Register to hide this ad
You can always just try the combination. If it behaves properly - no oscillating or pumping, and good warp tracking - and sounds good, then it is good. If it seems a little bass shy, add mass. If it is bass heavy, try lighter screws or a lighter headshell.
Arm mass/cartridge compliance isn't a cut and dried numbers thing. There is a huge grey area, and trying combinations is much more interesting and revealling practice than looking up specs (which aren't always reliable or comparable) and making a decision without any experience. The latter is somewhat in the 'I know it works in practice, but does it work in theory?' sort of approach...
Arm mass/cartridge compliance isn't a cut and dried numbers thing. There is a huge grey area, and trying combinations is much more interesting and revealling practice than looking up specs (which aren't always reliable or comparable) and making a decision without any experience. The latter is somewhat in the 'I know it works in practice, but does it work in theory?' sort of approach...
The service manual says the weight range for cartridge plus headshell is 12.5 to 18.5 grams. Can't find effective mass of the arm though. That cart looks to be a low/medium compliance cart, so (in theory) will work best with an arm that is medium/heavy.
Crab33
Super Member
The JVC has an S-shaped tonearm which is likely to be medium-to-heavy. The dynamic compliance figure given for the MoFi is 8 - if this is at 10Hz then it is fairly low, but if it's at 100Hz then it would correspond to medium-compliance. So in this rough and ready way, the cartridge would appear to be a reasonable match to the arm.
Most cartridges are a match to most arms. It's only when you get to the extremes of low mass and low stiffness or high mass and high compliance that you get into problem areas.
For $200, if you can spend a touch more, at $240, the Audio Technica VM540ML is a darn fine choice.
For $200, if you can spend a touch more, at $240, the Audio Technica VM540ML is a darn fine choice.
patient_ot
Super Member
The effective mass of your JVC tonearm is not listed in the manual. My experience with a similar JVC arm from that era suggests it is on the slightly heavier side of medium mass, e.g. 15g-18g depending on the model. The headshell used will also affect things. Typically these arms come with a lightweight headshell.
The Master Tracker was measured by HFN to have a compliance of 13 CU. As such it would likely work fine on that arm, though I would pay attention to the weight of the cartridge as these are on the heavy side, and I'm not sure if your JVC includes an aux counterweight for heavier cartridges and headshells. You can end up with a situation where the counterweight is way on the back of the arm, not making full contact with the stub.
https://hifinews.com/content/mofi-ultradeckm-turntable-package-mastertracker
I wouldn't recommend the MOFI carts though, they are just re-badged AT carts with an extra shell around the generator and jacked up prices. They also glue the stylus assembly in so you can't change it - probably because they want you to buy another one instead of just getting a new stylus. If you want an AT cart, go to the source.
The Master Tracker was measured by HFN to have a compliance of 13 CU. As such it would likely work fine on that arm, though I would pay attention to the weight of the cartridge as these are on the heavy side, and I'm not sure if your JVC includes an aux counterweight for heavier cartridges and headshells. You can end up with a situation where the counterweight is way on the back of the arm, not making full contact with the stub.
https://hifinews.com/content/mofi-ultradeckm-turntable-package-mastertracker
I wouldn't recommend the MOFI carts though, they are just re-badged AT carts with an extra shell around the generator and jacked up prices. They also glue the stylus assembly in so you can't change it - probably because they want you to buy another one instead of just getting a new stylus. If you want an AT cart, go to the source.
Crab33
Super Member
I don't see any electrical loading details to accompany the frequency response curve in that Hi-Fi News article.
The article refers to the MasterTracker with Micro-Line stylus but the OP is interested in the StudioTracker with elliptical stylus. This description of the sound by MoFi doesn't sound very 'Audio Technica' to me...
"StudioTracker offers surprising bang-for-your-buck value and a rich sound distinguished with a smooth, slightly forgiving top end"
The article refers to the MasterTracker with Micro-Line stylus but the OP is interested in the StudioTracker with elliptical stylus. This description of the sound by MoFi doesn't sound very 'Audio Technica' to me...
"StudioTracker offers surprising bang-for-your-buck value and a rich sound distinguished with a smooth, slightly forgiving top end"
patient_ot
Super Member
They are all made by AT. There is a retipper on IG who had one apart and posted detailed photos. It was unmistakably AT. Even the descriptions alone will tell you all MOFI MMs are made by AT, since "ML" is an AT marketing trademark and no other current, known manufacturer of MM carts uses the V-Twin magnet arrangement. We've known about this for awhile. MOFI's arms are very heavy by today's standards and all those carts are going to be on the low-end of medium compliance.
Different electrical loading will indeed affect the sound and unfortunately HFN doesn't mention the exact loading.
Thanks for your input mate.
I got the cart for 60$ so I thought it was worth a go
I installed it and as you say you have to move the counterweight back, but mine seems to be pretty heavy since it is still making full contact, with 2g of pressure. So now I just need to get the connections for the headshell so I can give it a testrun
Last edited:
Forgiving top end is one of the reasons I got interested in it, and crossing my fingers it will be so.
Forgiving top end is one of the reasons I got interested in it, and crossing my fingers it will be so.
If you want "forgiving top end", Audio Technica likely isn't for you. If you want to hear what's actually in the groove, Audio Technica is for you.
An old Stanton 681EEE would have a forgiving top end in a pleasing way, a modern Sumiko Moonstone has a forgiving top end in a "meh" way.
Crab33
Super Member
I will be intrigued to learn the outcome - please post your impressions.Forgiving top end is one of the reasons I got interested in it, and crossing my fingers it will be so.
You bet, as soon as it is hooked up I will give my impression.
patient_ot
Super Member
Thanks for your input mate.
I got the cart for 60$ so I thought it was worth a go
I installed it and as you say you have to move the counterweight back, but mine seems to be pretty heavy since it is still making full contact, with 2g of pressure. So now I just need to get the connections for the headshell so I can give it a testrun
Well $60 is pretty cheap. I assume you bought it second hand? As you may know, the only real way to check for stylus wear is under a high power microscope with good focus and lighting from the correct angle.
Yep, but this one is basicly new since the guy who sold it upgraded to the Master Tracker before even trying this one out (that came with the TT). So it should be good to go, but you never know
Ok, so just hooked it up the other night, and my first impression is good. I find the Studiotracker a bit smoother then the AT530 that I tried a while back (which I found to harsh for my taste). Compared to my stock Z1-s it has more detail and feels a bit tighter overall. It´s not a great difference, but it is noticeble. Will be interesting to hear how it sounds after 20+ hours
Crab33
Super Member
Interesting that it's smoother than the AT-VM530EN, or rather that you found the 530 harsh. I have an AT120E which was the predecessor of the 530 and love it. I wouldn't describe it as harsh but this might be because I keep the load capacitance down. If the StudioTracker is made by AT, perhaps it sounds more like their AT-VM95 cartridges.
Apperantly MoFi colaborated with AT and developed cartridges to their specifications, what that means I do not know, but I guess it has some sauce to it that you might not find in other ATs. I have gotten it explained to me that it is def. not just an OEM version of other carts.
Having that said, it is def. smoother then the 530, but then I do not know the capacitance of my gear. The 530 had almost piercing highs that made it verry hard to enjoy, especially when listening to music with alot of hi hats and cymbals.
One thing I have noticed with the Studiotracker is that it is verry pleasing at low to moderate volume. You still get alot of detail, and it still delivers pretty deep bass
Cant say that I got that with the 530 or the stock Z1-s
