad mood. Good that the mods are here.

ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
Henry
I haven’t participated in this thread except at the end, when I was commenting on another posters findings. So if you could kindly give me some slack.

I have a question for you going back to your OP.

You said.

This Resonant Frequency has ZERO affect on the sound quality of a particular tonearm/cartridge combination and I have proved it hundreds of times with a dozen different arms and over 40 cartridges.

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IMO - Hearing "Resonant Frequency" change, "empirically" in Audiophiledom, requires sticking to the golden rule of making only one change at a time, and keeping, everything else the same.

The Resonant Frequency is the result of combined materials in our audio kit. Anyone disagree ?

The most obvious action we can take - that comes to mind - to prove or dis-prove your Resonant Frequency claim is to just change out the armtube of your tonearm....... into a different material.

Did you attempt this Henry ?

Have you owned and tried / do you own tonearms, with the capability to change out the armtube material ?

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My Empirical Findings

You know of my reference tonearm Henry, but for the others reading benefit here; I use a custom build ET 2.5 and it comes from the factory with optional armtubes to deal with different cartridges /compliance’s, and to keep the Resonant Frequency manageable.

In this link

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pgs7qXyF2f4miwLWA

one can see the MAG wand - Magnesium on top and the Carbon Fiber wand on the bottom. There is also an all aluminum wand.

Mag - stiff compliance (high resonant carts) - MC
Carbon Fiber - middle of the road - works with stiff and higher compliance carts. All around performer.
Aluminum - meant for the higher compliance carts - MM - lower resonance.

Let me say before I forget that IMO - all vintage MM’s have stiffened suspensions which makes their Resonant Frequency - not what it says in their user manual - it would be higher.

Think of the sound you get from a stiff and a less stiff tuning fork.

******************************
Empirical Findings - good enough for me.

My Magnesium wand is intended for a stiff Cart - high resonant -Like an MC.
If I put a high compliance MM cart on the Mag wand, the sound becomes quite strident. Keeping the MM on the Aluminum or CF wand works well.  The fact that there is a "sound" change to me, just by changing out the armtube, proves to me, we are dealing with a Resonant Frequency change.

This has been one of my findings.

Cheers Chris

ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
Henry - going by memory, I seem to recall you had issues with a Graham tonearm ? If the tonearm and cart was set up properly, but was off in your kit. What was this issue, if not the topic of your thread ?

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going back to your OP.

The RECOMMENDED Resonant Frequency of any tonearm/cartridge combination is between 8-12Hz.
But WHY is this the recommended frequency and WHAT does it really mean…?

Below 8 is almost a non-factor these days with any good setup gear and records today. IMO

I have always tried to set up rooms with good bass compression. Room filling bass. Not overpowering but like a live event. Mismatches in setup I find are most easily heard in these types of rooms, because if the bass if off - it’s quite noticeable.
Forget about jumping the groove. I have never experienced this unless a problem with the record itself or tonearm setup. This is akin to racer crashing his car. You don’t want it to get to this level.

No - for me it means if the cantilever starts vibrating due to resonance, or any other phenomena, you will hear the artifact in the music. The bass will be off. Get the bass right the rest takes care of itself. Most vinyl I have heard that was off, required the tonearm to be raised a little (VTA) to fix the bass and this resulted in the highs being cleaner, more resolving  as well.

***************************

Regarding Youtube videos. Just a comment.

Sharing videos is one way for us to share our virtual setups - this is good. If I can ever pick up all the cables, records, and other paraphernalia that lie every where, maybe I will make one.

But I have never been a head phone audiophile. I feel like I am the speaker box when I wear headphones. I like to be free, so never acquired great headphone gear to appreciate any Youtube. I own some Grados, and Denon headphones that I acquired. The Denon when our Frat twins were born. 8^0

If I was listening critically through youtube I would want to hear the signal coming out of your preamp after - RIAA. Stick a device tape loop in there, record it and play it back.
Each of us listening with headphones, is using our own personal tone controls at the other end anyway. Aren’t we ?
JMO - Cheers Chris

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