Which of these 2 cartridges would be best suited for my Philips GA-312 tonearm (specs inside)?

[Fraga500]

Hello everyone,

There has been some topics on these forums already regarding what good new cartridges would be suited for the Philips GA-312. Judging by what has been said online regarding this, the tonearm for the GA-312 is known to be very light (ie low mass), which would indicate it pairs best with cartridges with high/very high compliance.

HOWEVER, I have come across the manual for the turntable, which is in Portuguese (my native language), and that states that the "massa de movimentação efetiva" - which, in a free translation, would mean something like "effective movement mass" - is around 18 grams. My question is: does this "effective movement mass" refer to the tonearm effective mass? It would be my (uneducated) guess that they are the same thing, but who knows... (one curious thing is that the manual is also in Spanish and English, but none of these 2 other languages contain the 18 gram spec under the specifications list).

I am saying all of this because I have to choose between an Audio Technica VM95ML or a VM540ML, and I have read that depending on my tonearm mass, the more appropriate option would change, because of compliance settings. And if the effective tonearm mass is indeed 18 grams, this would indicate the tonearm is not as light as people mention, being considered a "medium-mass" tonearm.

Any inputs are deeply appreciated!

Cheers

 

[Blue Shadow]

My question is: does this "effective movement mass" refer to the tonearm effective mass?

If it does it is not the correct number.

The provided cartridges mentioned in the OM have compliance of 20 cu and this matches well with a lower mass arm than 18 gams. Way lower.

Can you provide the section of the manual that has the information? Maybe there is some more information that would help determine the what the technical translation would be.

Audio Technica VM95ML or a VM540ML

These two have similar compliance. 10 at 100Hz which is maybe 14-18 at the standard 10Hz that is used for the resonance frequency calculators.

And if the effective tonearm mass is indeed 18 grams,

It is not. Decades of experience show this tonearm to be a low mass arm with adjustable mass (moving the tracking force weight forward increases the mass...use a scale to maintain proper tracking force by adjusting the counterweight.

 

[Fraga500]

If it does it is not the correct number.

The provided cartridges mentioned in the OM have compliance of 20 cu and this matches well with a lower mass arm than 18 gams. Way lower.

Can you provide the section of the manual that has the information? Maybe there is some more information that would help determine the what the technical translation would be.


These two have similar compliance. 10 at 100Hz which is maybe 14-18 at the standard 10Hz that is used for the resonance frequency calculators.


It is not. Decades of experience show this tonearm to be a low mass arm with adjustable mass (moving the tracking force weight forward increases the mass...use a scale to maintain proper tracking force by adjusting the counterweight.

Thank you so much for the quick reply! Here is a screenshot of the manual page which refers to the specs (in Portuguese):


So, based on your knowledge for this tonearm, would both these cartridges end up being a good match?

 

[Blue Shadow]

It appears that both will be ok in that arm.

 

[flavio81]

Hello everyone,

There has been some topics on these forums already regarding what good new cartridges would be suited for the Philips GA-312. Judging by what has been said online regarding this, the tonearm for the GA-312 is known to be very light (ie low mass), which would indicate it pairs best with cartridges with high/very high compliance.

Hi Fraga,

I happen to understand Spanish and Portuguese as well. Yes, effective MOVING mass is quoted as 18g and, by looking at the GA-312, it's highly likely that they are including the cartridge weight into this calculation. Because by itself this tonearm probably has less than 12g, this is a light (and short) tonearm.

I advise you not to worry about these figures and just try an AT-VM95C. It is very cheap and matches OK with many tonearms. And it sounds very nice!

Later if you can source a Philips 401 or 4XX cartridge with its ORIGINAL stylus, it would be a perfect match and is a very good sounding cartridge.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

Had an AT VM540ML on a SME 3009 Improved II tonearm with 7 gram arm mass. Sounded nice! I would get the VM530EN cartridge with elliptical stylus for your Philips turntable. The 540ML with it's Microline stylus needs precise VTA adjustment. Would only recommend for tonearm with adjustable VTA. With wrong VTA the Microline stylus sounds bright and edgy sounding! Elliptical less forgiving.

 

[Blue Shadow]

That makes sense since the tt was frequently sold with a Philips GP 400 or 401 which weigh 7 grams and add some for the hardware and you get a 10gram effective mass tonearm which is plausible.

 

[flavio81]

Had an AT VM540ML on a SME 3009 Improved II tonearm with 7 gram arm mass. Sounded nice! I would get the VM530EN cartridge with elliptical stylus for your Philips turntable. The 540ML with it's Microline stylus needs precise VTA adjustment. Would only recommend for tonearm with adjustable VTA. With wrong VTA the Microline stylus sounds bright and edgy sounding! Elliptical less forgiving.

I would like to point here that if you are getting "bright and edgy" from the VM540ML , it is most likely due to too high capacitance / too high input impedance.

The whole VM5xx is much more sensitive to cable/preamp capacitance than the VM95 series. I even had the same problem with the old AT120E (which uses almost the same generator inside)

 

[krautmaster]

I would like to point here that if you are getting "bright and edgy" from the VM540ML , it is most likely due to too high capacitance / too high input impedance.

The whole VM5xx is much more sensitive to cable/preamp capacitance than the VM95 series. I even had the same problem with the old AT120E (which uses almost the same generator inside)

I have a Rega /SRM Tech Azure table (Rega RB330 arm) with an AT-VM740ML cart and have used 2mm, 3mm, and 3.5mm spacers under it and really could not tell the difference. The 740ML is 3.3mm taller than the Rega Exact 2 that it replaced- I ended up leaving the 3mm shim in place as it proved to be the most level with the platter. The best improvement in the sound quality occured when I had the Incognito Re-Wire Kit added - One piece of Cardas/Litz wire from cartridge clip to the RCA plug at the end- it lowered the capacitance considerably (12pF per foot) and the 740ML sounds wonderful for it.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

I would like to point here that if you are getting "bright and edgy" from the VM540ML , it is most likely due to too high capacitance / too high input impedance.

The whole VM5xx is much more sensitive to cable/preamp capacitance than the VM95 series. I even had the same problem with the old AT120E (which uses almost the same generator inside)

No, the VM series is less sensitive to cable / preamp capacitance from the previous series it replaced. VTA is very important for the Microline stylus.

 

[krautmaster]

No, the VM series is less sensitive to cable / preamp capacitance from the previous series it replaced. VTA is very important for the Microline stylus.

Not quite my experience exactly- I tried several spacers of differing thickness and the only audible difference was when no spacer was used and the cart sat ever so slightly tail down. Once I put a 2mm spacer in the sound got a little brighter, but using 2.5, 3, and 3.5mm spacers made no further differnce in sound. When I got the Incognito rewire kit the capacitance dropped way down into the upper area Audio Technica specifies (100-200pF) and the brightness disappeared. I think they are susceptable to both VTA and capacitance.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

Not quite my experience exactly- I tried several spacers of differing thickness and the only audible difference was when no spacer was used and the cart sat ever so slightly tail down. Once I put a 2mm spacer in the sound got a little brighter, but using 2.5, 3, and 3.5mm spacers made no further differnce in sound. When I got the Incognito rewire kit the capacitance dropped way down into the upper area Audio Technica specifies (100-200pF) and the brightness disappeared. I think they are susceptable to both VTA and capacitance.

Have both the AT-440MLa & VM540ML. VM540ML better overall balanced sound. Using the same turntable, tonearm, cables, & amp. My NAD 3140 has three capacitance settngs, 100, 200 & 300. The 440MLa is more affected by the different settings, 540ML not so much.

 

[krautmaster]

Have both the AT-440MLa & VM540ML. VM540ML better overall balanced sound. Using the same turntable, tonearm, cables, & amp. My NAD 3140 has three capacitance settngs, 100, 200 & 300. The 440MLa is more affected by the different settings, 540ML not so much.

The 540/740 are pretty sweet sounding carts, and their price is very reasonable IMO... I'm going to get a 540 to put on my Rega Planar 3 50th anniv edition, the Exact 2 that came on it is a pretty poor cart, especially for the price they sell them for ($675).

 

[Ilikevinyl]

The 540/740 are pretty sweet sounding carts, and their price is very reasonable IMO... I'm going to get a 540 to put on my Rega Planar 3 50th anniv edition, the Exact 2 that came on it is a pretty poor cart, especially for the price they sell them for ($675).

There are some who have or heard both 540 & 740, they prefer the 540 over 740. To them the 740 is a tad brighter sounding with it's metal body. Find the 540 to be a tiny bit smoother sounding. I think the 540 is the best bang for the buck in the entire AT lineup. Will be a nice cartridge for your Rega.

 

[flavio81]

No, the VM series is less sensitive to cable / preamp capacitance from the previous series it replaced. VTA is very important for the Microline stylus.

See the message by @krautmaster above.

The VM5XX series and the VM95 series are entirely different bodies with entirely different internal inductance and the latter is less sensitive to capacitance, the former not.
The AT440 was more sensitive to cable capacitance? Yes. The AT440MLa improved this a little bit? Yes. The VM5XX series improved as well? Yes. But it is still way more sensitive to capacitance than the VM95 series.

As for the VTA importance, it might be important but the cable capacitance (and preamp capacitance) will grossly skew the frequency response towards brigthness and this can be proven by simple simulation.

 

[flavio81]

@Ilikevinyl note that i'm not against VTA adjiustment, quite the opposite I prefer tonearms that allow easy VTA adjustment and I do suffer with that thing on my RB330 tonearm which uses the damn shims.

However my only point is that with some cartridges, if you have a too long cable or a preamp that ADDS capacitance (sadly many do!), then it will do horrible things to the frequency response on those cartridges.

If you can't reduce the cable length and/or change preamp, a fix is to add a parallel resistor to the cable connecftor, to put an example you can use a 50K resistor to simulate an input impedance of about 25Kohms. This will reduce the brightness. All in all you would need to experiment.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

@Ilikevinyl note that i'm not against VTA adjiustment, quite the opposite I prefer tonearms that allow easy VTA adjustment and I do suffer with that thing on my RB330 tonearm which uses the damn shims.

However my only point is that with some cartridges, if you have a too long cable or a preamp that ADDS capacitance (sadly many do!), then it will do horrible things to the frequency response on those cartridges.

If you can't reduce the cable length and/or change preamp, a fix is to add a parallel resistor to the cable connecftor, to put an example you can use a 50K resistor to simulate an input impedance of about 25Kohms. This will reduce the brightness. All in all you would need to experiment.

Micrometer VTA Adjuster is fantastic at getting the VTA precise. Glad I bought it for my Jelco tonearm. Does make a difference in sound with precise VTA.

 

[flavio81]

View attachment 3020221

Micrometer VTA Adjuster is fantastic at getting the VTA precise. Glad I bought it for my Jelco tonearm. Does make a difference in sound with precise VTA.

I had the opportunity to buy one of those Jelcos but at the end I chose the RB330 instead.

I saw that micrometer VTA, looks really fancy.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

I had the opportunity to buy one of those Jelcos but at the end I chose the RB330 instead.

I saw that micrometer VTA, looks really fancy.

I really like switching out headshells (cartridges), with Jelco arm. Was using a SME 3009 Improved II with non-removable headshell. With removable headshells you can custom match cartridge compliance with different headshell mass.

If you want to upgrade your Rega arm, you can get an Audiomods tonearm with Micrometer VTA! Has same mounting specs as Rega, so it's an easy drop-in replacement.

 

[krautmaster]

I had the opportunity to buy one of those Jelcos but at the end I chose the RB330 instead.

I saw that micrometer VTA, looks really fancy.

I bought a package of Acoustic Signature shims which are two piece, all you have to do is loosen the screws and put in whatever thickness of shim you want, no more removing the entire arm...

Acoustic Signature Rega Spacer Set

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