MC versus MM. Which to choose.

Dear Rockitman: I will email you about.

Btw, IMHO and in the other ( many. ) people opinions my MM " information " is not only theories but something that you as any one can confirm.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

i have purchased a few of Raul's highly recommended MM gems (thanks Raul) and found that they were absolutely wonderful for the dollars. vintage $200-$500 MM's that outperformed 10x as costly MC's. and even did things which were competitive with even higher level MC's. and they were typically very listenable and musical.

for a few years i had multiple tt's and arms and a phono stage which accomodated MM's and MC's. i had these various cartridges side by side, and the best MC's were able to consistently resolve detail and texture which sounded indistinct on the MM's. and ultimately this advantage (albiet at a much higher cost) did allow for a higher musical experience. for the best moving coil a lower noise phono stage is required, more accurate set-up is needed.

at this point i still own a few nice MM's but now only have 1 tt and 2 arms, one for a mono MC and one for a stereo MC.

MM's are excellent but for ultimate performance it's MC.

i know likely since i bought my last MM there are still others which have been found to be even better. maybe they can be equal or better than the best MC's; or maybe they are just different. but i've moved on from that question for myself.

I am far from "done" in comparing MM to MC cartridges. I view this as a work in progress. I would also point out that MI cartridges and induced magnet (IM) cartridges have something to offer which may be unique with respect to both conventional MM and MC cartridges. (Sometimes I think it is the IM/MI "alternative" that draws me in the most.) Then, in the end, it's what you personally like plus what your system "does" best. Plus plus, Mike might be playing with MC cartridges that I do not dare dream about in terms of cost. Having said all that, I am at the point where I would never be without at least one of all 3-4 types. Two years ago, I was a total skeptic on anything but MC cartridges.

everyone needs to be at the place where the their approach to enjoying vinyl playback is most enjoyable for them personally. and after my years of 'playing the field' of multiple tt's, arm's, vintage tt's, cartridges, etc......i've found that (at least for now) simplification is where it's best for me.

if i look back at the last 5 to 10 years of vinyl culture, many things have been learned by many people. the collective knowledge and overall vinyl playback performance for the dollar for all of us has taken leaps and bounds. much of it fed by people actively comparing different products with open minds and ears. it's why i added turntables and arms when people thought i should just enjoy my one tt. i was curious.

MM or MC; these type questions only help us all.

Dear Mikelavigne: +++++ " there are still others which have been found to be even better. maybe they can be equal or better than the best MC's; or maybe they are just different. but i've moved on from that question for myself. " +++++

yes, through my experiences about there are a few better MM/MIs but the whole subject is not which kind of cartridge design ( LOMC vs MM/MI. ) is better than the other.

IMHO the best of the best of both worlds are more alike than different on quality performance level. Both cartridge designs are imperfect ones with its own trade-offs and are these trade offs the ones that could define which design matched our each one music/sound reproduction targets.

I think that the " presence " of one does not in anyway diminish or eliminate the other alternative.
Both are very good alternatives and the people that are fortunate to own top samples on both enjoyed both at almost the same level.

From my side and from the very first moment ( 6-7 years ago- ) that I was " aware " of the performance MM/MI level I said and posted that this was and is another alternative where in those times the only road was LOMC.
Two good alternatives to enjoy our LPs is IMHO a very welcomed " stage " instead only one, don't you think?

You are right the LOMC needs cares on set-up and IMHO the MM/MI deserves the same ( if not more. ) cares on set-up. For many of us the MM/MI alternative is almost " new " and we are learning ( still learning. ) how fulfil what MM/MI ask for it can shows at its best, not only at mechanical/geometry set-up but electrical one that means: load impedance and load capacitance and this load combination determine the success level on cartridge performance when in a LOMC we have only one electrical parameter: load impedance.

Anyway, I like both designs and as you I'm trying to go " simple ": less cartridges, less TTs and less tonearms, I don't know if I can have success about but I decided to do it.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.