440MLa Loading 30 Ohm

[REDone]

I saw a suggestion on Vinyl Engine to load the 440MLa at 32 Ohm to tame it

So happens I recently noticed my amp has 3 load settings (don't know how I missed that before but there you go) I have 30 Ohm 50 & 100 Ohm settings

I just tried the 30 Ohm & it does take the edge off but I'm not sure yet whether I prefer it. Too soon to tell, it does sound smoother but my initial reaction is that I feel it lacks detail - possibly the lower setting is of more use for a new 400MLa but mine is now well run in.

Worth checking your amps & having a listen though

I have no idea how close this will bring it to other cartridges like the Denon 110 / 160 if anyone can compare let us know.

 

[leigho]

That would be kilo-ohms FYI. Also it helps to lower the capacitance as you lower the impedance. The easiest way to lower capacitance is via the cable between the TT and the preamp.

I am running 37 kohm and about 80 pF and it sounds great.

 

[catman]

G'day all, interesting on the effects of the loading change. The switch to 30 odd kohm loading although a 'smaller' figure than the standard 47 k actually 'increases' the resistive loading and 'damps' a slightly rising high end. It's a bit like pushing down on something a little harder, in a sense.

From what I've read, the MLA version supposed to be 'less bright' than the original version of the '440. The very long thread over at the Vinyl Engine on MM cartridge loading is well worth reading on this subject, as 47 k is not ideal for many moving magnet cartridges.

It can work the other way too. My beloved M97xE's actually benefit from 'reduced' resistive loading to 62 k. Varying the shunt capacitance is a valid way of tweaking the treble end as well, particularly if the resistive loading cannot be easily changed. Regards, Felix aka catman.

 

[Old_Tech]

I saw a suggestion on Vinyl Engine to load the 440MLa at 32 Ohm to tame it

So happens I recently noticed my amp has 3 load settings (don't know how I missed that before but there you go) I have 30 Ohm 50 & 100 Ohm settings

I just tried the 30 Ohm & it does take the edge off but I'm not sure yet whether I prefer it. Too soon to tell, it does sound smoother but my initial reaction is that I feel it lacks detail - possibly the lower setting is of more use for a new 400MLa but mine is now well run in.

Worth checking your amps & having a listen though

I have no idea how close this will bring it to other cartridges like the Denon 110 / 160 if anyone can compare let us know.

This is nothing more than a Resistive Capacitive (RC) switch. Other amps have them and label them in capacitance like 10pf, 50pf 100pf etc. You are just changing the matching RC network for the cartridge and altering the frequency response of the preamp input.