I've been a HiFi nut for over 50 years and that, was the clearest, most easily understood explanation of MM v MC that I have come across. Despite occasional forays with MC I have always returned to quality MM (2M Black at present).
My very minimal experience... MC is definitely better but the cost difference may not be worth it.. LOVE what HANA and Ortofon provides... Key is the getting the right phono pre-amp with the settings required by MC.... Great explanation ! Well done !
In the 40+ years I have been listening to my High Output Moving Coil cartridge (Supex 901) I have never heard that explanation before. Very interesting. I never upgraded to a low output with a step-up transformer due to the cost. I always hankered after a Koetsu but I don't think I will ever have one.
I agree you need a good turntable and arm to get the improvements out of MC cartridges most magnetic ones have a high frequency resonance and MC's usually have a wider flatter response often going above 20 khz and do sound better and use a separate pre to line output amp for best results
Great video thanks for explaining so simply I finally think I understand the differences and I’ll definitely be giving you a call before most likely coming to see you at the shop
killer MM feature to me is: easy stylus replacement... I refuse to spend +1k euros in a MC just to lose all my money if I have a problem with the stylus (which is very common if you play a lot of records and/or have kids).
Moving Coil is better than Moving Magnet. Why? Because, as you predicted, the coils at the end of the cantilever are flexible at the MC cartridge the stylus moves more easily on the surface of the vinyl giving it a better sound. The Moving Magnet cartridge,, magnets at the end of the cantilever, because of their weight, the needle moves not so elastically and the sound is not very wow. Moving Magnet is cheaper also because you change the needle every day, not the whole assembly as with Moving Magnet. There is also a retipped version that makes it possible to replace the needle on the Moving Coil cartridge. I had Moving Magnet, good cartridge such as Ortofon Super OM with Fritz-Geiger needle, a more advanced Shibata. Then I decided to make a change, I bought a MC Denon DL110 cartridge for 50 euros with a destroyed stylus and I retipped it with the 40 needle from Ortofon and it sounds liike a dream. A much better sound. I also bought a cartridge Akai PC 200, AT30e clone with elliptical nude needle that sounds better than any MM cartridge. I also bought an AT30e gold 1983 cartridge to which I put a VM95ml, microline needle and it also sounds extremely good, surpassing a MM cartridge
And did you know the Beatles fought over which tracks were earlier or later on an album? This was because first track on an album had greater resolution and last the worst.
What is a reasonable upgrade for an old Linn Basik, without going silly? I gave it some love with new belt, oil, acrylic matt replacement etc. It has the Basik Plus tonearm, which I do not want to change because this is only my secondary turntable. It still has the original Linn branded pickup, but that is only a 50 bucks piece, and I want to do better than that. Does it make sense to slap something from the 200-300 Euro range on to it? On my main turntable, I have a MC Grado Platinum 3, which was ca 500 Euros, but that is obviously not what I would want to spend for the old Basik...
I've been watching your videos for a time and have connected with many of them. My ears have found great enjoyment in a great deal of British HiFi equipment and so I thought I might pick your brain. There are so many examples of the British Sound and my bank account is only so big. from what I have heard at this point: Sugden amplifiers and ProAc speakers are a very good pair to express the British sound. Is this true at least to some extent. I don't mind if you speak about vintage either, just give me a path to the sound that are best known over the years. Maybe the new Fyne speakers or a Linn Amp. I just want to have an idea, not a complete answer.
I have an Ortofon Turbo 1 MC cart and you can actually remove the stylus on this and place in some Ortofon MM styluses. I've not actually tried it. Not sure what the result would be. No sound I suspect.
Very good. Tracks really well and has a wider deeper soundstage in comparison to my Ortofon 2M Blue. The Turbo 3 is a step up apparently but quite pricey. @@yuriwalter385
I've been a HiFi nut for over 50 years and that, was the clearest, most easily understood explanation of MM v MC that I have come across. Despite occasional forays with MC I have always returned to quality MM (2M Black at present).
It's even more ridiculous that a spiral scratch in plastic can store sound etc
even more ridiculous... that "scratch" sounds better than hyper complex digital solutions 😱
I don’t know which is better but Phil’s experience is interesting evidence for vinyl.
My very minimal experience... MC is definitely better but the cost difference may not be worth it.. LOVE what HANA and Ortofon provides... Key is the getting the right phono pre-amp with the settings required by MC.... Great explanation ! Well done !
In the 40+ years I have been listening to my High Output Moving Coil cartridge (Supex 901) I have never heard that explanation before. Very interesting. I never upgraded to a low output with a step-up transformer due to the cost. I always hankered after a Koetsu but I don't think I will ever have one.
Absolutely great video. Great, relaxed presenting style. Very informative and practical round up. Great diagram.
Nice video! Thanks, Phil!! Would love to hear your take on the Well Tempered tonearm and turntables. Cheers from Brazil!
I agree you need a good turntable and arm to get the improvements out of MC cartridges most magnetic ones have a high frequency resonance and MC's usually have a wider flatter response often going above 20 khz and do sound better and use a separate pre to line output amp for best results
Great video thanks for explaining so simply I finally think I understand the differences and I’ll definitely be giving you a call before most likely coming to see you at the shop
killer MM feature to me is: easy stylus replacement... I refuse to spend +1k euros in a MC just to lose all my money if I have a problem with the stylus (which is very common if you play a lot of records and/or have kids).
Very interesting. I learnt something today.
Moving Coil is better than Moving Magnet. Why? Because, as you predicted, the coils at the end of the cantilever are flexible at the MC cartridge the stylus moves more easily on the surface of the vinyl giving it a better sound. The Moving Magnet cartridge,, magnets at the end of the cantilever, because of their weight, the needle moves not so elastically and the sound is not very wow. Moving Magnet is cheaper also because you change the needle every day, not the whole assembly as with Moving Magnet. There is also a retipped version that makes it possible to replace the needle on the Moving Coil cartridge. I had Moving Magnet, good cartridge such as Ortofon Super OM with Fritz-Geiger needle, a more advanced Shibata. Then I decided to make a change, I bought a MC Denon DL110 cartridge for 50 euros with a destroyed stylus and I retipped it with the 40 needle from Ortofon and it sounds liike a dream. A much better sound. I also bought a cartridge Akai PC 200, AT30e clone with elliptical nude needle that sounds better than any MM cartridge. I also bought an AT30e gold 1983 cartridge to which I put a VM95ml, microline needle and it also sounds extremely good, surpassing a MM cartridge
Id love your take on 33 Vs 45 rpm? Or is it just me😊?
And did you know the Beatles fought over which tracks were earlier or later on an album? This was because first track on an album had greater resolution and last the worst.
Great comparison thanks.
I would love a Cheshire Audio mug Phil..!!
Very informative. I now know what the Denon DL-110 HOMC on my Planar 2 is doing. I wonder if it's one of the not-so-good ones? :D
What is a reasonable upgrade for an old Linn Basik, without going silly? I gave it some love with new belt, oil, acrylic matt replacement etc. It has the Basik Plus tonearm, which I do not want to change because this is only my secondary turntable. It still has the original Linn branded pickup, but that is only a 50 bucks piece, and I want to do better than that. Does it make sense to slap something from the 200-300 Euro range on to it? On my main turntable, I have a MC Grado Platinum 3, which was ca 500 Euros, but that is obviously not what I would want to spend for the old Basik...
I also own a Linn Basik. To me, I get better performance out of upgrading the Phono amp. Right now running Darlington labs MM6B and love it.
I've been watching your videos for a time and have connected with many of them. My ears have found great enjoyment in a great deal of British HiFi equipment and so I thought I might pick your brain. There are so many examples of the British Sound and my bank account is only so big. from what I have heard at this point: Sugden amplifiers and ProAc speakers are a very good pair to express the British sound. Is this true at least to some extent. I don't mind if you speak about vintage either, just give me a path to the sound that are best known over the years. Maybe the new Fyne speakers or a Linn Amp. I just want to have an idea, not a complete answer.
I have an Ortofon Turbo 1 MC cart and you can actually remove the stylus on this and place in some Ortofon MM styluses. I've not actually tried it. Not sure what the result would be. No sound I suspect.
And how does the turbo sound? I may get one for a reasonable price, but I can't find much about its sound. Could you share your opinion, please?
Very good. Tracks really well and has a wider deeper soundstage in comparison to my Ortofon 2M Blue. The Turbo 3 is a step up apparently but quite pricey. @@yuriwalter385
Moving coil seems to be more of a hassle than anything else.
Only MC is really fully balanced 😎