Moving magnet carts , can they -

[Hopeful]

Sound as good as moving coil carts ? .

I'm starting to wonder if moving coils are worth the faff . Has anyone gone from a moving coil to a decent moving magnet ( 2M black , Nag 500 , VM760 ect ) and been happy ? .

Tell me about your experience and see if you can help me with a Christmas present to myself .

[struth]

much depends on sound you like, type of stage/sut etc and types of music, so it can be difficult to be clearcut.
I used an mc for quite a while but im back on mm's. they suit me better. even my shure m55e(original) is to me, better than the mc's ive had or mostly heard, bu its a particular sound others might not like so much. My B&O sp1 is superb cart as well

[topoxforddoc]

Philip,

If you have a few minutes spare, you can read Rauliregas' thread on Audiogon (over 20 million reads). It's all in there

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussio...hen-we-have-mc

I have a few of the cartridges mentioned eg Garrott P77i, Ortofon M20FL and AKG P8ES. They all sound pretty good.

Charlie

[Flo]

Excellent article , that’s what I call thorough. I’ve had 4 of those mentioned, fave was Reson Reca, ( curious to hear again) still use a nag mp500.
I remember when mc were considered strange Japanese exotica.

[Slawts]

Had the Len Gregory Musicmaker moving iron for a few years and enjoyed it but with an Ortofon Jubilee and a Koetsu Black it's MC all the way for me.

[YNWaN]

The answer, for me, is ultimately no. However, I think the low output variants of all the MC cartridges I have heard (where there is a low and higher output version) have significantly outperformed their higher output versions.

[graham67]

IME, it is easier to get an MM sounding good, (usually all it involves is a generic 47k loading and 100pf capacitance).

Getting the best from an MC cart can take a lot more effort (particularly where it involves a SUT or headamp). A decent MM cart will often outperform a similarly priced MC using a switchable MM/MC stage, particularly when it comes to rhythm and timing. What you gain in detail is often at the expense of that elusive musicality. I am not saying that MC carts are less musical, rather it can be harder to obtain that sweet spot where it all comes together.

It has taken a lot of time to get the best out of my MC carts. Worth it? Yes but dont expect to pop on an MC and necessarily achieve audio nirvana, it might take a bit of tweaking (and box changes) to achieve it!

I note you mention the AT VM760, one step up from my fave MM the AT150Sa (all but identical to the VM750). This is an excellent MM and will give plenty of mid range MC carts stiff competition. Used into a reasonable valve MM phono stage, you will get a high quality sound that will require more cash if you want to better using an MC cart.

[YNWaN]

I agree with all of Graham’s comments.

[antonio]

I have to say I will never go back to a MM, been using MC for 30 more years and I'd guess I could not do without the extra refinement.

[Mike Reed]

....but with an Ortofon Jubilee and a Koetsu Black it's MC all the way for me.

Wow; talk about chalk and cheese. In output, robust sound, and sheer musical pleasure (i.m.o., of course).