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Matching the cartridge to the phono stage

Hey Everyone, I am new to this so please be gentle :) 

I am in the process of buying an amp that has the phono stage in it with the following specs with 3 options for the cartridge type MM/MC-Low/MC-High:

Moving Magnet: 2.5mV / 47kΩ

Moving Coil:

MC-High-Output: 0.3mV / 100Ω

MC-Low--Output: 0.1mV / 40Ω

LINE 180 mV / 47 kΩ

 

Now I am thinking of buying the Hana SL cartridge with the following specs:

Hana SL specifications:

  • Output Level @ 1kHz: 0.5mV

  • Output Balance @ 1kHz: Less Than 1.5dB

  • Impedance @ 1 kHz: 30 Ohms

  • Suggested Load: 400 Ohms

  • Cartridge Weight: 5 Grams

 

The preamp MC-Low says:  MC-Low--Output: 0.1mV / 40Ω

The Hana SL cartridge: Output Level @ 1kHz: 0.5mV, Impedance @ 1 kHz: 30 Ohms and Suggested Load: 400 Ohms. 

 

How do these values match ? As far as I can see I don't have the same voltage 0.5mv on the cartridge and 0.3mv on the phono preamp. I also see that 40ohm vs 30ohm. The 400ohms figure is only mentioned on the cartridge. 

Can this cartridge be used successfully with this phono stage ?

Do I need to match these numbers ? Can someone help explain this whole thing to me. 

Thanks!

ajones82
ajones82 OP
20 posts
 

So much cool information here, I learned a ton. Thanks everyone. I think what I'm going to do is find a cartridge that fits my phono stage in the Luxman. I saw some people mention a match of Dynavector cartiridges, Benz, soundsmith. Some of them are expensive and I'm looking to find one for under 1K that sounds awesome. Maybe even Hana SH which matches better to the Luxman. I'm not going to do any modifications to the amp for sure, if I decide to do that then I'll just buy a separate phono stage instead. 

ajones82 OP
20 posts
 

What about Fixed Coil Carts ? Do you guys have experience with those versus Moving Coil ? 

 

https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/fixed-coil-vs-moving-coil-why-make-jump-different-technology

ajones82 OP
20 posts
 

I also just found more specs for the phono stage: 

S/N ratio:

PHONO (MM) : 91 dB or more (IHF-A correction, 5 mV input) 

PHONO (MC) : 75 dB or more (IHF-A correction, 0.5 mV input)

lewm
12,535 posts
 

You mentioned Benz and Soundsmith.  Many Benz LOMC cartridges have high-ish internal resistance, like the Hana SL (33 ohms).  So those are just as difficult to match with your phono stage as is the SL.  Soundsmith make some "Low Output Moving Iron" cartridges.  Those also would not be an ideal match for your phono stage, even though their internal resistance is typically only 10 ohms (see below).  If you must have a LOMC cartridge, stick with those that have a low-ish internal resistance.  Like less than 12 ohms, for example, AND a low inductance (that's why the Soundsmith LOMI cartridges need an input impedance of greater than 100 ohms; their inductance is much much higher than that of a typical LOMC.)

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,621 posts
 

As for your last point about how the preamp design deals with the RFI, isn't some level of variability in load resistance needed? The market for MC carts presents a lot of options, all of which have very different specs. Or am I not understanding your point?

The short answer is 'no'. People use the loading as a tone control with many preamps, on account of without it the preamp sounds bright. This is usually due to distortion as I mentioned prior. Get rid of the RFI and the distortion goes away.

So if your phono section is properly designed, you'll find the loading makes little difference. That remaining difference will be because the cantilever is less supple tracing the groove when the cartridge is loaded. The specs the cartridge manufacturer posts about compliance are usually when the cartridge is driving a 47KOhm load, not 100 Ohms or the like.

Put another way, if the phono section is properly designed its plug and play.

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