Dedicated phono-pre for MM only?

Hi Lewm,
following FYI, (in answer to my query to A.W.):
>>> The balanced phono stage with "floating" RIAA is not usable as a stand alone unit, as it cannot drive a interconnect cable, and requires a fixed 50k ohm loading to have correct RIAA eq. <<<

And:>>> What is your favorite MM cartridge? <<<

Well, I tried to answer that, and even with the few MMs I have it is not so easy to tell. Right now I've switched to a 'Townshend Elite EEI 500 (parabolic)' and it immediately shows, it can do punchy bass and pretty clean treble.

So now, what's your favourite MM cart?

It'd be just interesting to hear, since I've buried the SUT for the moment :-)

Axel

I personally have not heard any MM cartridge in my system since I stopped using my Grado TLZ in favor of some MC cartridge (probably a Sumiko BluePoint, originally), about 2 decades ago. I have nothing much to go on except Raul's opinions.

Lewm
>>> probably a Sumiko BluePoint, originally <<< oh, oh, :-) but that's also an MC?

about time if you get a bit restless to check on MMs, I say...

I have listened to A&R P77, Empire S1000 ZE/X, Shure V15 III VN35MR, Elite EEI 500, AT-140LC, and some bottom of the line AT with conical stylus (not actually much more than the $20 you pay for it).

All this has confirmed for me in my system everything that Raul is on about.

I have also had in my system, DV 20X-L, DV 10x5, Kontra-Punkt A, Jubilee, Windfeld, Dorian, Transfiguration Axia, Orpheus what I recall.

I mention this as I can not lay claim to some 100 plus carts MC and MM, Raul is working with.
Yet, other than that el cheapo $20 AT basic --- every MM was more fluid, musical, and had more 'magic' (for lack of a better word) in my system than ANY of the mentioned MCs.

This obviously made me wonder why?!

Raul, thinks it's just by the nature of the different construction that, given a decent phono-pre, make that difference.

What I'm learning also, there seem NO 'special' MM phono-pres in today's offerings, as all are -can do MM too-.

What I was looking for is a MM stage, differential, floating RIAA, tube, 100, 75 50 (47)k ohm input impedance, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500pF C loading. XLR outputs, Differential (wired) RCA inputs.
No such a thing for only up to 40dB for all I can see.

My current boards are, differential, SS (op-amps 2x) 1 for 40dB plus on for 69dB, no C loading (OK two parallel binding posts), 47k ohm only impedance. It sound pretty good, as it uses the clean power of the ML326S' power supply and is INSIDE the pre-amp.

So, I guess all there is, is to find some 'oldie' pre-amp? Not so sure I actually want to change my 326S (to darn convenient :-)
--- End of enquiry? Could well be...

"At least nobody can say I haven't tried"
Axel

Axel, What I wrote was that the Sumiko Blue Point was probably my FIRST MC cartridge, back in the late 80s or early 90s. I got away from that pretty quickly. Then I owned Benz Glider, followed by a Transfiguration Esprit and then the Esprit II, only one at a time in succession over a period of probably more than a decade. These were all mid-price HOMCs, and in retrospect neither one "rang my bell". (I would never have thought of either spending more than $1000 for a cartridge OR buying a used one.) Then about 5 years ago, I bought a Koetsu Urushi (via my son in Tokyo), which was a total revelation vs those others. I now own the Urushi, an Ortofon MC7500, and a van den Hul Colibri (both of the latter purchased used off A'gon). I have not yet heard the Colibri. Of course, now I have 3 turntables, too. You could say that the disease vinylosis is advancing in severity as I get older.

Well Lewm,
thank you for sharing. Now with 3 'tables why not give a NICE MM a try and let us hear what would be your finding.

It could be most interesting (didn't say rewarding... :-) to have another take by someone of your long standing anlogue background. If only to have some more prespective, and for under $1000 it be just as well :-)
Thanks,
Axel