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How to pick a COMPATIBLE phono cartridge

As follow-up to my recent post titled "Da Benz", I'm trying to better educate myself on how to pick a phono cartridge. There are many to choose from but I don't know which "type(s)" (i.e., output, etc.) will work well with my setup. Not considering price or characteristics at this point, but simply compatibility . Once I know that I can research options to make a selection. Looking through some past forums I see this can get complicated, so I'll provide some info on my setup:

Conrad Johnson EF-1 Phono Stage
    Gain: 40, 46, 52 db
    Phono Overload: 70 mV (40 db gain setting)
    Hum and Noise: 88 db below 10mV input

Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS Pre Amp
    Gain: 25 db
    Maximum input: 15 vrms
    Output impedance: under 700 ohms
    Hum and noise: 96 db below 1.0 mV

Conrad Johnson Premier 12 mono block Amps
    140 watts per channel
    Input Sensitivity: 0.90 volts to full power
    Input Impedance: 100k ohms

SME IV Arm
    Cartridge weight range: 5 - 16 grams
    Weight: 700 grams

And my leading cartridge candidate is the Benz Micro Wood (available in low, medium, and high versions), specs as follows:
    Output voltage: 0.4 (Low) 0.8 (Medium) 2.5 (High)
    Internal ohms: 12 (Low) 24 (Medium) 90 (High)
    Loading Range: >100 (Low) >1000 (Medium) 47k (High) 
    Weight: 9 grams
    Compliance: 15 (Low) 14 (Medium) 14 (High)
    Tracking 1.6 - 1.9 grams

The high output has been suggested. 

However, what cartridge specs should I be looking at for compatibility sake with my equipment and why? I have no idea!!!!   

Thank you to anyone who's willing to take the time to read and respond to a posting like this! :-)

Randy


rbschauman
tablejockey
3,772 posts
 
"The high output has been suggested."

Your phono/linestage has a combined gain total of 77db's. You can use a very low(less than .5mv) LOMC. Unless there is some specific factor for your CJ gear to NOT use a LOMC, you have plenty of choices in all price points.

If you search here, or other forums, your arm is used by many. Cart choice is all over the place.

Also, following what is "correct" regarding compliance,it  doesn't ensure your subjective "good sound" will be in line with paper specs.

IMO, your ears/wallet ultimately are the judge.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,464 posts
 
If you want to check the arm and cartridge compatibility you can use this tool from the Vinyl Engine. It will give you an idea of how both the arm and cartridge will match. Remember to put the correct information in!
 https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php?eff_mass=9&submit=Submit
rbschauman OP
137 posts
 
tablejockey/anyone
 
A local Hifi store is where that high output recommendation came from. I was told that my phono pre had very low gain settings. I'm now wondering why such a comment would have been made.
The manual for my phono pre states it's gains will cover a variety of cartridge types.

Would be nice if I could find a matrix that would show the gain required for each cartridge type (low/mid/high) from the phono stage and preamp (combined I'm guessing) for successfully mating. Ever see such a thing? Or is there a formula? Something else??

Also, generally speaking, what's the difference between low/mid/high output cartridges? If a setup can handle anyone of them what drives the choice? Do they each produce a different sound?

Thank you!

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