Cartridge impedance loading question

Apropos of Atma's last two posts, last night I auditioned for the first time a newly acquired Ortofon MC2000 cartridge, one of the lowest of the "LO" MCs ever made. The MC2000 is said to have an internal resistance of 3 ohms, so a 100R load would seem to be quite appropriate. However, I inadvertently loaded it at 47K, as I began my listening session. This is using the phono section of Atma-sphere's own MP1 full function preamplifier. My MP1 has more than ample gain to accept the output of the MC2000 directly. In any case, I was blown away by my initial results. The MC2000 is one great cartridge, certainly one of the best sounding LOMCs I ever have heard in my system. After about 30 minutes of bliss, I noticed that I was running it at 47K, instead of 100R, which would have been my first choice. So I switched it over to 100R. With that load, it's still very good, but I think the sound lost some magic. The bass response was a little sloppy at 47K compared to 100R, but every other facet of reproduction was at least a little if not a lot superior at 47K. Pending further evaluation, I am a convert to 47K for LOMC, or certainly for the MC2000. I may try 1000R just to see if that tames the bass a bit, compared to 47K.

*The larger you make an air coil, the lower its inductance.*

In this case larger means more turns - higher inductance.

*The noise that a phono section has is usually not a function of loading. There are a lot of factors that have to do with noise- it is an immense topic.*

Okay. By the same token loading preference is not always a function of noise, as you contend.

Lew,
Congratulations on the new cart.
You might find that dynamics and stage get larger with a higher value load, and focus more precise with a lower value.

Sloppy bass would suggest a lower load. It might take some experimentation.
Regards,

Thanks, Fleib. Which is why I next intend to try the third alternative readily available to me, the way I have set up my MP1… 1000R, in hopes that it will provide the best tonal balance. But 47K is soooo good!

Of course, now I want to re-visit all my other LOMC cartridges to see what if anything I've been missing, to include Koetsu Urushi and Ortofon MC7500. Ironically, I purchased the MC7500 from Raul early on in the course of his MM thread. Then Raul always said his fave LOMC was the MC2000.

Hi Lewm,

I am a bit surprised at your preference of 47K for the MC 2000. I own two of them and find 47K a bit bright in my system. I much prefer 100 ohm. Do you know what the Nom. Capacitance (pF/ft) is with your phono cables?
Regards,