Moving Coil Cartridge loading
I’m currently using a Nagaoka MP110 on my 2016 Rega Planar 3, the output is then fed to a Schiit Mani phono stage, the combination considering the relatively modest cost gives a pretty decent sound quality. Having been a previous user, over a period of 30+ years, of moving coil cartridges I am hankering after getting another. The Mani has gain settings to accommodate MM and MC cartridges but I’m a little concerned over MC compatibility as the input impedance on the MC input is only 47ohms, considerably lower than the norm used by other manufacturers of 100-200ohms. From what I’ve read online the load impedance for a good match should be 10-20x the cartridges coil impedance, as most MCs coil impedance is around 10-12ohms 47ohms is too low, enough to mess up the frequency response at HF making for a sharp or brittle sound. I emailed Schiit with my concerns and tbh they could not give me any constructive help at all particularly when I asked why they set the value so low. If I get a moving coil I do not want to change the phono stage again. What I really want to know, is it possible to add some extra impedance to the preamp without going into the preamp circuitry. I remember some time ago seeing some loading plugs but I think they were to add capacitance loading not impedance, is there anything similar to add impedance ?
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Moving Coil Cartridge loading
I’m looking at the Audio Technica ATF2 or ATF7, AT state a minimum of 100ohms input impedance in their spec sheet. According to some articles I’ve read online the low impedance does cause a droop in upper mid to lower treble but then a large rise at HF causing a sharp or brittle sound.
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Moving Coil Cartridge loading
Quote:
Originally Posted by
helma
You can't rise the impedance with plugs. So if your preamp has 47 ohms, that's the highest you can get without going inside. Plugs will only lower it.
I think 5x cart impedance is usually still fine, but going lower from that it starts to go downhill. But only way to really know for sure is to try, and some people seem to prefer the sound you get running the cartridge into "too low" impedance. At some point you start to loose output because more current is flowing through the cartridge and that will also affect it in other ways, IME soundstage starts to collapse among other things.
Sounds like I’m screwed then :-( Can’t understand why Schiit have to be different from Project, Cambridge Audio etc that all load at 100ohms. Even at 5x the coil impedance (12ohms) it’s still on the low side and the last thing I want is a droop in the mid treble.
Can’t really afford to spend £200 and it possibly be a waste just to try it and see if it works.
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