MM to MC - Stunned - Please explain the noise difference...

@vintageadict 

When I decided to step up to MC and spend the additional money, I not only considered the compliance questions as far as the tonearm was concerned but I looked at the performance capabilities of the Linn Basik arm that was on the table.  I decided to upgrade to the Linn Ittok at 5 times the cost - it matched well with the MC X30. 

When you add it all up from a cost perspective - I thank the audio gods that it sounds so much better than it did,  The Black Ittok is rare and cost a good penny.

Sounds like you did your homework. The Ittok looks like a good match for the MC X30 and a very nice arm. Did you use that are with the other cartridges? The 2m Black gets really great reviews from MM users. I would expect really good results with that combo but only based on reviews since I have not owned one. 

My arm (Jelco 850s) is of similar effective mass so I may give the MC X30 a try when I am ready for another Moving Coil,. I use a Dynavector 10 x 5 Mkii low now which I like quite a bit but the stylus profile of the MC X30 is interesting. Nice price point as well. 

A few months ago I accidentally damaged my Clearaudio Charisma II MM cartridge I'd been using for years in my Technics 1200G. I'd been very happy with it, but when I replaced it with a (twice as expensive) Hana Umami Red MC, it was as big a difference as changing any other component in my system, and probably bigger than most. This was well worth the extra money for me. All this through the same Herron Audio Phono preamp. No noise really either way, just way more dynamics and detail with the Hana (I listen to mostly rock and reggae). 

@vintageadict 

My original choice was going to be the 2M Black to go into my Pro-Ject Pro.  I bid on an older LP12 (ebay auction) that came with a large number of new parts - A project in a box that someone never got around to.  It had the Linn Linto MC Phono Pre in the box that was very highly reviewed and expensive 20 years ago, so I decided to go with the MC X30 (similar cost to the Black) and bite the bullet for the Ittok.

Those Lp12’s have had my eye for a while. I have refurbed and upgraded a number of older Thorens to about as high a level as they can go. You can sink a ton into those Linn’s.  Sounds like you got a killer deal as those upgrades aren’t cheap.  I haven’t decided to jump down that rabbit hole but maybe one day. 

I have a Modwright PH 9.0x phono stage so the next move up for me in the vinyl chain is the TT. I just have a soft spot for the Thorens though. They have been great performers.