MC versus MM. Which to choose.

I'm coming to this thread late but i'm assuming you will be using the cart w/ Concept turntable. I have not heard the MM cart but i Have the Concept w/ the MC and it is a wonderful combo. My system has never sounded so smooth, open, and detailed. Bright records are still bright but less edgy with harsh sibilance being less grating and prominent. Dynamics are nice, bass is nice and tight.

And for the outlay and value of the time spent buying a cache of MM's, rebuilding your amplifier and shagging around setting them up, would probably have paid for an Olympus/Connoisseur, and then you could have spent all that time listening to music. Bugger.
I had a doctor client who had a dozen or so of the top moving coils of the day. Finally he came to me at 68 yrs and said - my ears are failing, I need a brighter cartridge with a rising top end. So save a nasty MC at least for your later years.

Dover I would have missed on half the fun not being hands on with my vintage gear.

Great thing about this hobby theres a ton of options and opinions.

Stltrains - actually I agree. I have heaps of fun with vintage gear, and it's rewarding when it all comes to together. One thing though, I wont buy second hand cartridges as a rule, my records are irreplaceable.

I agree that the vintage MM's are a lot of fun and some do sound really great, however most of them just sit in my draw not being played. I have the technics EPC1000 Mk4 and it is a great cartridge and that does get played.

However, for the ultimate performance I prefer my more expensive Dynavector, Lyra or Ortofon. I get a larger, more dynamic, transparent realistic performance from these.

I wish Raul's cheap MM's did sound better as it would save me a lot of $$. But now,ultimately I prefer listening to the music than constantly changing cartridges for best cartridge of the week status. I guess that way you never really get sick of any cartridge.

I think the tonal signature of the system may lead some to like MM or MC's more. Perhaps if my system was brighter or leaner I would prefer more MM cartridges?.

BTW T-bone and Jonathan - The vintage Pioneer HZ-1 really is a great MC headamp. Does superb things to every MM stage I have tried it with and that is quite outstanding indeed.

In the end, it is all music, so it does not really matter what you play as long as it encourages you to go out an buy new music.

cheers