MC vs MM

[Axcel]

I just picked up a Ortofon MC cartridge and love the sound! I'd heard the MC was better or sounded better then a MM? The cost was much higher though.
What was the cost variation between the two? Was/Is purchasing a MC that much higher then a MM?

 

[the keester]

super high end carts are usually MCs but my Grado 'the refererence' is a HO moving iron and will give any super high end a run for their money IMO

all carts should be judged individually

 

[Tedrick]

I use some of both.

MM:
Clearaudio Arum Beta Mk II
Ortofon OM-10
Stanton 681 w/LPGear Shibata stylus

MC:
Dynavector Karat 17D3
Adcom HC-VDH II

Clearaudio makes at least one MM that tips the scales at $1,000, and of course Grado's The Statement 1 LOMI cart goes for a whopping $3,000. But all the most expensive carts seem to be LOMCs.

 

[merrylander]

MM
Signet TK5e (2)


MI
Grado Blue
Ortofon OM20
Stanton 681EEE

MC
Audio Technica AT31e - LO
Denon DL-160 - HO
Pioneer 5MC (2) - HO
Pineer 41MC (2) - HO

All have their own qualities, no especial preferences.

OK, now is everybody happy?

 

[niklasthedol]

I won't recommend LOMC cartridges to people in general unless they have funds to purchase a high quality RIAA and also have arm and TT to cope.

But if those things are in place, then LOMC has more detailed and articulated high quality music reproduction.

"dolph"

 

[JohnVF]

MM

Audio Technica AT-150mlx

HOMC
Dynavector 10x5

LOMC
Denon DL-103

I guess I sort of have the bases covered with those. All have their own character. The AT-150 works well on a lighter arm and sounds fantastic when properly matched, the DL-103 is the perfect match for the original arm on my Empire 208 and the Dynavector shines on the VPI. I'm very happy with all of them.

 

[dkelley]

super high end carts are usually MCs but my Grado 'the refererence' is a HO moving iron and will give any super high end a run for their money IMO

all carts should be judged individually

now THAT is interesting.... the stanton 681EEE was also a "reference" high output moving iron type.

Now I ask you (not literally, just throwing a bit of controversy out there...)... Is that an interesting coincidence .... or some cartridge science that has never been truly made public due to marketing people??

I'll tell ya, I'm bloody happy with my original 681EEE that came to me free attached to my recently aquired dual 604 turntable. After aligning the cart and cleaning headshell pins this thing is amazing (other than my still loud turntable 60hz hum... I must take the whole thing apart some time to fix that).

it seems that both grado and stanton (and therefore pickering maybe??) were well aware that moving iron is the best way to go for accuracy combined with warmth without having to put extreme engineering costs in the wallet of the potential customer.

So how's THAT for jumping to conclusions LoL

as always, imho, ymmv, fwiw, yadda yadda

 

[Bigerik]

No going back after a MC.

Zyx forever!

 

[dkelley]

MM

Grado Blue
Signet TK5e (2)
Ortofon OM20
Stanton 681EEE

MC
Audio Technica AT31e
Denon DL-160
Pioneer 5MC (2)
Pineer 41MC (2)

All have their own qualities, no especial preferences.

BEEP. that's two of you now in the first 5 posts I've read that had mislabeled the 681 cart as moving magnet. the magnets are stationary in it. the 681 is (as I mentioned) moving Iron.

unless, of course, I'm wrong... I had very little sleep so if I'm thinking of the wrong cart then I'll humbly delete my misinformation posts

 

[Dr Tinear]

The Grado Blue and the other cartridges in their Prestige line are also moving iron.

 

[Old_Tech]

MC or MM, MI just fine

I can't say one is better than the other. To me both designs sound beautiful when its a great cartridge to begin with.

I have to admit though my V15 III is still king of the hill.

 

[dkelley]

The Grado Blue and the other cartridges in their Prestige line are also moving iron.

fascinating, I didn't know that, great info thanks.

My first experience with moving iron was the 681eee which is newish to me, and I've been reading up on it quite a bit.

cheers

 

[thedelihaus]

Moving Iron (MI)
Moving Magnet (MM)
High Output Moving Coil (HOMC)


Recently passed along a Moving Magnetic Cross (MMC) cart.


I've not tried a Low Output Moving Coil (LOMC) yet.

 

[REDone]

I think the Ortofon VMS & FF15 were also Moving Iron

 

[lini]

I only use standard (i.e. high output) MMs and MIs these days, 'cause these fit better to the arms on my tables - and make it easier to experiment with different needle configurations on the same body, which is something I enjoy, but only a few MCs would allow... Well, and as for the operating principle as such: To me that's like with turntable drive types, i.e. the type is much less important than the actual implementation.

Well, and as for MM vs. MI/IM (induced magnet): I wouldn't regard MIs/IMs as a smarter approach than MMs in general, unless the MI/IM principle is consequently used for lowering the inductance and thus making the design pretty uncritical in terms of load capacity.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: There are probably a lot more MI/IM design out there than people are aware of. E.g., I'd assume a lot of Ortofon OM owners to believe their carts to be MMs, but these actually are MIs, too.

 

[4dryhme]

Currently using:

Philips GP412/II (MM)

Elliptical (7 x 18um)
Output: 6mV
Freq: 20Hz-25kHz
VTF: .75 - 1.5gm (1.2gm recommended)
Mass 5.5gm

Enjoying this cartridge tremendously. Rich low end without being dark. Clear strong mids. Rolls off a touch in the treble which works with my speakers. Apparently expensive in its day (1977).

 

[zenith2134]

I use MM but if my budget were bigger I would certainly opt for a better phono pre and an MC pickup.

 

[deaner33]

I've not tried a Low Output Moving Coil (LOMC) yet.

Really? What have you been waiting on?

 

[dkelley]

I've got a nice pre (yamaha c-70), variable capacitance, optional pure resistive load, switchable MC setting (which oddly enough doesn't sound louder than the main MM settings but rolls off the treble). one day I hope to try a MC just because my preamp can handle it LoL, although that's certainly the wrong reason.

still, the experimentation bug keeps biting me...

 

[markd51]

No going back after a MC.

Zyx forever!

Well, I'll go along with that Bigerik! :yes:
I can understand how the price of admission can torture most people.

I'm sure you notice how dead quiet the ZYX plays, but I wonder, can one come close with MM? I'm gathering much of that silence can be attested to the special profile, and ultra tiny Stylus. But I wonder again, is that all?

I have noted that those who switched to a Jico SAS Stylus on a Shure V-15 hear less groove noise. But I wonder how Cartridges such as the Denon DL-103r are, with it's Conical Stylus, in this regard? Mark