What is the preferred cartrige mm or mc and why

2channel8, In this day and age, there is almost no such thing as a non-replaceable stylus.  Such companies as SoundSmith, Expert Stylus, at least two others in the US and one other in Europe, can replace styli on any type cartridge you care to name.  (Well, there may be a few exceptions.)  In some cases, a totally worn out or damaged suspension cannot be repaired, but otherwise, fear of stylus wear is not a reason to avoid this or that vintage cartridge.  I have had the stylus/cantilever of my Grace Ruby replaced by SS with one of their OCL styli on a ruby/sapphire cantilever, a la the original, and the sound is improved.  (I can say this because I also have an original unrestored Grace Ruby with its original elliptical stylus, and I have auditioned them side by side.)  Similarly, I own an Ortofon MC2000 that was repaired in Europe before I bought it.  I am also sure that SS can work on any MI type cartridge; they manufacture and sell excellent new MI cartridges.

The only issue that could arise, if you are a stickler for originality, is where the original stylus has a very exotic shape that is no longer available.  This might be the case for certain Ortofons, Stantons, and some others.  Actually Expert Stylus in England has some of these styli available.  Otherwise, you'd have to "make do" with a modern equivalent.

My experience with Shure V15s dates back several decades, but I found them to be totally underwhelming back then.  I would have guessed that the Hana SL might be your favorite among the MCs you named. By all means, do buy a used F9 or Ruby and have Peter L at SS replace the stylus; you'll be happy, and the Shure will gather dust.

As usual, @lewm , you make a good point. The cost of a ATN150MLX or Goldring D42 are not much less than Peter's services. But the Garrott Brothers P77i is only $270.

All-in-all the F-9 may be the better deal.

I use both MM and MC, like each cartridge - each has strengths and weaknesses. What I have noticed is that of the 3 phono preamps I use, the MC output is quiter - particulary on my new Parasound JC3 Jr - set to MM, it has an audible hiss when close to the speakers, not the case when I use it for my MC cart. YMMV

EDIT: 2 of the preamps I use have XLR output - same experience with XLR and single ended.

I have been through more cartridges than I can remember: MM, MC, MI, and I keep coming back to MC.

For my ears, MC has better detail, better attack/decay, creates a bigger better defined soundstage, better defined images within that soundstage.

I hear more air around instruments with MC. And I have found that MC tend to track a bit better, but they are also more finicky to set up correctly. 

MC cartridges have a lower moving mass than MM cartridges, which accounts for most of the attributes that I like over MM.

When MC cartridges first started gaining popularity, there was an issue with bass being a bit lighter than MM, but that is in the past. 

MM has an edge at the lower-middle price range. A  $500 dollar MM has a good chance at outperforming a $500 MC.   

invictus005

597 posts

03-16-2018 at 11:05pm 

MM is better. MM sounds closer to master tape. MM is preferred by most mastering engineers from the golden era. MM has more drive and bass. MM has more prominent and magical presence region.

MC sounds fake. MC has false over exaggerated detail. MC has a weak presence region. MC has s weak midrange. MC has weak bass and midbass. MC sounds terrible with step up transformers. MC is noisy with a lot of mid fi phono preamps. MC sounds anemic with anything less than 60dB of gain. MC doesn't work well with tube equipment.

 

Wow. Just.......wow......