Is a low output MC superior in sound quality to a high output MC??


I have seen a few  short comments over the last year on Audiogon and in few audio magazines about the differences between a Low output MC versus a High output  MC. 

What might be the pros and cons of these two designs, and in general which offers the better sound quality even if  both are  the same brand??. 


Thank you, S.J.    

sunnyjim

Showing 2 responses by paraneer

Less windings mean less mass so low output MC's can give you a faster transient response allowing for more detail to be extracted. 

I have had both HOMC's and now an LOMC.  I won't go back to a HOMC again.  But as others have pointed out, the phono stage is critical.  It must be extremely quiet (no audible hiss) at the higher gain levels needed or you can negate the additional musical detail an LOMC brings you.
The Moon tech said that the MM gain is high enough for even the Denon DL110 HOMC with an published spec output of 1.6 mV. The DL-103 LOMC is .0.3 and the infamous DL 103R LOMC is  approximately the same
I am still mulling over keeping the U-Turn Orbit PlusTT with the Ortofon 2M RED cartridge
Besides output and weight, you should also take into account the cartridge compliance rating to see how well it will match with your tonearm.

Your Orbit tonearm has an effective mass of around 11 grams, making either the DL-103 or 103R, compliance rating of 5 cu, a very poor choice resulting in a resonant frequency of around 16 Hz!  It's this need for extremely low mass tonearms that give the 103's their infamous rep.

The DL-110 is a much better match for your tonearm with a rating of 14 and giving you a much lower resonant frequency of 11 Hz.

IMO the medium compliance Soundsmith Otello would be the best match for your tonearm resulting in very low 8 Hz.  It's also the highest output of the three you mention at 2.12 mV.