Sony PS-X50 - MC cartridge advice please (and general MC cartridge advice)

+1 Lewm

In regard to styli wearing out... If has little to do with MM / MI / MC & depends on the cut of the diamond. A spherical or elliptical will wear out faster than one of the more expensive cuts (line contact / VDH / micro ridge...etc.) that go farther into the groove. 

Take Jason’s opinion of MM cartridges and the reasoning associated with his opinion with a wheelbarrow full of salt. There are many MM cartridges that outperform many MC cartridges, although he hasn’t named the best ones. And Grado are not the only or the best examples of MI types.

Thank you so much @jasonbourne52  for  your teaching's and time taken. 👍

I'll also look into the Sony XL series @nandric .

Another question if I might. My readings is that MC styli will wear out faster than an MC styli. In your experience's, would that be correct or just scare mongering tactics.

The celebrated Sony XL series from XL 44 l till XL 88 D has the same

generator but different cantilevers and styli. I would recommend XL 44 l.

The best price-quality relationship knowing to me. Good samples for

about $400. 

The Ariston/Lustre/Fidelity Research FR1mk3F sounded particularly fine!

I have been using MCs since 1978 when I bought a GAS Sleeping Beauty along with a Verion (Cotter) step-up transformer (SUT). TT was the Ariston RD11S - the Linn Sondek's Scottish cousin - arms were the SME 3009, JH Formula 4, Lustre GST-1. That Ariston is still in use - now with a Grace 707 and a Denon 103.

An AT MC will work fine in that Sony tone arm. Nothing to worry about! So will Denons and other low compliance MCs. Also.weight can be added to the headshell to lower the resonant frequency to the desirable 8 hz frequency if after using a test LP it is found to be above 10/12 hz. 

No MM cartridge can compare to a MC! The reason: too high inductance in the windings of the fixed coils. This inductance acts as a filter slowing transient response. Grados - while considered MI (moving iron) are still fixed coils. Grados solve the transient speed problem by using coils with fewer turns, so inductance is typically 1/10 of Shures, Stantons, Goldrings, ATs ... 50 millihenries vs. 500 millihenries. This low inductance of Grado coils lets them have the transient speed, snap and sparkle typical of MC types. I will take a Grado any day over a Shure, Stanton, AT ...

Thanks @jasonbourne52 .

Will my Sony PS-X50 suitably accept the mentioned MC cartridge. My reading is some MC cartridges are low, medium, or high output and should be carefully matched to the turntable. So I’m trying to do that with zero understanding of cartridge output. My question really is, "is the The AT - OC9XML a low, medium or high output"? My other problem is, I can’t find anywhere what the Sony is suited to, Low Medium or High output.

Thanks again.

Also starting to think, I may be better served just putting my money into a better MM cartridge and listen in wonderment to that upgrade.

The AT - OC9XML will be a significant upgrade over the ADC - QLM. Superior transient response and lower noise floor!