Helikon LOADING

Dear friends: The cartridge load impedadce is a subject of vital importance. It does not have to do nothing with what audio system we have, it is not matters what sound we like, it is not system dependent in any way and it is not a subjective choice.

The right cartridge load impedance is that where the cartridge frequency response is flat, period.
If you like it/or not that load impedance with the sound from the cartridge it is another subject that has nothing to do with the right/correct cartridge load impedance.
The load impedance is not an " equalizer ", the load impedance is an electrical characteristic inherent to cartridges, again, where its frequency responce is flat.
To say another thing/history/thinks/believes , is not valid.

I always ask directly to the manufacturer which is the right load impedance for their cartridges: I don't ask which one like them but which one is the correct impedance.

Examples, Van denhul told me that my Colibri must be running at 540 Ohms and Allaerts told me that my MC2 Finish at 845 Ohms, these impedance values are strictly the value where those cartridges perform flat.

If any one of you are running your cartridges way out of the correct manufacturer load impedance recomendation, then you really don't know how perform your cartridge: what you are hearing is only something near the real cartridge sound reproduction. Now, if with the right/correct cartridge load impedance you don't like the sound reproduction then you have to look around your system where could be a problem, where something is out of synergy but not change the cartridge load impedance hidding/cover with this the real problems all over your system. Be very carefull about.

Of course, you can use the load impedance that you want but that's does not means that is the right way.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Raul is correct, though I think I already covered all those same points.

It is important to remember however, that installing load resistors of the maufacturer's specified value will most likely not result in your cartridge actually "seeing" that exact load impedance, because there are other factors involved. It will be close, but could be off by as much as +/_ 30 ohms, which is enough to alter the desired flat frequency response. I'm sure Raul knows this, he just forgot to mention it.

My point is, once you get it close, then use your ears to make the final adjustment. (Now I am sounding like Raul!!)

Dear Neil: Thx for your approval about my post.

Btw, " should point out that cartridges are really current producing devices, but there are very few current amplifying phono preamps, " ,

well I don't know any out there. Our phonopreamp design is a CURRENT one.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Raul, I did not realize your new phono pre was a "current" device. I think that is wonderful. I did see another one recently, and if I can find it again ;~)) I will send you the link.

N

.

Raul:

I think your point that the load recommend by the manufacture is a fixed value, which is independent of the “system”, is indeed an oversimplification of the intent of the recommendation and cannot be sustained by any reasonable technical analysis. I agree with Nsgarch that the recommended load is simply a “ball park” figure. Ultimately one needs to experiment to determine the optimal load value for the particular “system”.

The load is “system” dependent. The impedance of a MC cartridge is not purely resistive, it contains a reactive component. The system in which the cartridge is used will impact the transfer function of the cartridge (flat frequency response, etc). The “system” here includes tone arm, turntable, phono interconnect cable and the input characteristics of the phono preamp, etc. For example, the cartridge impedance may be impacted by stray impedances due to the presence of external interferences, the interconnect has nonzero impedance and the input impedance of the phono section is not infinite thus it impacts the value of the loading impedance. In summary, one needs to experiment, using the recommended load as a guide, to determine the load value that gives the best-perceived flat response.

If you wish I can go into more technical depth.