Cartridge impedance loading question

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,

^^ this is how prevalent the cartridge loading mythology is!

Here is an explanation of why this cartridge may not have sounded bright in Lew's system:

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?14815-Best-phono-stage&p=307116&viewfull=1#post307116

Don, I did not (yet) say I prefer 47K. I did say I tried it by serendipitous accident and was surprised at how good it sounded with the MC2000, with the one exception that bass was a bit flabby. When I then switched to the gospel 100R load, I don't believe it sounded as open, free, undamped, dynamic, etc. Whatever adjective you choose, I thought the 47K load made the music sound more like real live music sounds. This was essentially on one Ella Fitzgerald original Verve album, the Berlin Songbook. Obviously, I need several hours more of listening to a wider variety of LPs before I would draw any conclusions. On the other hand, I am very familiar with this album on several different systems in my home.

Most people need an SUT with the MC2000, due to its very low output. If you are using an SUT, then the choice of a net 47K load is not really there for you. Let's say the SUT has 1:10 gain; you'd need a 4.7M load resistor on the secondaries in order to make the cartridge see 47K. Thus I don't wonder that most folks are loading down the MC2000 to around 100R, which in fact ought to be just fine, in theory, based on its 3-ohm internal resistance.

Don, The phono cables are the OEM cables supplied with the Kenwood L07D and L07J tonearm. These are very low in capacitance Litz type. I re-terminated them with male XLRs, for use with the Atma MP1.

Griffithds,
If the cart gets bright (change tonal qualities) with higher value load, it probably is as Atmasphere says. Not sure what good that knowledge will do. You'll load it down anyway.

Lew,
I take it that changing loads in the MP1 isn't that easy. I was thinking, perhaps something like 10 or 20K might tighten up the bass without sacrificing that glorious sound.
This is the preamp you modified for additional gain? Output appears to be 0.05mV.

I think I remember Jcarr recommending the MC3000 which looks similar.
Regards,