RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB

Posted by Mister Pig (A) on September 17, 2023 at 22:45:36

In Reply to: RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB posted by John Elison on September 16, 2023 at 18:16:36:

@John Elison

Actually that does bring up a point I had not given full consideration.

I have two MC2000 cartridges. My first one suffered an accident in a Dynavector DV 505 arm I had. I was adjusting VTA and the arm wand popped out of the holder, it seems I bumped it and the magnetic lock was not strong enough. I bent a cantilever on the side of the record. It literally broke my heart, and I did not play vinyl for close to 6 months after that.

I was fortunate and was able to contact a person I knew who had one in excellent shape. When I got it I sent it to my cartridge guy along with the first MC2000. The OEM one got a new microridge diamond, as this was the best option I could achieve. The damaged one got a boron cantilever with the same diamond. That cartridge has become my casual one, and happened to be the one I listened to when i wrote this post. Now does the boron cantilever affect output level?I would not think so, but who knows?

This evening I put the OEM one on. They are both in Denon PCL-5 magnesium head shells, since they weigh only 6 grams. They have the same silver litz wire head shell leads.

These cartridges have a clarity to them that makes the volume level you listen to a bit misleading. I find I have my listening levels a bit higher than normal, or at least that is what the wife says. With the OEM cartridge I find that dynamic passages are more powerful, and the upper mids are a bit more robust. The boron cantilevered one is a bit peaky in comparison. It is still very good, and it is just fine for listening to rock and roll, or when I am at the computer. It allows me to keep the transformer in place and make easy swaps to the OEM one. So it has its place, but it still pains me that I lost such a remarkable cartridge.

The OEM one is one of my favorite cartridges, and it is amazing what was possible at that time period. I once thought about selling it because its so restrictive of arms, phono stages, and its a pain in the ass to ground. But when I listen to it, I am utterly charmed. I have a Verismo on a Schroder arm, and I enjoy it immensely, but if I only had the MC2000 I could be happy.

As far as the transformer goes, its a silver wire, I don't think I have ever heard of these failing.

https://images.hifido.co.jp/07/021/02173/c.jpg (Open in New Window)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Mister Pig 09:25:35 09/16/23 (24)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Bill Way 07:05:33 09/19/23 (6)

Manley Chinook - Bill Way 20:33:34 09/19/23 (0)

RE: "If by "adding gain" you mean turning the volume up" ... - andyr 16:46:49 09/19/23 (3)

RE: "If by "adding gain" you mean turning the volume up" ... - Tre' 19:34:00 09/19/23 (1)

RE: You are absolutely correct! ... - andyr 20:45:21 09/19/23 (0)

RE: "If by "adding gain" you mean turning the volume up" ... - Analog Bob 18:12:00 09/19/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Mister Pig 10:15:07 09/19/23 (0)

Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ and III - ToddM 12:17:48 09/18/23 (1)

RE: Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ and III - louie3 06:05:39 09/19/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - 2chblast 08:21:48 09/18/23 (0)

RE: Yes ... - andyr 04:03:19 09/18/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - BCR 16:57:13 09/17/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Pyramid 15:20:27 09/17/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Ugly 14:31:32 09/17/23 (0)

Hagerman Audio Labs - Cougar 08:20:31 09/17/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - John Elison 18:16:36 09/16/23 (4)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Lew 18:38:28 10/5/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Mister Pig 09/17/2322:45:36 09/17/23 (2)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Mister Pig 22:50:47 09/17/23 (1)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - John Elison 03:13:51 09/18/23 (0)

This one...-...- - Ozzy 15:59:31 09/16/23 (1)

Tired of the... - Cougar 08:06:06 09/17/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - afro18 10:19:30 09/16/23 (1)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - ecl876 14:23:42 09/16/23 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Mister Pig 09/17/2322:45:36 09/17/23 (2)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - Mister Pig 22:50:47 09/17/23 (1)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB - John Elison 03:13:51 09/18/23 (0)

RE: MM Phono Stages With Gain Greater Than 40 dB

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