2. analog
  3. 1176580322

MC cartridge output measurements

Can someone tell me what is the conversion ratio from the JVC 3.54cm/sec standard to the CBS 5.0cm/sec standard. In other words, if a cartridge output is measured at .3mv using the JVC standard, what would be this cartridge output using the more common CBS measurement standard. Benz and Zyx are using the JVC standard to measure their cartridge output while most other (if not all) cartridge manufacturers use the CBS standard. Thank You. Sly
smoffatt
armstrod
613 posts
 
It's 5 divided by 3.54 = 1.412.

So if your Zyx is the .24 it's .34 by the CBS standard, and if, like my Bloom, it's .48 JVC, then it's .77 CBS.

David
lewm
13,108 posts
 
ARmstrod is correct if output in mV has a linear relationship to velocity in cm/sec and if any constants in the equation are equal to 1.0, which is probably essentially true, in this range of velocity at least.
imin2u
392 posts
 
This cartridge stuff gets deeper and deeper every week for me. I don't even know how smoffatt knew to ask this question. I've just been on the phone with vak discussing .1mv cartridges and their ability to achieve decent volume. Now i find that there are different scales of measurement! Urghh. Finding out there are various RIAA standards a few months ago was scary enough.

Anyway, is there a compendium or book to know "all things" phono? (Or for that fact, "all things" tube)?

Thanks to everyone
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I give credit to A'gon member Nsgarch for first bringing this issue to broader attention. He's posted about it here a number of times. Where he first learned about it I don't recall.

One resource for "all" things phono (or tube)? That would be nice.

Here's what I do: read any-thing posted by any-one, any-where. Then try to remember each tidbit when appropriate!

More to discover