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Dealing with a 1.0mV HOMC Cartridge

ateal

ateal

Super Member
I have a vintage Shinon Red "Boron" Cartridge on it's way to me and the specifications are, output 1.0mV and internal load impedance of 60 Ohms.

This is very low for a "High Output Moving Coil" cartridge and was wondering what is the lowest output anyone has used through the MM stage. I do not currently have an MC stage as I have always used SUT's.
 
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To me (Not overly experienced with MC) that seems very low for a "High Output" MC. The denon DL-110 I use is at 1.6mv. and I use the 43db gain setting on my pre-amp. Not the standard 40db a MM would use. I am curious what you would do aswell, cause the next jump on my pre is to 60db gain. Which for your cart would be too much (I think).
 
Is the 10dB of gain the same effect as if you had 10dB of gain in an SUT, therefore approx 1:3 ratio?
 
Euromut, how is it with the standard 40dB. What position on the volume know do you need to go to get it reasonably loud 12 o"clock or more. Thanks
 
1mV is about 14dB quieter than 5mV. 14dB would require (very approximately) about "2 hours" more on the clockface of a typical volume control.
 
Update !!! Cartridge arrived last night and I installed it through the SUT at 1:14 (23bB gain). Apart from having to reduce the volume knob from my usual level of -28dB to a lower level of -40dB, it all sounded great. I also checked with my amplifier manufacturer "Copland" and they confirmed it would be OK for the phono stage to see an 11mV load as they designed the amp with plenty of headroom.

Based on this set up the cart is seeing a 240 Ohms load impedance from the SUT which is 4x the carts internal impedance of 60 Ohms. In my book this is ideal and provides a very smooth full bodied sound. If I wanted it to sound brighter (which I don't) I could use a step up of 1:10 which would result in a 470 Ohms load or 7.8x the carts internal impedance.

If I have time at the weekend I may try it directly into my MM stage and see what that sounds like.
 
Good that it works for you. Folks fail to realize that the phono inputs are usually designed to handle 50-100 times the rated input. The rated input simply to get full output at full volume. The ability to handle more is because well records aren't a single volume, loud to quiet.
 
rothwellaudi said:
1mV is about 14dB quieter than 5mV. 14dB would require (very approximately) about "2 hours" more on the clockface of a typical volume control.
Click to expand...

yep, about what I find on my pre volume knob. the high out (4.5-5mv) and I'm at 1 pm on my GAS pedal, my 1.5 mv carts need 3 pm on the pedal
 
Lucky you, ateal. At one time this was my favourite cartridge. I have two of them still, but both unusable or unrepairable.:(

BTW, these are technically medium output, not high output. Run them like low output and enjoy the dynamic punch and life-like realism these were known for in their day. I envy you.:bowdown:
 
Thanks ripblade, it really is a wonderful sounding cartridge through the SUT but I definitely will try it directly through the MM stage to see what the sonic differences are. I would say it is on a par (maybe slightly better) to my Fidelity Research FR1 MK3F. It has a very similar silky smooth yet very detailed delivery with amazing tonal reproduction. I would also say that because of the boron cantilever, the Shinon Red has slightly more air to it.
 
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