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Can anybody define LOW OUTPUT...?

Hi. I'm currently pursuing the insanity of trying to decide on and purchase a really, really good used low output MC (only because it seems - in theory at least - that there's more detail to be had there). At any rate, my phono stage was designed for a Linn Troika cartridge (low output - 100µV - that was a MU - in case you don't have a mac also!) - yet I've been looking at some van den Hul low-output MCs that are something like 5-6 TIMES higher output than this - I'd imagine that would put the vdH at LEAST in the MEDIUM output camp. Am I missing something here? Can anyone APPROXIMATELY delimit (spell out for me) the boundaries of what is commonly considered low, medium and high output?

Thanks much.
Jonathan
letranger

Showing 2 responses by sugarbrie

sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Generally speaking a HIGH output (MC or other) cartridge is one that could be used with a standard phono stage/preamp, that would normally be for a moving magnet cartridge, etc.

Lower output designs are used in the hope of lowering the noise floor, in order to have the most refined, accurate and transparent sound . This explains why most phono preamps for low output cartridges are on the expensive side. A cheap MC (high gain) phono preamp would introduce the noise that the cartridge design was trying to eliminate.

Depending on your phono preamp, you may want to choose a cartridge that goes well with that particular preamp. Many better high gain phono preamps are adjustable, but you should check to see if it fits your cartridge choice in any case.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I would not get hung up on the terms High/Mid/Low output. It is like trying to define what is really meant by "low fat" on product labels.

I doubt any audio designer ponders very much about how a design will be classified in the market place (low/med/high). It is low or high to them.

The matching with/to the desired phono preamp will matter more in the long run. This is not hard to do. There are great sounding cartridges at all output levels.
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