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Does it improve the sound of a MM or MI cartridge by playing it through a phono stage?

I've been hearing about these old inexpensive Japanese cartridges getting rave reviews and I was wondering if they sound better if played through a phono stage as MCs do. Of course this would be at the standard 47K ohms load.

I have an Acutex LPM 412STR with the original and replacement stylus and would like to know how it would sound best. It was inexpensive (a long time ago), but might be an interim option if I have to get my regular cartridge serviced. I upgraded it about 9 years ago to a Van den hul One Special and thought the VDH was much better sounding with a Rega P5 played through the phono section of a Plinius 8200MKII integrated amp. Since then, I purchased a Sutherland Insight phono stage that has settings for the VDH (200 ohms) and a 47K ohm load for the Acutex, along with 3 or 4 others.
sokogear
sokogear OP
1,096 posts
 
I am talking about the phono stage built into the Plinius. Would the Sutherland at 47K ohms sound any better than the Plinius' phono stage? Does it matter if it is a MC or MM/MI cartridge?
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Not sure about your question...

You can use High Output MC cartridge with MM phono stage.

You can also use low impedance (very low output) MM/MI with MC phono stage or headamp or even SUT.

But you can’t use conventional MM/MI with MC phono stage because of too much gain. MM or MI can be 1.5 mV or even 9mV and MC phono stage is overkill.

Almost any MM cartridge can be loaded from 30k Ohm to 100k Ohm. Modern 47k Ohm input for MM is dogmatic, manufacturers in the 70’s/80s recommended 50-100k Ohm.

The best phono stage for MM is the one with optional loading (at least 50k Ohm and 100k Ohm). 




yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,699 posts
 
The Insight can be used with MC or MM. Give it a try and see if it sounds better than the Plinius. You have nothing to lose giving it a try!
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,497 posts
 
"Does it matter if it is a MC or MM/MI cartridge?"

Yes it does matter a lot! The Phono pre amp is the gateway to great vinyl sound. And of course they all sound quite different. $1200 dollar solid state preamps are great and $2500 tube preamps are even better and so on. Its all relative to your system and budget. I would use the "somewhere between the cost of cartridge and turntable lies the sweet spot for a Phono pre amp". IMHO of course.


Matt M




sokogear OP
1,096 posts
 
I just thought that since the Plinius regular output setting is 47K (I would think), and it has a high output position as well that I used in the past for the Van den hul.  

"Regular" I thought would be like a phono option on a typical receiver (I know that word is blasphemous here) the other is a higher output, but not sure of the load.

Will the Sutherland's 47K ohm setting sound similar? I guess if/when the situation arises I can try both. I just don't like opening up these boxes and fiddling around. Both are internal - Plinius I believe is a dip switch and the Sutherland has things that have to be removed and reinserted.
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