What should I expect moving from MM to MC?


I understand it depends on the setup, so I'll start here. I'm starting small (in my quest for music Nirvana!):

  • Denon PMA-600NE (70W, dedicated analog wiring, also a "source direct" feature that by passes the bass/treble/balance circuitry)
  • Klipsch RP-500M bookshelves
  • Klipsch 12" Sub
  • Mofi Studiodeck turntable

 

I was considering moving from my Sumiko Olympia MM cartridge to the Sumiko Blue Point No.3 MC Hi. 

 

Nothing but praise for the Blue Point in all reviews. But will I noticeably hear a clearer, fuller, warmer sound? Or is it a waste on money, focus elsewhere.

Thanks in advance!

 

mucker

Lots of useful information here mucker. Having had 50 years of experience playing vinyl with turntables and cartridges of all types since the 1960s I can say this:

#1 Moving Coil cartridges have clear advantages over moving magnets if you can buck up to pay for the good ones. On a limited budget, you likely might have better sound from a higher end moving magnet or moving iron cartridge than a lower end moving coil.

#2 The phono stage upgrade is likely to give you a very worthwhile improvement in sound for a relatively small outlay, even with your currrent cartidges.

#3 The best moving coil cartridges are generally lower output. When you get into those cartridges, set up and impedance loading are important and you need a much better phono preamp to allow you to do this.

#4 In my experience different Cartridges Brands have different house sounds and sonic signatures and you need to read reviews to get a sense of where to go with that. For example, with low output moving coils, the Lyra brand tend towards clear, and a bit analytical. Koetsu and Benz, tends to sound a bit warmer and more forgiving. In general though, most moving magnets tend towards a warmer sound. Going up the Sumiko like you will get more clarity for sure but not necessarily more warmth.

#5 Lots of people buy a cartridge only to find the cartridge is not what they expected or wanted from a sonic profile point of view, wait until they break in ( 50-100 hours) and when they don’t change enough to their liking, list them for sale. Consider buying a lightly used cartridge....if it doesn’t live up to your expectations you can sell it for what you paid for it.

#6 With added detail and clarity from moving coils, flaws in vinyl are often more apparent as well. So best if your record collection is in very good condition.

Zarzu, you say MC cartridges are”faster” because they have lower moving mass with the “same suspension “. Yes, MC cartridges tend to have less moving mass compared to MM cartridges, but no, the suspensions are not the same.  MM cartridges tend to have much higher compliance than a typical MC. That high compliance should enable an MM to better navigate the groove undulations. And if low moving mass is your god, then you ought to be using an MI type; MIs have the very lowest moving mass possible. My point is not to defend MM cartridges but to call attention to the fact that the best test for comparing cartridges is a listening test. If you have an open mind, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find you don’t have to spend $10,000 on a LOMC cartridge  to achieve your own Nirvana. And these empirical arguments audiophiles make without actual supporting data are sometimes hogwash.

to my ears, the Blue Point  seemed too bright....could have been the system.

Analog LP is a pain.  I advise you spend equal amounts on your phono preamp and cartridge as your TT.  Used market cut that in half.  MC LO vs HO MC the LO Output will pick up more Suttle details such as string vibration and tones in wood instruments sound right. HO is not a bad either. HO Chamber echos sound good and the recording should sound as intended with less noise pickup.  Price usually dictates quality.  As far as jump from MM to MC I would probably say price is more important across the entire chain.   Everything matters and you need to learn a lot have fun.  Its best to learn setup and what is going on yourself.  My Analog was less quality then Tube DAQ.  But after learning applying and just keep working with what I have now Analog is better.   Things may take longer then you think.  Its always good to notice quality within the few hours things sound good then it may take months to finally realize what the capabilities are.

+1 for what @alvinnir2 has written.

The way I would put it is that the movement to a MC cartridge would be expected to give you more of what we used to call low level information. That translates principally to things not available in the specification of a cartridge. The include space, instrumental articulation, & solidity or roundness of the instrumental sound. These things all contribute to the sense of being there in the recording. That would be the good news.

The not so good news IMO is that a high output MC is not likely to provide these benefits because the stylus, like that in MM cartridges, is just carrying too much weight at the other end. Also, you might also have to invest more in the rest of your system to fully appreciate these improvements.

I pay very little attention to reviews. They are just there to sell. Consensus opinions of actual purchasers, as fond in places like this have never failed me. It takes a bit longer to figure out but it pays in the long run. Not like the quick fix of a review.