MM carts

[Rensselaer]

Didn’t see it mentioned here so I will add another I feel is worth considering; the Nagaoka MP-50 (though that model has been replaced with new and improved Nagaoka MP-500, I have no experience with it to know if it improves on the sound of the 50 or not).

 

[PeterA]

I now have this Technics moving magnet cartridge on my table as well as a Colibrí GC “Elite” moving coil. They are both excellent. There is a rightness to the moving magnet with great balance and weight. The moving coil adds just a little bit more resolution and perhaps a bit of dynamics but it’s close. The price difference is significant.

 

[Fishfood]

I went through a multi year Decca phase. Ended up with a Super Gold with a Paratrace stylus. It was heaven but finicky. Maybe a little bass shy, but I'm sure that was the arm match which is tricky. If you've got the patience, a Decca is pretty incredible for not a huge buy in.

 

[Don_Camillo]

I now have this Technics moving magnet cartridge on my table as well as a Colibrí GC “Elite” moving coil. They are both excellent. There is a rightness to the moving magnet with great balance and weight. The moving coil adds just a little bit more resolution and perhaps a bit of dynamics but it’s close. The price difference is significant.

View attachment 94570

That´s a really nice tracker when loaded with 283 pF and 15k Ohm

 

[Don_Camillo]

There are quite a few vintage MM cartridges I would recommend someone to check out on eBay or HiFiDo or Japan Yahoo....

• Empire 4000D/III Gold
• Signet TK-7SU
• Signet MR5.0Lc
• Signet TK-7LCa
• Shure V15/Type III
• Acutex LPM420-STR
• Garrott Brothers P77/SAS
• Victor X-1IIE MM Cartridge
• Victor Z1/SAS

All of these will give sound quality as fine as (or better IMO) than many of the uber-priced LOMC cartridges available today.

There are quite some more vintage MM and MI that are worth a look but all need appropriate loading in order to be operated with a linear frequency response

- Acutex M312 III STR -> 150 pF total capacity, 24k Ohm loading resistor



- Grace F-8L 10´->145 pF total capacity, 21k Ohm loading resistor


- SONY XL-45A -> 140 pF total capacity, 21,49k Ohm loading resistor


- Audio Technica AT-155LC -> 100pF total capacity, 24,54k Ohm loading resistor