Cartridge Loading for a phono pre amp

@rauliruegas

Sorry for the late reply, I’ve been busy with my accountant try to file tax return by next Monday.

I did the Hi-Fi News resonance test on a Denon DL-103 and set the loading at 100Ω and 47kΩ, seems like both loadings unsusceptible to the resonant frequency.

Although theoretically loading will affect the compliance of the cartridge, and 100Ω loading made the cartridge work 470 times harder than 47kΩ loading. But since the coil resistance is much lower than the loading resistance, I think the effect on the cantilever stiffness is insignificant. Therefore the test result show no difference, IMO.

Since RFI is not the music contents, so apply a correct amount of resistive load to damp the unwanted RFI is not an bad idea after all. Again, IMO.

@imhififan So sonically was the difference between 100 ohms and 47k readily apparent?

I put in a new stage a couple of weeks ago, and it arrived with a 1260 ohm loading and a SUT in-line. It was not a great sound... but I was excited.

So I pull it off the shelf, and opened it up to go to 47k for a MM cart with dip switched for no SUT.

And the sound came good.

@holmz 

I always prefer phono stage featured user select-able loading option, so the user can choose their preference.

@holmz 

I always prefer phono stage featured user select-able loading option, so the user can choose their preference.

And did you choose 100 ohms, 47 kph, or something in between?

As previously asked…:

So sonically was the difference between 100 ohms and 47k readily apparent?