Cartridge Loading- Low output M/C

To me I have always viewed with LOMC "100 ohms gets you a nice sound and 47K ohms gets you a very open nice sound". Then everything in between, but all this has many depending factors that are outlined in several posts @wynpalmer4 as its so true that most of the differences in sound we hear is due to the differences in phono stage design, topology. I think most if not all distortion we hear from increasing value of phono stage input R load is intermodulation created by the phono stage, not the cartridge. I think this varies also due to the circumstances, how sensitive the phono stage is to RF energy and such and don't forget about how the whole cable/wire chain affects too (cartridge wiring, tonearm wiring and phono cable to amp) maybe HF sensitivity of the phono stage.

I think it is clear, that all phono stages react differently based on topology and what the designer did, just too many variables to have the "correct setting", I think you just want a phono stage that will be stable within a given range and maybe the designer can advise if there is such a range they were thinking of.

I hate when a reviewer does not advise what settings they are using when reviewing a phono stage, because this could dictate the sound character they are hearing and whether they give a favorable review or not....I actually believe most are not listening to a phono stage that has been properly setup. Not all LOMC carts sound best at 100 ohms......Variety is the spice of life!!

Cheers

While rules of thumb often get hit with a hammer, I’ll offer two that work for me:

1. Start loading at 25 x DCR (or internal resistance, 5 ohms for the Bronze), then raise or lower (usually lower) to taste.
2. Always listen to almarg.
Best,Bill

Dear @catcher10: "  Not all LOMC carts sound best at 100 ohms......", as you said depends on phono stage but as a fact depends on the whole system/room.

Normally at 100 ohms has to sound good. Now if we want the penultimate loading for a specific cartridge this is almost imposible. 

During my tests I tested 3 cartridges and all performs in the way I posted with 47k.
As a fact and at least in my system I'm not bother any more for that " wrong " 47K loading with LOMC ones. But that's me.

R.

@rauliruegas 
Well, if you have done all the listening tests and have settled at 47K ohms within your system then carry on. At the end of the day its about what your ears tell you and quite possibly your room.

What I think most of us are saying is, depending on your phono stage will depend on what you settle on if you have adjust-ability, don't settle with 100 ohms just because it is close to 10x the internal, which is what you read over and over.

Figure out your cable capacitance and then get with your cart mfg and find out how they built the cart and what suggestions they have on loading. Start there.......then adjust till your ears are satisfied. My route was to use the mathematical process based on how Lyra designed the Delos. Sure I played with loading quite a lot, but the math version clearly gave me the highest level of resolution and dynamics.

Cheers,

Bill (Wrm57), thank you kindly :-)

Best regards,
-- Al