MC-MM-MI CARTRIDGES . DO YOU KNOW WHICH HAS BETTER QUALITY PERFORMANCE? REALLY?

@lewm

It would appear that Pindac is a devotee of the "new" sciences. If the Paradise identifies as a trans it is all encompassing.

The Paradise is a DIY phono that has a RIAA curve that has been jacked up in the bass ( "a slight enhancement in the lower frequency ranges" according to their website ). From what I can see it has a fixed 1600ohm MC input and you use loading resistors to adjust the load that the cartridge sees.

Clearly there appears to be some confusion in this thread about transconcuctance and transimpedance.

Transconductance converts voltage ( ex MC ) to current.

Transimpedance converts current ( ex MC ) to voltage.

So I assume ( I’m not a technical guru here ) that

For a transconductance phono they converting the MC voltage to current, followed by a current amplication stage to amplify the signal, and then I would assume coverting the amplified current back to voltage, since most domestic audio components assume a voltage gain device precedes them.

For a transimpedance phono, I would assume they convert the MC current to voltage at the input stage, and then amplify the signal using a voltage amplification stage.

Unfortunately many audio reviewers describe transimpedance phono stages as current gain phonos, which is not strictly accurate. Most are what I assume would be a combination of current input and voltage gain stages.

Of the transimpedance type personally I have listened to at length ( for some years ) to the Nibiru, BMC, Van den Hul Grail SE and a custom transimpedance head amp unit built by Reno Andreoli. The units built by Reto are so good I bought two of them.

The Van den Hul Grail SE and Reto’s custom units are in a different league to the others.

In terms of cartridge compatibility Reno’s cartridges are 40ohms and my units have truckloads of gain for all of my MC cartridges which range from 3-40 ohms. They will amplify any MC from 0.1mv up.

The Van den Hul Grail SE I have set up with both low impedance ( Koetsu/Kuzma ) and medium impedance ( Van den Hul Grand Cru ) - plenty of gain for both. Actually the gain range with the Van den Hul phono is massive and is dialled in to the cartridge using internal selectable settings.

From the owner of both the BMC and Nibiru he has found the matching with cartridges is quite sensitive and can produce different results between the 2 phonos.

I don't know or didn't know what a "transconductance" phono stage is, but I do know that the word "transconductance" has a specific definition, in that it is a measure of how voltage output changes with respect to current input, usually measured in A/V, and since that is the inverse of an ohm, the units are "mhos".  For triodes, typically expressed in micromhos. Anyway, Dover, thanks for your response to my question.  If you are correct, then that seems a bit of an odd way to do RIAA, since the RIAA curve is defined based on voltage changes, owing to the fact that a magnetic phono cartridge of any category, increases its output voltage according to stylus velocity, which increases with frequency. So an RIAA filter operates based on db as a measure of relative signal voltage amplitude.  But since db starts life as a measure of Power, I guess it can also be a measure of current. I dunno.

In another Forum the renowned EE Producer was asked about his setting for the RIAA, as there is talk in Build Threads about the Original Design, having a Bespoke RIAA advised by the Creator of the Paradise.

I fell confident in saying I have been demo'd Paradise Phon's, especially the Four Box Design, with the RIAA that follows:

+0.3db c 20hz and 17khz

@pindac 

RIAA that follows:  +0.3db c 20hz and 17khz

This might have been state of the art back in the early 1960's - but not even close today. There are tube phonos today more accurate than that.

You were listening to a RIAA tone control designed for the DIY/DJ market.

Bit like your much vaunted tonearm you keep banging on about which is just a modified Audio Technica AT1010 - nothing state of the art there. Its just a good 1970's tonearm - with upgraded bearings etc but still has major inherent design flaws compared to todays arms and is far from state the art around materials, energy control etc.

@dover As you are aware and others are within the Gon's Analog Section.

I have left on the Sub's Bench, equipment that plenty would really like to own, even aspire to own, as a result of the 'Personal Experiences' had through 'Demonstration' of alternatives options on tools to function as a equivalent role.

I am not forming an 'Opinion' I am making known how a 'Personal Experience' as a result of a 'Demonstration' made an impression.

I totally agree that my assessment made known is merely another 'Opinion' in the mix, and it is relevant to where my interest is at present.

The idea that certain experiences are indelible, keeps them at the forefront of sharing experiences.

Your last comments made are I assume based on your want to have a say other than an assessment of a direct experience through demonstration.

I am pleased to inform you, that you are to get the Hat Today to wear the following in a very Public Place:

 "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."