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Any truth to my feeling that MM carts are possibly better than MC on rock recordings?

I have an Ortofon Red on a Project Debut Carbon and a EAT C Sharp with an MC Ortofon Quintet Black. I have two systems and I've switched the tables between the systems and tried a few different scenarios and I hear a little more punch with the Ortofon Red. I know all things aren't equal here but I'm trying to explain this somehow. One system is Dynaudio Evidence Temptations with JC 1 Monos and JC 2BP Pre. PS Audio Stellar phono or a little Project MM phono. The other system is PrimaLuna 400 Evo Integrated with same phono stages and Salk Sound 3 speakers. The Project and Ortofon Red sound great to my ears. More punch and solidity of sound.
128x128bubba12
lewm
13,110 posts
 
+1
bubba12's avatar
bubba12 OP
440 posts
 
Thanks for the great responses. I have some cartridges to look at. 
audiocus's avatar
audiocus
13 posts
 
I have six different carts that I can switch around and two arms to put them on. Half are MM and the others are MC. I would think, it all depends on your combo of arm, cart and sut set up. I'm running two MC cartridges right now and I'm not thinking of changing that in the near future. I do run a second smaller audio system with a more modest turntable arm combo, and I must admit, it sounds better with a MM cart. A MC on that system, sound a bit anemic. Not much presence. The MM has a much better base and warmth on that set up. That cart is  Audio-Technica AT95E   
billstevenson
361 posts
 
There are trade-offs of course.  I have both MM and MC and go back and forth all the time.  If your really want to know the truth, though, both are easily eclipsed by MI.  Try to listen to either a SoundSmith or a Grado or if you can find one a NOS Bang & Olufson and the truth will be revealed.
aberyclark
1,355 posts
 
I only have two MM cartridges. I'm not certain going MC would give me any sonic benefit unless I go quite a bit higher in price range than my MM's. I thought of trying a standard Denon 103 just to see what I hear.
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