Cartridge Break-In

Nsgarch ,

Thank you for that explanation. (Nods head sagely, giving a plausible imitation of complete understanding.) Even your digressions were informative.

My limited experience with three MC gain stages and a half dozen MC's largely confirms your >= 25x guideline. In only one case did a lower value (about 19x) "seem" best, but even then the combination was not happy, probably due to tonearm/cartridge issues. That cartridge obeyed the 25x rule when used on a more compatible arm.

My present setup works best at about 56x (225 ohm input impedance/4 ohm cartridge). 25x is too low. The highest my MC inputs can go is 375x (1500 ohms) and that is clearly too high. The 47k of a MM input would be far too high, aside from the inadequate gain.

Obviously your guideline and explanation assume the cartridge is driving a voltage gain device. If a stepup transformer is the first thing in the circuit, the reflected impedance seen by the cartridge will need to be well below 25x.

Doug, you're quite right, none of this applies to stepup transformers. Just to confirm you findings (somewhat), if you take the 25x factor and apply the +/_ 50% range, it would come out 12.5x to 37.5x, which is another way of calculating the range. Add the extremes together and divide by 2 to get the mid-point.

Hi Doug, got the Zyx UNIverse and you are right. It sounds very impressing right out of the box. I "cheated" a little bit with the "burn in" time, I did use the AT 637 for some time, but I think, it will increase performance.
Anyway, I listened to quite a lot of Cartridges ( Benz, Koetsu up to 11.000 $, Clearaudio, Allaerts and a few others - most with a Klyne 7 Phono Stage - and I know, that taste is different, but this one will chase all these down the block and back again. It shows, what Benz, Koetsu's, Clearaudio etc. really are: Overhyped, overpriced and more or less average. And compared to others, this one is reliable, had one some years, never a problem.

Found out on another forum the correct loading for a Ruby 3 is 22K. Night and day-analog magic to be sure. I do wish Benz made this information available. I am not sure why reviewers found this cartridge so outstanding without the correct loading. 47K was horrendous in a system with extended high frequency response and 1K dull and muddy. It is one of the finest I have heard correctly loaded except no one would know that most running at 1 or 47K.

I have the Cardas record and have used the concentric grooves on new MC cartridges from time to time, but I still don't understand this idea of having to get to the finish line right away. Maybe I've just been lucky with the brands I've purchased over the years but I have never had the experience of not enjoying a new cartridge right out of the box. How is it possible that the cart sounds so awful in the first 100 hours? I have never experienced that quality, perhaps a bit light in the bass or tipped up on top but never screechy or etched if properly set up. I guess I just take a very different view of the fun of owning and enjoying the process of break in. If there are some records that don't sound perfect in the beginning of a new cartridge's life, I simply choose records that will compensate for the qualities that are slightly amiss. Need more bass? Then put on something with great low end like a Squarepusher or Underworld record and let those highly modulated grooves heat things up and really give the stylus and suspension a workout. Need less tipped up on top? Then put on some Jethro Tull. No, I'm not to going to listen to Martha Argerich play Rach 3 at the get go. But after 50 hours or so, well, heck yeah.

You guys with your needs for instant gratification, settle down!