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Moving coil VS moving magnet/iron

I have an interchangeable  Nagaoka MP500 and a Goldring 2500 on an SME3009R, mounted on a Linn Sondek LP12. These drive a Schiit Mani, Cambridge Azur 651P or a Project S2 Ultra as phono preamps. They all sound very good to my ears.

Is it really worth getting a Moving COIL cartridge AROUND THE SAME PRICE RANGE ? I was thinking some of the Audio Technicas like OC9III and the like. The prices of these are about the same. I listen almost exclusively to smooth jazz (hardly any vocals) and am mostly looking for very tight punchy bass.

Opinions ?

Thanks

128x128cakyol
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Moving coils have a much lower noise floor (especially when used with a transformer). And superior (faster) transients (far lower inductance). The coil mass is also insignificant in the low-output versions. 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Regarding stylus "jitter": this does not exist! Mc cartridges have a rubber damping block at the opposite end of the cantilever. This takes care of vibrations traveling up the cantilever - so no vibrations reflected back down the cantilever! 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Doesn’t that overlook the “stylus jitter” produced by unwanted seismic type vibration of the platter? 😳
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
SoundSmith is in the business of selling MI cartridges. So concocting a "theory" about cartridge physics is an attempt to gain an advertising edge to entice the unwary! At least Joe Grado never went for this sort of thing - and he was building and selling MI cartridges long before SoundSmith.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Naturally a mat that is "dead" and well-damped is a wise choice! I am presently using the Hiraoka Diskmat SE-22 (thick rubber with embedded metal weights) on one TT. And a 3mm magnesium 12" disc (very dead!) on another TT.
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