Testing a MC phono cartridge


Is there a method  to test a phono cartridge without mounting it in an existting phono set up? I have a new  Kiseki Purple Heart that may have lost one channel in transportation. Can it be tested in any other way than playing it?

dbakker

I have a new Kiseki Purple Heart that may have lost one channel in transportation.

How do you know it lost one channel without playing it? Best way to test is swap the leads from one channel to other and play it for testing, if the dead channel follow the swap you know there’s a dead channel.

If you want to use an ohmmeter for testing continuity, better add a 100kΩ resistor in series to prevent damage to the coil of a low output mc cart!

 

Have you actually done this with an MC, which one and did it survive? That coil wire is very thin and doesn’t have to deal with more than half a mV in normal use. I’d rather try it on something that’s junk anyway before chancing a possibly good cartridge.

@yeti42

Many moons ago a technician tested my Dynavector 23RS using an ohmmeter. And yes it did survive. He most likely used a 100K resistor like @imhififan recommended!