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 2 responses by uberwaltz

You’re extremist, lol
The mass of Black Widow tonearm is less than 5g as far as i know.
I would never do that myself, i’d rather put a cartridge with compliance figure 4 times higher than 8cu. I think this arm designed for very high compliance cartridges (30-50cu)

But it’s good that we have you, so you can tell us more about your experiment to support halcro’s theory.
Extremist?
Lol, I resemble that remark!

But to put into proper context as I stated on the last go round on this matter.
The 103 was already mounted on the Black Widow on the Denon DD table when I bought it from eBay.
Like everyone I doubted the common sense of this and even messaged the seller as to why he did this. His reply was a lol and to try it before I knock it.
Fair enough so I did when it arrived and it was not as bad as everyone would think.
Now would it have been better, nay a lot better on a heavier arm?
Of course it would.
Would I recommend this pairing?
Of course not.

But that is missing the point somewhat.

It was wholly listenable too and if my memory serves me correctly it had a fairly decent presentation and bass, treble etc.

Did it stay on the arm long?
Nope, it was replaced by a vintage ADC XLM cart which is what I had bought just for the Black Widow.

BTW according to an old press release of the Black Widow they recommend carts in the weight range of 4g to 8.5g.
Now the 103r is right at 8.5g so not so much of an unholy alliance as made out to be.
+1 Lewm

I remember Chakster commenting on my usage of a Denon 103 on an Infinity Black Widow and not truly believing my statement that it sounded quite acceptable even though common "myth" would have you believe it is wrong.

Always believed in trying it and see what happens rather than stick to all the "golden rules"