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Magnetic vs Ceramic Cartridges - Can you tell the difference?

Which recording used which?

  • Recording 1: Magnetic Cart, Recording 2: Ceramic Cart

    Votes: 14 77.8%

  • Recording 1: Ceramic Cart, Recording 2: Magnetic Cart

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Total voters
    18
  • Poll closed .
xXSHADoW93Xx

xXSHADoW93Xx

Active Member
No, this is not a question, but I just want you guys to see if any of you can correctly guess which recording was recorded with a magnetic cartridge, and which recording was recorded with a ceramic cartridge, based on the audio recordings themselves.

The stereo receiver I'm using is the JVC Nivico 5001, and it has a phono input which has a switch to be able to use both magnetic AND ceramic cartridges, using my Dual 1209 for both recordings.

The magnetic cartridge I used is my Shure M97xE, while the ceramic cartridge I used is my Panasonic/Electro-Voice EPC-09STAD (a variant of the Electro-Voice Magneceramic ceramic cartridge). This is more-or-less a blind test

Here are the sound files:
Recording 1
Recording 2

After a few weeks, I'll post a video revealing which was which. This is an unedited recording, so whatever you hear was how it was recorded.
 
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On the high frequencies, there's a bit of distortion with number 2, that isn't there with number 1, so I prefer 1, and hope that's the magnetic cartridge.:)
 
Agreed with 1 being magnetic cart. (Not listening through a proper hi fi setup - just the built-in speakers of a laptop.)
 
I will not bother to play along with this, as the speakers on my computer are smaller than the front of my dog's nose.
But giving the quality of my 'cheapest in their catalog' Micro Acoustics cartridge, all bets are off with the results of this survey.

Edit to my position on this. I had forgotten that my smart TV can go to AK. It has surround sound as well. It only played a few seconds of this, as your app is memory-hungry. I found it fascinating that the 'hidden encoded surround sound' on the record comes through.
Two is more bassy, annoyingly so. and more noise from the turntable comes through [just a bit].
I will go against everyone here and say that #2 is the magnet cartridge.

This survey is not a question of which recording is more likable, but rather which recording mates with which cartridge.
 
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I would have liked to listen longer but the recording kept starting and stopping. For that reason it\s neither for me.
 
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The JVC Nivico receiver serves as the pre-amp for both cartridges, as it can use both magnetic and ceramic cartridges. This gets recorded via its tape-out, which goes through an ADS Tech Instant Music model RDX-150 audio capture device.

Jht5sha.jpg


The EPC-09STAD is normally used on my Dual KA-25 stereo, since it has a ceramic phono stage, and not a magnetic one, and currently uses a Dual 1225 for the turntable (original was a 1214)

marcmorin said:
is that one of those 45's they used to include in Mad Magazine
Click to expand...
Enoch Light - Spaced Out is the LP i'm playing.
Song is Petite Paulette
 
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