MM, MC, or MI cartridge

In some ways comparing MC and MM pickups is unfair. In general the top of the line MC pickups are way more costly than MM pickups.The question of which style is best is like a boxing match between a light weight and a heavy weight.

And then there are examples that don't fit the genral rules. I noticed that one writer said MCs have less moving mass than MMs. I suspect the decades old Technics EPC 100 MK4 MM has the least moving mass and you can find serious listeners who value it highly. And often the rare Decca pickups, not MC, are cited by people like Ken Kessler as the most dynamic pickups.

It's never straight forward. You need to know what kind of reproduction you like and look for a pickup that gives you that sound and whether it's a MM or MC should not be the deciding factor.

Oh and keep in mind that the phono stage you choose will have a big affect both on the sound and cost.

Yeah, and particular tubes in tube phono stage.

aewarren,

I have a Sutherland 20/20 phono preamp.
It’s equipped for the job.

+1 @dynamiclinearity 

Tonearm and phono preamp both make or break it with carts in general but lomc in particular...

@rauliruegas - I believe I have a very different understanding of compliance than you. Firstly, compliance as I understand it is largely measurement of vertical suspension. I have several low compliance mono cartridges and I am accustom to dealing with the math there. The advantages offered by MC’s are because of the lower mass on the end of the cantilever. Mass affects all movement and with stereo cartridges, reading information at a 45 degree angle so to speak, this matters Tracking is a test associated with resonant requencied. You could use tracking to verify basic setup, but I don’t think the makeup of MC ever claimed they track better than MM’s. The sudleties afforded by lower mass do not necessary reveal themselves in tracking tests. Tracking test and comparing the compliance of the cartridge against the mass of the arm and trying to force a bad resonance. Again, there are formulas to avoid this, but I do t believe it has anything to do with he benefits of MC’s. 
 

nobody has mentioned the bid drawback of MC’s. They are one and done. Most MM’s can, sometimes very easily, have their stylus replaced. This is because the magnet and pick up are separate. Finally, several carts (Grado / Soundsmith) produce MM near or some say better than their MC content parts.