Dear Mrmitch: I own your Clearaudio virtuoso and loaded at 100K has very good quality performance. Do you already try it loaded in that way?, you could try it and decide about.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Plinko: Yes, you are right the MP 500 is the way to go with Nagaoka.
+++++ " I do like a nice full image but all is lost if the tone, dynamics, and musicality are not there... " +++++
The Nagaoka cartridges are really up to the task, you will be happy with it, even the quality performance of your Dyna and in some areas is a little better ( now I don't have any experience about MM through step-up transformers, but you can try it with and with out and please let know us about: if you can. )
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Mrclarkie2: Here it is something that could help you ( I don't know how much degrade the cartridge signal but you can try it ): http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=512326&highlight=resistors+john+elison&r=&session=
Regads and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Kravi4ka: The one that I hear was the MMMC20EN that is good choice but I never had the opportunity to hear the MMC4: only the MMC3 and the MMC2, this one is a great performer.
About tonearms, you could do good with Sumiko Premier MMT, Auioquest P6-7, Jelco ( newest models ) and the like ( even a Rega 600 ). Here are some tonearms where you can choose:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtnrm&1213475585 http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtnrm&1213414853 http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtnrm&1210091271 http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtnrm&1211516159
I don't hear the MP 500 so I can't speak about in the other hand the MP-50 is a winner one.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Mrmitch: Maybe this could help you about: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1200430667&openflup&97&4#97
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Clio: +++++ " said that if the suspension, stylus, and/or cantilever were not damaged this cartridge would compete with those in the $2000 to $5000 range. " +++++
I agree, it is that good.
The MP-500 is the new Nagaoka line but it is almost the same MP-50
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear friends: For some time to now I was very busy, between other things testing our tonearm design, but this Sunday I mounted my Sonus Dimension 5 on my SP-10 MK2 and Lustre GST-801 tonearm ( could you believe it?: the Lustre is on the lower side of high effective mass and the Sonus is a very high compliance: 50cu!!!. ).
It sounded very good from start but after a half hour ( maybe less ) I can't believe what I'm hearing from an over 30 years very old MM design: fabulous for say the least.
Which cartridge is your very top contender: Air Tight?, Olympos, XV-1?, Orpheus?, Colibri?, Allaerts?,etc, etc, you just named and as good any of them are the Dimension 5 not only even it but overall can/could bettered all them, oh yes including the Srain Gauge by SS. Yes it is that good, it is the better cartridge I own/heard?: weel I heard/own some other cartridges at the same quality performance level ( MM and MC ).
This kind of beautiful/learning experiences always make me think what's wrong with today designs or better yet: why today cartridge designs are not really better than many old ones examples?. I don't have the right answer(s) about and that's why Guillermo and I are seriously thinking to go in deep on a cartridge self design, I think that in this way I could have the right answers and if not that cartridge project always be a real challenge ( a lot of fun ) and a very learning one.
I don't know you but I need several answers on the quality different performnce levels on each link on the audio chain, I need to understand in deep what is happening ( and why ) on our hobby overall.
I learn a lot during our Phonoline preamp design, I follow learning with the tonearm design and I'm totally sure that with the cartridge and TT new projects I will learn and ( I hope ) achieve some of the answers I'm looking for. My quest goes on!
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Redhunter: I know your AT MC cartridge and I like it. Now, I don't know your MM phono stage design overload level , maybe there could be a cause about or an active/passive part on the circuit that is out of specs.
I already talk about high frequency range distortion on MC and I can see that you are using a step up that adds distortions too and maybe that's the " clarity " you are hearing but I can't be sure because that " halo around " is something that I never experienced in any cartridge: MC or MM.
I'm sorry I can't help you.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear friends: While many of you ( I say this is very good shape ) are enjoying expensive MC cartridges or looking for that expensive MC cartridge that could meet your priorities I'm not only enjoying the quality performance of my system through MM inexpensive cartridges ( and some MC ones too ) but I'm knowing, having experiences on these MM cartridges that you only can imagine and that I'm sure many of those MM experiences feet your personal expectatives in a better way and at a different quality level performance that what you own right now.
These MM cartridges are so inexpensive that in this regard you really can't loose anything other that the time to find it. If you decide to do it you will be rewarded about.
Yesyerday I mount the ADC TRX-1 in an Audio Technica 1503MK3 tonearm and Dynavector headshell and as good as the Sonus Dimension 5 is the ADC is not short on performance, it has a different presentation and not so alive like the Sonus but IMHO a first rate cartridge.
I know that many of these great MM cartridges are hard to find and I know that you need a lot of patience/time to " catch " some one and maybe you don't have it but it is worth. I know too that many ofg you think that it is a risk to buy an old cartridge second hand and I agree with you but on my experiences about ( many/several, even I buy two-three same model cartridges to be safe about. Btw, I think to put on sale all the cartridge where I have a spare one. ) no one of my cartridges come with a failure, as a fact all ones come on full operation condition almost on pristine cantilever/stylus condition, that was/is a surprise to me a very nice surprise and that's why I give my very high recommendation on the subject.
I'm not saying that you stop to buy MC ones: NO ( the MC has its own merits ) what I'm saying is that you try this MM alternative, anyway I'm sure it will be fun for you.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Shane: Yes yo can do it. IN the case of the MMC2 you need an adaptor to mount it and you can buy it through Soundsmith, if you find the B&O in new condition then it will comes with that universal mount tonearm adaptor.
Both of these cartridges are really good at frequency extremes and other great examples are: Grado The Amber Tribute ( that you can find in your area. ), Reson Reca, Garrot P77. My advise is to load all these MM cartridge type at 100 kOhms and 100-150 pf.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Dcstep: I never try in my system but I already heard on other system. Btw, I own different B&O MI cartridges including the MMC2 that is the model that SS take for its own SS cartridges.
From what I heard on both I like ( by small margin ) the original B&O over the SS: the tonal balance is more natutal against a little SS hifi presentation on the highs, anyway both are very good performers.
Regards and enjoy the msuic. Raul. |
Dear Redhunter: I own the Rega and I heard the 1042 on my system and I don't experieced that " trouble ", but I'm thinking why it happen to you and with out be sure there are some things that could be interfering with the MM quality performance:
first is the tonearm that could be not very good match to the MM cartridges. second that the capacitance is inadequate, I'm using 150pf including the cable capacitance but this figure could be system dependent so you can " play with this parameter. third we have to remember that almost all the MM cartridges have a very natural frequency response performance with no overbright or some edgy sound, instead many MC ones ( due to its ringing that happen in the hihg frequency range ) performs with a little more " clarity " or " spark " that are more distortion that other thing, in this regard the MM are really better performers.
It is hard to say what is happenning in your system with out knowing it, with out know your music sound reproduction priorities and the kind of music you normally hear in your home system.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Redhunter: An azymuth problem can make appear those kinds of " problems " too.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Sirspeedy: Things happen that because I have so many MM cartridges ( some of them I not hear it yet. ) I'm testing it and I have to tell that I'm having an enjoying time doing that.
Right now I'm using/mounted seven tonearms and five of them with MM cartridges. I'm hearing my MC ones too they are very good too and I enjoy all them.
In reallity what I'm sharing to other people it is not to forget about MC cartridges in favor of MM ones, what I try to do it is that the people can know that the MM alternative is a very high quality performance alternative to the MC one. Each of these different designs ( MC and MM ) have its own merits and its overall music sound reproduction " presentation " is different but on both designs we can find what we are looking for.
Many of us that for many years are hearing only MC cartridges really think that it is the best way to go about analog quality performance, well it is not the MM " road " is a very nice one too with a lot of " rewards " where the MC ones are a little short.
The high end audio industry is so " special " ( i don't have the right word. ) that many of the phono stage manufacturers don't even " swing his head " to the MM designs, for many of them the MM does not exist and that's why many phono stages are only for MC cartridges and the ones that have it are impedance inflexible: stop at 47-50K and almost no one goes to 100 Kohms that it is a must with MM cartridges, this is the real analog audio world where we live, it is a shame about.
Some people think that the MM alternative is a " dinosaur ", something that disappear many years ago, something that many of them try it in " those " times and that think are not up to the task today. This kind of way of think is taking away to these people the great opportunity to enjoy the music in a top diffrent quality performance that the MC ones can't match.
To these people I want to tell that with their today audio systems the MM alternative can/could be shine, what they heard on those all times has nothing to do for ( with the same MM cartridges ) what they can hear today due to the huge quality improvement sound reproduction all of them achieve on their today home audio systems.
Right now not only we can buy " old " MM cartridges ( second hand or NOS ) but we can buy several different today MM designs: Ortofon, Audio Technica, Grado, Reson, Goldring, Rega, Sounsmith, Music Maker, Shelter, Garrot, Shure, Nagaoka, Clearaudio, etc, etc.
Well, I have to return to test my " new " MM Signet TK 10ML-II!!!
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Norman: I heard the XVS 3000 but never yours. Normally the MM type cartridges are more " silent " on the record grooves and that have to " see " not only with the stylus shape/high compliance but with the phonolinepreamp and with the tonearm in use.
Btw, Pickering and Stanton: do you know its differences? who is the main " name "?, something of their hystory because at the eye are like twins, could you help about?
regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Siniy123: I own the 630 and the 2002, both are very good with a more refined and better tonal/naturalbalance to the 630, recomemded these cartridges are up to the task: comparing to the best MM out there!.
Btw, thank you Lawrence for the link about.
regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Larryi: +++++ " to most MM cartridges which tend to be a bit more opaque and dull sounding than MC cartridges). " +++++
IMHO and due to what I'm experienced on the past and in today times that statement ( with all my respect to you. ) is a false myth and depends on the right overall audio system and the right cartridge overall set up.
You can prove it if you want in your own system with more than one of my MM cartridges that can beat overall your Titan and please I'm not saying that the Titan is not a good one because it is. Better yet be my guest along your Titan and have an audio fest here in México.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Audiofeil: Thank you for your Pickering/Stanton information, as always we are on the learning curve.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Viper z: Well I'm almost sure that you will enjoy it. Like always the TT/tonearm/cartridge set up is critical for a better quality performance and of course give it 20-30 hours of play.
Dgob achieve a stellar performance with this cartridge and I think he could help you about.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Dgob: Some of us always support the importance of the care on the cartridge set up and I have to add the care on the tonearm set up.
IMHO when the tonearm distance between the TT spindle center and the tonearm bearing/fulcrum center is on target and the tonearm/cartridge overhang is on target too it is a lot more easy to find the right SRA/VTF/azymuth and not only that but tiny off-set on those parameters makes no big " changes " on the quality performance against when those tonearm/TT/cartridge distances are out of target.
In a very imperfect world where the analog technology belongs the set up makes " the difference ".
Good to hear that you finally are enjoying the Allaerts that it is extremely delicate on set up.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Lewm: I have to add: Sonus Dimension 5, ADC TRX-1 and Signet TK 10ML-II.
No I never heard/hear the MP-500 but I could assume is a top performer.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Larry/Jloveys: I forgot in my last post to Dgob the critical importance on Allaerts quality performance.
My Mc2 Finish Gold never perform but at stellar top quality performance on the Essential 3160 that btw Dgob owns.
+++++ " blow to the owner of the Allaerts if it is the Boulder that is just not up to the task ... " +++++
I heard twice the 2008/2010 Boulder combination in two very different systems with three different cartridges ( non Allaerts ) and till today I'm still thinking and asking why these Boulder items are so expensive when ( with cartridges ) its quality performance is so poor, IMHO the 2008 is " not up to the task" like you say.
Dgob is a very good reference about the Allaerts subject that not only needs first class/rate Phonolinepreamp but the right tonearm: it is very keen on this subject too, I like the Schoroeder Reference tonearm design ( one of the top very top tonearms today, no doubt about. )but IMHO and knowing in deep the Allaert cartridge and not so deep that tonearm I think that it is not the best match.
I don't like the step up transformers ( any ) specially with the Allaerts and I know for sure that as good as is the Jloveys Allaerts performance through the Tron IMHO there is no doubt that with the Allaert cartridge you can do it better with out step up transformers on the cartridge signal.
Anyway, I agree that this cartridge is not for every one but if you have the right " analog rig " the Allaerts is an enormous plleasure to experience and a must to hear.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Maxson: In the sample on your link ( thank you again ) what it is totally sure is that 47k on load impedance that it is the manufacturer advise is almost out of question, I wonder why the manufacturer of that Shure MM cartridge ( like almost any one else MM manufacturers. ) gives that cartridge operation specs.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Lawrence: Thank you for the link, a learning one.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Robyatt: Yes I know that the the Decca one is vry good and one of the best out there, the best MM ever?: well till today I never find any audio item for that " title ", IMHO every thing is more " relative " than absolut due not only to our analog imperfection world but due that every one of us are different, like different, hear different, etc, etc, different...
I owned the CS-100 and I change it ( on those " learning " not experienced old times ) for the low output LZS-981 because the dealer's recomendation, I can't say now if the CS-100 is really better ( not only different ) that the 981 in my today system what I can say is that the 981 is something to own.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Larryi/Jloveys: About the 2008 I have to be very precise : I only heard the 2008 once ( the other time was the 2010 with a different phono stage ).
I say " poor " performance due to its very high price ( btw, for that price you expect not to find connecting wires internally but direct soldered to the boards and all the Boulder input/output connectors are wired!! ) , anyway this Boulder phono stage is a little noisy ( any one can read the J.Atkinson measurements on it ) for a SS design and in my understanding the Jensen gain modules ( a design that comes from many years and that use mainly on mic-preamps ) that are inside are unbalanced design not balanced like Boulder state but I can't be sure because I don't know its circuit diagram.
+++++ " Boulder said that the phonostage could not be made to accomodate the .1 mv output of the Allaert. " +++++
it is totally clear that the Formula 1 is a wrong cartridge for the 2008 or the 2008 is the wrong phono stage for the Formula 1. Here there is no synergy between those audio items so the owner can't expect/wait a top quality performance.
I wonder if the cartridge dealer makes a not so good " job " with the customer, anyway it is clear too that the customer has no in deep knowledge about but it is clear too that whom sold the cartridge did not give him the right advise about, fortunately the customer is " heavy " wealthy guy and can take alternative steps to achieve what he is looking for and what he and the music deserves after those high audio system investment.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Dead man: Certainly there are more cartridges out there waiting for us and my " list " on this thread is only a sample of it, the only requisite we need to enjoy those " beauties " is a little of " adventure spirit " and open mind.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Larryi: +++++ " I did not have the ability or inclination at that time to customize my setup to make those cartridges work for me .... " +++++
this is all about, IMHO if you try ( with your very nice today audio system ) to " customize my setup to make those cartridges work for me " I'm sure you will be very " happy " to do it and you will receive a great " reward " for that: top quality sound reproduction performance, certainly not with all the MM cartridges but if you choose 2-3 ( are inexpensive ones by MC standard prices. ) good examples ( not the Grado you name it. ) you will be " almost " satisfied and your comments about will be more precise and like you say less " unfair " on the subject.
Regards and enjoy the music. raul. |
Dear Lawrence: I never have/had the opportunity to hear any of the cartridges you name it si I can't comment on its performance.
I don't know either nothing about your old Sony preamp so I can't comment on its performance with that load impedance. But as almost always the result is system dependent.
Regards and enjoy the music. raul. |
Dear Gregm: +++++ " slightly less hi freq extended (i.e. bandwidth) than a Clearaudio Discovery " +++++
due to this statement yesterday I mount an Empire 4000/D3, 750LTD and the Discovery and yes you could think that the Discovery is more extended on frequency but IMHO what it is really happening is that this cartridge has a higher distortion on that frequency range than the Empires that IMHO have a better and extended on that frequency range, normally the MC ones has a ringing ( " natural " distortion ) at high frequencies and this kind of distortion we take it like extended frequency/transparency/spark but like I say is only more distortion.
+++++ " On a heavy arm, the MM will usually sound heavy. " +++++
sharing my experience with you I can tell that mine are a little different on the subject because I don't experienced yet ( or at least I don't mind/conscient about ) that " heavy " sound on a heavy arm, well like everything it is system/set-up dependent. Anyway I will try to be ears open about.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Viper z: The main difference is that the MP 50 has a boron cantilever and the MP 50 Super a Sapphire one, IMHO this sappire cantilever gives a more " refined " quality sound to the Super but both are very good performers.
regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear friends: Well another cartridge report. I the last 3-4 weeks I was trying different MM cartridges from Signet TK10ML, ADC TRX-1, Sonus Dimension 5, Mission Solitaire, Andante P38 and Nagatron 350E.
I can live easy with any one of them, no it do not sound the same but all are " right ".
The last one, the Nagatron, was a real surprise to me because I don't expect nothing special about due that the other are in theory a lot better cartridges and this cartridge was not the Nagatron top of the line, is a low compliance, eliptical stylus, very old and when new 95.00 price list. It take me several hours to found how good it is: first because take some hours to the suspension settle down and to find the right VTF due that I have no infomation about, anyway today I have the opportunity to enjoy recod after record this cartridge performance that it is not an " alive " one but a cartridge that owns the unique " VIVID " quality top performance that I never experiece before in any MC/MM catridge, how comes?: I can't say it but a real GEM like a solitaire diamond of 10 qt!. If you see it you can't give a dime fo it: plastic body, blue and black ( ugly ), very short aluminum cantilever ( bad tracker ), low weight and a marvelous quality performance. I have to say that the Andante P38 is near the Nagatron performance at both frequency extremes ( specially at the bottom end. ) but on the midrange the Nagatron stay " alone ".
I mount the Nagatron on an Audio Technica 1503-III medium/high mass tonearm with a Belldream headshell positive VTA and 2grs on VTF.
Tis 350E puts on shame not only other top MM cartridges but top MC names too.
Till today, on the cartridges I own, I don't experienced a bad MM performer. I need to try another 10-15 ones that I don't have the time to test it yet.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Maxson: Thank you for the link. It is always a " plus " to confirm the importance on the load in MM cartridges that in some ways are more sensitive than the MC ones.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Hi: Who was the lucky one that buy this?:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1229308286&/Nagaoka-MP50-Super
I have to say that this is ( other that mine ) the first time that I " see " this cartridge ( MP-50 Super ) for sale anywhere.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Siny123: In theory the EPC-100 was the best on MM Technics catalog a small up-step on the 205-MK4.
I never imagine that exist in P-mount fashion and this fact IMHO could degrade a little its quality performance against the normal no P-mount sample. I agree with you that is on the expensive price range but maybe could be fine to test/try it and see how good it is.
Rgards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Lawrence: Which kind of problem have with those cartridges?
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear friends: Every day is almost a learning one. The performace of the Nagatron 350 was so " formidable " ( like I posted ) that I decide that other people hear it and confirm or not my findings so I invite two very trusty audio friends in two different days and they were very satisfied an surprise about due that the catridge is a MM very " old " and low low price. Well evrything goes fine till in the second day Guillermo told me if I could change the cartridge to hea something else and I did changing fo the Sonus Dimension 5 and latter the Ortofon MC7500.
What we hear was really exiting because as good as the Nagatron performed the other two cartridges are better and certainly in theory/paper these ones must be better. So, why I posted that the Nagatron is a better one? was I wrong?, well yes and no, for what I heard it was better bfore I try agin the other ones: what happen in reallity?, well if you take a look at my virtual system you can read in my last two post that I made some ( two ) modifications on my speakers and what I assume about is that fo the time I try the Nagatron one or both of the speakers changes " settle down " for the better and now the system quality performance impove over the time and over what I was hearing before the Nagatron test.
Anyway a good " surprise " to me and with a lot of fun in the near future because I have to ty again almost all my cartridges where my opinion on each one will be more precise.
This is the first time that a changes on my system takes a " long " time to " settle down " in this great way because after one week from the speker's changes the system performance " suffer " a significant improve and I never imagine that that initial improve was only that: a initial performance improve. A welcome learning experience.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Siniy123: Yes the 630 is very good and a top contender.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Jloveys: When I say " everything the same ", this include that the MM cartridges are loaded at 100kOhms/150pf, not at 47kOhms. I forgot the Nagaoka MP50-Super is a top contender too against the great MC2 Finish Gold.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Ajahu: That Technics MM cartridge ( 205 MK3 ) is one of my favorities specially when you load it at 100 Kohms.
I agree that it is a lot better than digital source and I can add that IMHO it is a top contender to any MC or MM cartridge out there.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Fantasia: Good that you are having fun with the At12S stylus replacement, on that Audio technica series the two top of the line were the AT 20SLa and AT 200SS: both great performers that if you can you have to try at least either of them.
I own the Ortofon VMS30MK2 and it is very good and I can see that you own the VMS20E that I assume is a good cartridge too and along the Grace IMHO it will be worth to fix it.
Yes, I agree that a line contact stylus could be a noticeable difference against 0.4X0.7mil elliptical one but when you have a 0.2X0.7mil elliptical the differences are so minor and depending on the cartridge design maybe you can't say which is one.
Regards and enjoy the music. raul. |
Dear Lewm: I never had the opportunity to hear that Grado cartridge but I can tell you that the Grado Amber The Tribute that I own is one of the best quality performers I heard/hear.
Please come back and give us your impressions on that TLZ.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear 76doublebass: +++++ " I can identify natural sound , vs. High End Sound most easily.Alot of live music may so didfferent than a tipped up top end with enhanced detail ... " +++++
this subject is really critical and many of us have to learn a little more about.
Btw, I can't speak for your Grado reference model but the one Grado cartridge that I own is a stellar performer. I agree about the AT20Sl, very good cartridge.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Jloveys: Over the time of this thread I receive several emails telling me that they alredy test/try a MM cartridge that I name here and they like it but think that are not really better than their MC they own.
I agree with almost all them because almost no one of them can load the MM cartridges in their systems at 75-100kOhms so they are not really hearing what those MM cartridges can " show " and from that point of view are in disadvantage against the MC ones.
The other very important factor is the quality performance of the MM phono stage.
Till today the analog high-end source was/is the MC cartridges, almost all the high-end manufacturers put their best on the MC stage and almost no one ( even there are phono stages that does not accept MM cartridges. ) cares about MM cartridges.
I posted ( trying to give you an answer ) " everything the same ", that betwen other things means that both: MM and MC phono stages have the same quality level. Maybe you could think that the quality level of your phono stage is the same running MM than MC cartridge and maybe it is in that way but normally it is not, IMHO the manufacturers design for the MC needs that are different than the MM needs ( again here the MM carridges could be in disadvantage too. ), fortunately I have two separate phono stages dedicated one for MM and the other to MC and IMHO at the same quality level, this permit not only to evaluate the quality performance of different cartridge design but to enjoy both " worlds ".
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Jean: That depend on the phono stage design. Usually it is a resistor at the input, if this is the case then changing that resistor ( solder it ) fro the right one is all about. Sometimes it is not easy or the phono stage can't perform optimally, depends on the circuit design.
Always is advisory to contact directly to the manufacturer looking for its support.
Btw, yes the load impedance/capacitance makes a difference.
Nice to see that you own a MM cartridge, which tonearm are you using?.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Jean: Well those TD124 are legendary ( as that Shure cartridge ) and with the up-date that you make seems to me something special. Good to know that you are enjoying the MM alternative too.
Now, there is a very god alternative where you can use your MC system with a top MM cartridge, try to find the Stanton LZS 981, this cartridge is very low output ( near the MC2 Finish ) and must be running in a MC phn stage, I'm loading mine at 100 Ohms but you can use a different load between 100-500 Ohms. With this cartridge option you can compare your Allaert one and a MM design in the same analog rig.
Btw, the Astatic MF-100 is another top contender.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Jean: I don't have a source about. Time to time could be a ppear on Ebay. Other similar cartridge is the Pickering XSV 7500 .
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Steve: In my case my Phonolinepreamplifier comes with the option to 100K. The total impedance value has to be 100K.
Btw, I really think that the MM option is very good and worth to try it.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Chris: I really don't know ( for sure ) how the MC " won " over the MM.
I can tell you what were my experiences and what I " think " about:
the very first time that I heard a MC cartridge was the Denon 103 and what I remember about is that its quality performance was better than the MM quality performance ( on those time audio systems, including mine ), the "big " difference was that the 103 (and latter the 303 and many others ) was " alive " against the little " softer " MM sound, it was better at frequency extremes and that " alive " sound really like me and in those times I don't have ( either ) the right audio system and the know-how to " tweak " the MM cartridge set-up to make this one a better performer.
Then I start to read the " underground " magazines (Stereophile and the like ) where the reviewers already had a " cult " for the MC cartridges ( a very special for the Koetsu ) and where almost all those reviewers ( like today ones ) own/owned MC cartridges but no MM cartridges ( maybe two or three of them use MM ones, like today ).
I don't know for other people but in those times for me the very high price of the MC cartridges told me ( a mistake ), due to my non-experience, that it must be the best cartridges out there where the low price MM ones does not have a place on the " high end " niche of market. You know, if you wanted to belong to the high-end community you must own/owned a MC cartridge!!!!!, period.
Many myths surrounded the MC cartridges makes with no precise/absolute arguments that the MC ones are the " best ".
Chris, I remember 3-4 years ago ( maybe more ) when I " speak " about MM cartridges and or DD TTs that the people in this forum and in other non Agon forums " laughing " about. IMHO the today non-sense cult for the MC cartridges, BD TTs or tube designs tell us what " ignorance /non-know how " can makes in favor or against audio items, many people does not want " to see " other alternatives: why?, this is something out of my mind because it suppose that all of us want to grow-up and looking for a better audio system quality performance but we don't take a chance to " try/test " a different alternative even if that alternative can/could be better. Gentlemans, we not only have to grow-up but we have to be better over the time, we need to help the high end to quality improvements and we all customers have the key to do it. For many many years you and me were " manipulated " on purpose or not on purpose for magazines, reviewers, audio dealers, audio manufacturers, etc, etc, I think that sooner or latter we must to stop all them. The most important " opinion " of what we customers needs is our " opinion " not the other " opinions ". We have to try to even our opinion to all those other audo market opinions.
Many people say that I'm " dogmatic " and I think that I'm dogmatic in almost the same way they are but on different subjects.
The high-end cartridge market is so MC oriented that are top phono stages names that are exclusive to MC cartridges and they don't give you a MM option!!!!!
is better the MC design over the MM one?, IMHO I think that both designs are really good if we have the right phono stage, in the right anolog rig with the right set-up.
I think that we have to have both options. The MM option is so good that many people in the high-end are loosing not only the pleasure to enjoy the MM option but are loosing that great opportunity at a price level that is incredible low and are missing the opportunity to have a " new " ( really new ) great analog experience. I'm talking here with everything the same to both designs: MC and MM. I'm sure that many of you ( if give you the chance ) will be prefering the MM alternative.
About your question on those " old " MC ones against the today MCs I can tell you that some of those " old " cartridges are ( at least ) at the same top level than the " today " ones in either design:MC/MM.
Well, Chris I have to stop because this post put me a little " angry " of what is happening in our beloved high end.
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |
Dear Hxt1: Surprising good!!!!even that my sample is new and needs more playing hours, it even easy the V15V for a lot less money, I like it ( the 100K load impedance is a must with the 97. )
Regards and enjoy the music. Raul. |