MM to MC - Stunned - Please explain the noise difference...
I just moved up to an MC cartridge - Ortofon MC X30 and Linn Linto Phono Stage - from some decent Ortofon MM cartridges and a V15 type V. I understand the technical differences to some extent, but I do not understand why my vintage vinyl is so much quieter. I expected the improved details, the massively improved bass, the quiet background. But why do the records sound so much cleaner? Some of the pops, tics, and static seem to still be there, but they are now very far into the background.
socalml528let me change your last sentence "I was able to enjoy less pristine vinyl that was unplayable with the MM cartridge" I was able to enjoy less pristine vinyl that was unplayable with the Elliptical Stylus. Any profile with larger contact surface will make contact with undamaged areas of the grooves. I just posted some charts in a related discussion https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/reed-2g-magnetic-antiskate
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@elliottbnewcombjr; I stand enlightened |
Sounds like you made a great upgrade. Congrats. The MC X30 has a good fan base here. I have both MC and MM cartridges using similar tonearms and a higher end phono stage. In my experience I have never noticed reduced background noise with the MC cartridges. Stylus profiles are similar to the MC X30 and even the Shibatas that I have are not noticeably quieter in the grove. I do prefer the MC cartridges over the MM but mainly due to bass response and detail. elliottbnewcombjr"I suspect something was previously wrong to produce so much noise." I tend to agree with this. Tonearm/cartridge match and alignment can make significant differences/improvements. I would expect the new Ortofon MC to eclipse lesser Ortofon MMs or the V15 v (especially with a well worn stylus or generic replacement).
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One more thought. The V15 v is a higher compliance cartridge (25) vs 15 μm/mN of the Ortofon. If your tonearm is more of a mid mass or on the heavier side you may have had a miss-match. I ran a V-15 iv on a Thorens TD 160 years ago and thought it sounded pretty rough on worn vinyl. That turntable has a heavy tonearm (17-18 gram effective mass I believe) and I switched the cartridge to one with a lower dynamic compliance. It improved things quite a bit. I moved the V-15 iv to a 7.5 gram tonearm and it sounded much better. I still have the cartridge with jico sas stylus and enjoy it. I would hang on the V15 if you think this could be case and you have a lower mass tonearm. If your ortofon was an OM or 2m series they are higher compliance as well.
This is a good tool.
https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php
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and enjoyed your charts.