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"No Point" getting higher end MM if you can properly run MC as well

MC will out-perform MM at same price point if neither is disadvantaged by system

  • YES

    Votes: 48 43.2%

  • NO

    Votes: 63 56.8%
  • Total voters
    111
Ken Boyd said:
Or they are happy with a specific cart based on the value or price point rather than spending more money even if it produced a sound more favorable as most people have budgets and limits on what they will spend on a hobby item.
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Me, me, me! You can always desire more, but you've got to be happy with what you've got at some point. It can get very frustrating if you don't realize that.
 
People need to have a bit of thick skin to exchange different ideas and experiences. At best this forum helps with a kind of general guidance for people wanting to improve their system without necessarily having expertise or access to many demonstrations. I know I have used AK many times to find out about audio pieces I’m interested in, and there’s always some friction between impressions and that’s ok. I disregard the inevitable polar extremes “love what you have enjoy the music” and the sentimental elitists who protect their ideas and kit as unhelpful.
 
Let’s say there’s an accepted “good high-end turntable” and that the quality of cartridge is right at that point where it matches the turntable rather than the turntable getting the most out of it. The cartridge gets the most out of the turntable as well, so to speak. Is this more likely to be a moving coil cartridge?
 
TunerLanding said:
Let’s say there’s an accepted “good high-end turntable” and that the quality of cartridge is right at that point where it matches the turntable rather than the turntable getting the most out of it. The cartridge gets the most out of the turntable as well, so to speak. Is this more likely to be a moving coil cartridge?
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No. :cool:

Somewhat different? Yes. :thumbsup:
 
TunerLanding said:
Let’s say there’s an accepted “good high-end turntable” and that the quality of cartridge is right at that point where it matches the turntable rather than the turntable getting the most out of it. The cartridge gets the most out of the turntable as well, so to speak. Is this more likely to be a moving coil cartridge?
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I can only answer your question like this, having a number of tables there is easily a discernable hierarchy. And guess what, each step up the chain in SQ also corresponds not only with what the tables sell for now used, but also for their list price when new.

The only anomaly is the AR XA due to it's being from so much earlier of a time period than the others.

So, if we're talking about a truly "high end" turntable there just really aren't many cartridges that aren't MC for the true high end. So unless wanting to severely limit your choices ( I don't play in this ballpark ) then MC cartridges will have the most selection.
 
Yeah, I agree that the record collection is the most important thing to consider when choosing a cartridge or player. That’s why I don’t understand the move towards high mass tonearms and low compliance cartridges. You would think that a higher compliance cartridge would be a better choice for reducing record wear over time. I prefer the Shibata tip as well.
 
Having had several of both MC and MM carts of varying calibres I have ended up with my Clearaudio Charisma Vll and could not be happier with it!!! I have a Benz Ruby here it replaced which is a good performer in its own right, just not to the same level as my Charisma, to my ears……
 
Shouldn’t this be proven out one way or the other at this point as scientific fact? I mean let’s think about this. Couldn’t we just get a system that can do everything each cart needs then setup some test equipment and test?


Who is willing to pitch in for scientific testing by an independent laboratory to put this to bed once and for all? I will put in hundred bucks.

Next we can test direct drive tables to belt drive tables and idler wheels.

I also like the new look of AK.
 
TunerLanding said:
I’m sorry, but if something as intricate, diminutive and expensive as a decent cartridge/stylus can’t be trusted to have any quality control I’d never buy from such a brand again. For the purposes of this discussion (which has given me mostly great info, thanks everyone!) we have to assume these things are considered equal and we’re talking about objective characteristics in the design and in people’s experiences/impressions as inherently subjective as they are.
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Ortofon I trust over most other companies. They engineer their cartridges well, the suspension and cantilever, and the diamonds are mounted by Ortofon. I find their cartridge range the best and most comprehensive, and support excellent. They stand behind their work, if you don't clean their styli with liquids if there is a defect.
 
CrSens said:
I don't deny better turntables can get more out of a cartridge, I am just saying that high end cartridge on a budget turntable can get you there sooner and easier than "end game" turntable with a budget cartridge.
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Not if mismatched compliance wise. Sorry, arm and cartridge must be reasonably well matched, or said combination won't be happy together.
 
Sgt Shultz said:
I wouldn't spend more than $500 on a cartridge for something like a table in the Technics SL1200 family if that's your question.

You see the diminishing returns aren't in the price of the cartridge but in the hobbling of the table / arm it's on.

Again, a high end table will get more out of a budget cartridge than a budget table will out of a high end cartridge. And when ready it will let that high end cartridge sing like it should.
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Would this apply if said turntable, had quite an arm upgrade, as in SME V level? Sorry, many have successfully used high end cartridges on SL-1200 turntables before, even with stock arms if compliance matched. I've heard Denon DL-301 make very nice music on the SL-1200 as an example, also the Audio-Technica LOMC line, just to name a few.
 
CrSens said:
There are plenty of medium or even low compliance "high end" cartridges........the world does not revolve around stiff and splashy sounding MC's only.....
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Exactly. There's choices. MC is not for everyone. But I get why many like theirs. I need user replaceable styli, and a wide variety of options. We enjoy what we like. I am better served by Ortofon OM Concordes and OM line than most anything else today. Though I also use other cartridges.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Exactly. There's choices. MC is not for everyone. But I get why many like theirs. I need user replaceable styli, and a wide variety of options. We enjoy what we like. I am better served by Ortofon OM Concordes and OM line than most anything else today. Though I also use other cartridges.
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Once I installed Rega Ania MC on a lowly Sansui SR-B200 (but vibrationally decoupled, both plinth and cartridge) and it sounded fine, not that different from Rega P6. With some tweaking most turntables can be made to perform much better than generally accepted as possible.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Ortofon I trust over most other companies. They engineer their cartridges well, the suspension and cantilever, and the diamonds are mounted by Ortofon. I find their cartridge range the best and most comprehensive, and support excellent. They stand behind their work, if you don't clean their styli with liquids if there is a defect.
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The tour of the Ortofon plant indicated they only mount bonded styli, the others come from the vendor already mounted on the cantilever.
 
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