MM, MC, or MI cartridge

Dear @zazouswing  : Cartridge compliance takes in count all what is part of the cantilever/stylus movements for the better or that " impedes " freely movements and compliance in a cartridge is measured in static and dynamic way and vertical and horizontal one.

In the past the cartridge specs showed the vertical/horizontal compliance that normally were even.

Resonance is associated with cartridge compliance, cartridge weigth and tonearm effective mass but does not determines the inherent self cartridge habilities and I posted : " every thing the same, that means a well match between cartridge/tonearm combination.

I have a lot of LP MUSIC recordings that I use as tracking tests between them the Telarc 1812, RR Dafos and dozens more and obviously some with piano scores that as @lewm point out sometimes makes tracking really a chalenge that several LOMC can't handled with applomb.

What could be the most critical an important characteristic/issue in analog reproduction? for me the name is transient response that's what defines any single part of any " instrument color " as a whole and the overall score recorded and LOMC cartridges are faster than the other cartridge designs and for me that's why are better the LOMC: better transient response, it's suddenly/fast and this affects the time decay of the sound that affects all what we are listening.

The attack of musical notes is essencial and Orchestra Directors know very well in what they are looking through the interpretation of the whole orchestra players.

I respect your opinion and here is mine again. Remember that the transduced cartridges movements in a LOMC the signal path is way shorter that with the other designs. Of course that are other issues to take in count but are not what we are talking about. The OP said: briefly explanation and yes sometimes is not easy to be brief about.

R.

R.

Having 134 vintage cartridges and having bought/tried/sold 5 MC carts, there are points not mentioned, and poorly explained in this thread.

MC carts do NOT have the edge in detail or lower moving mass. And while MM and MI carts work identically, there are some major differences; these are not explained in this thread.

I’ve had 2 Dynavectors, an AT and an Ortofon MC. If your previous MM/MI carts were average, then MC wins. But I have more than several really good MI carts, and 2 Micro Acoustics carts that trounce the MCs. And….Low compliance MCs ruin  any mass advantage they might have. They are low compliance because the MC designers can’t overcome the coil wire problems with high compliance suspensions. Rob Peter to pay Paul. Make a stiff suspension to hide the coil wire compliance issues.

Micro Acoustics cartridges give you the best of all worlds; high compliance, very low mass, immunity from loading, very high detail/texture, and flat FR.

MI is a subset of MM. But there is a major difference no one talks about, because most don’t know how MM and MI work. Problem with an MM is that the magnet has a N and a S pole; the magnet has to be long enough to ONLY present 1 magnet pole to the coil poles. A short magnet will present both N and S poles in the coil pole gap, causing distortion from simultaneous - and + voltage swings. This makes for a heavy mass on the cantilever even when using rare earth magnets. 
 

MI cartridges are different from MM in one very important aspect: Mono-pole magnet. Only ONE magnet pole (N or S) is induced into the hollow and very light iron armature. So the vibrating armature in the coil pole gap only has a single magnetic charge. The armature is very effectively an extension of only 1pole of the permanent magnet. This produces a pure music sine wave in the coils; it’s that clean and effortless sound well-made MI carts are known for.

I have several MI carts, and the Micro Acoustics carts that leave the $5,000 Dynavector carts wanting. And the AT and Ortofon MC carts.

@wolfie62 : a mono pole magnet does not exist! If you could invent one you could qualify for the Nobel Prize for Physics!

I don't think this piont has been made yet but there's also the consideration the stylus cannot be replaced on a MC cartridge.  Damage the stylus and you're buying a whole new cartridge.  I know it's only money..................🤣

OP asked about “sonics”.