Helikon LOADING

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.

I think, most of us are on the right track, Raul with his opinion and Gmorris with his explanations. When the wire in the arm is silver or copper, you can choose different loads, next is the wire from the termination box to the preamp, same story. I agree, that you can go the one and only way with the manuf. recommendation, but do you think, that all of them use a 1.class phono preamp? Or step ups? Or tubes? Or transistor? Even the tonearm material has different damping influences ....